Bi-Fold Doors
Closet bifold doors are a great addition to a home. There are many designs of do-it-yourself bifold doors available at most hardware and building supply stores. Once the existing door is removed, the new bifold door can be installed by the average homeowner in just a few hours.
Be sure to measure the closet opening before purchasing the door. Bifold doors can be cut down to height but they cannot be widened. Does this Spark an idea?
Install Top Track and Upper and Lower Pivots
Follow the manufacturer's instructions included in the door hardware. Center the top rail underneath the header opening. Mark the screw holes with a pencil. Drill pilot holes one size smaller than the attaching screws. Realign the top rail and install it using the attaching screws.
Slide the top pivot brackets into the top rail. Push the pivot bracket about ¼-inch away from the jamb. It has a set screw that will need to be tightened down once the pivot bracket is in place. A plumb bob will be necessary to line up the bottom pivot bracket. A plumb bob is a pinted weight attached to a string. Hang a plumb bob from the top pivot bracket to the floor to locate the spot for the bottom pivot bracket to be installed on the floor. Using screws, attach the bottom pivot bracket to the floor.
On carpeted floors a wooden pad will be necessary for the bottom pivot bracket. When the location has been determined, cut a piece of wood just a little large than the pivot bracket. With a utility knife, cut the carpet at the mounting location and set the pivot bracket with wooden pad attached inside the carpet. Screw the pad in the floor.
Installing the Door
Insert the guide pins with adjustable pivots into the top and bottom pre-drilled holes on the door. If the doors do not have pre-drilled holes, refer to the instructions that came with the bifold doors to determine location of holes to be drilled. Gently tap the guide pins into the holes with a hammer to set them.
Insert the top guide pin into the top pivot bracket by lifting the door into place. Lift the door and push the bottom in to engage the bottom guide pin into the lower pivot bracket. The adjustable pivot on the guide pin can be adjusted by hand by turning in either direction. Move the end of the door about ¼-inch from the jamb.
Complete The Project
Install the door knobs on the bifold doors according to the manufactures instructions. Generally they should be located 36-inches from the floor on the leading edge piece of each door. Mark the door with the measurement and drill 3/16-inch holes through the door. Install the knobs by screwing the mounting screw from the other side into the knob.
Go inside the closet and close the doors to install the door aligner. The aligners keep the doors even when they are closed. Install each one about 6-inches from the floor on the leading outside edge of each door.
To completely finish the project, install molding around the top header to conceal the top rail.
Tags: pivot bracket, bottom pivot, bottom pivot bracket, about -inch, attaching screws, bifold doors