CRF Services Ltd
Internal door hanging and fitting
A door that sticks, drifts open or leaves a big gap at the top is a small irritation you notice every day. Hanging doors well is proper carpentry, and it is one of the jobs Danny does most often inside people's homes.
Why hanging a door is harder than it looks
Very few door frames in real houses are perfectly square. Floors slope, frames twist and walls settle over the years. A new door has to be trimmed to suit the frame it is going into, not the other way round, so that the gap around it is even and it swings without catching.
Hinges need to be recessed cleanly, the latch has to line up with the keep, and the bottom of the door must clear the floor covering you have now or plan to fit. Get any one of those slightly wrong and the door will rub, rattle or refuse to stay shut.
Jobs that come up most
Door work covers more than hanging brand new doors.
- Hanging new internal doors in existing frames
- Replacing a whole set of doors for a consistent look
- Trimming doors after new flooring or carpet is laid
- Easing doors that stick or catch
- Fitting new handles, latches and hinges
- Fitting new door linings where a frame is damaged
Doing a whole house at once
Replacing every internal door on a floor is a popular way to lift a hallway and landing. Doing them together means one style of door and ironmongery throughout, and the job can be planned so each room is only out of use for a short time.
If the skirting and architrave around the doors are also tired, it is often worth replacing them at the same time. New doors set in old, chipped trim can look unfinished. The skirting and architrave page explains how that work fits alongside.
Choosing doors and ironmongery
You are welcome to choose your own doors, or to talk through options first. Solid and hollow core doors feel very different when you open them, and glazed doors bring light into dark hallways. Handles, hinges and latches all come in different finishes, and matching them through the house gives a tidy result.
Measure each opening before buying, as sizes vary between houses, particularly in older properties. If you are not sure, Danny can check the openings on his visit before anything is ordered.
Finishing and painting
Some doors arrive ready finished, others need painting or staining once hung. Trimmed edges should be sealed so the door does not take on moisture. If you want painting included, say so when you enquire so it can be planned into the job.
The cost to hang a door guide on this site explains what affects price, from the type of door to the condition of the frame. Photographs of each door and frame, and a note of how many you want done, are the best way to start an enquiry.
Preparing for the visit
Clear a little space either side of each doorway so the door can be laid flat, trimmed and offered up without moving furniture repeatedly. If doors have been delivered, keep them lying flat in a dry room rather than leaning against a wall, because timber can bow if left standing unevenly for days. Let Danny know if any doors have locks, closers or fire rating requirements, as these affect the fittings used. Pets and children are safest kept away from the working area while doors are off their hinges, since openings are left unguarded for short periods during fitting.
This work is part of our Carpentry service.
Common questions
Internal door hanging and fitting questions answered
Have a job in mind?
Tell Danny what needs doing and get a clear, no-obligation quotation.