how to trim a composite door

If your door is touching or rubbing the frame at any point around the perimeter of the frame, chances are that the door or frame is not square. The watertight material in a composite product, such as a door or decking, makes the material more impermeable compared to wood, which is a more porous medium. Position the blade of a utility knife against the top of the door, at the outer end of your painter's tape. Essential Practices for Installing a Composite Door Frame. Separate the two arms by 1/8 inch and turn the wing nut at the top to lock it in place.Shut the door. So sanding, which is not recommended before staining a composite material, won’t remove the door’s shade that it came with. Doors should fit into frames without binding or sticking. Occasionally, especially on re-cuts, you have to cut a door above where there is solid material, and you can’t just leave the bottom of the door open.

Step 2 Cover the flooring with masking paper. Proceed with caution.Measure from the top edge of the door and make several marks across the bottom of the door representing where the door will be cut. Composite in Siding Trim. Pick a solid-color linseed oil that’s richer than the door’s current tone, such as forest green to cover pastel mint. Keep in mind that these marks will have to be removed after the door is cut.Place the 36-inch straight edge on the line and clamp it to the door with the C-clamps. Shave the door down slightly for a quick fix.Set the scribe tool to 1/8 inch. They should have remarked on this and re-cut the last 6″, which would have corrected some of the misalignment; it would be done more accurately if the guide rail had been re-positioned on the other side of the door and the cut started at the edge where the excess was thickest; this would avoid the saw blade being forced along the shallow slant of the mis-cut bottom of the door instead of following the scribed line.Subscribe today for exclusive content & tips in your inbox!Joe Truini is a seasoned contractor, accomplished author and hosts Simple Solutions on Today’s Homeowner TV. Turn it on and begin sanding parallel along the side of the door. Then, clamp the two 36-inch 2x4s over the new strip with the C-clamps. Joe is a handy guy, who’s always on the lookout for ways to make the job of home improvement easier and more efficient. Good luck!–JTI need to cut an interior hollow core door but instead of the top or bottom I need to cut the side. To prevent splintering, score the cut line with a razor knife before sawing off the door.Once you’ve scored the door, clamp a straight edge to it at the proper distance from the door edge.Now use a circular saw to make the cut, with the edge of the saw resting against the guide board.Once you’ve made the cut, sand the bottom of the door, and finish it with either paint or polyurethane.Hi Bud, When using a portable circular saw, it’s always best to place the door face down (front side down).

Let’s face it, a hollow core door is a cheap door. How to Trim a Composite Door Step 1. If you sand a bit too much off and go over the line, that's OK.Some doors have a slight angle on the side. And NO, do not ever put the blade in backwards. I’d recommend using a carbide-tooth blade with the most teeth you can find; that’ll produce the smoothest cut. He also hits the airwaves every week alongside Danny Lipford as co-host for Today’s Homeowner Radio. Although a composite front door is more weatherproof than its wood counterpart, staining the durable material poses a small problem. I need a 24″ wide to be 23.75″. Anyway, cutting the door is not a big deal; you just can’t cut too much off of it. Hold the belt sander horizontally on the side of the door. Remove the door's hinge pins by putting a screwdriver underneath the pin and hitting it with a hammer. If you're experienced with them use them if you want. The doors are often used for closets, bathroom and bedroom door … Doors should fit into frames without binding or sticking. It’s imperative that installers understand the differences. Choose UV-stabilized, clear polyurethane and apply it to your front door as directed on the label every couple of years.Lorna Hordos is a home-flipping business owner and freelance writer. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn how to install our vinyl Thermostop Garage Door Trim. Use the power of symmetry and some black gelled stain to spruce up a tired composite front entrance on a light-colored home. Sort By: Top Sellers.

Any of the above can cause the door to rub or stick on the frame when opening or closing the door.