Most commonly used as closet doors, bifold doors attach to a metal track at the top of the doorframe. The bifold door follows this track while folding in the middle. Once opened all the way, the entire space of the closet is easily accessible. If the upper track is still in working condition, not bent or rubbing against the door, there will be no need to replace it when replacing the bifold door. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove the screws holding the floor bracket in place. If you have two bifold doors, each door will have a floor bracket. The floor bracket will be on the jamb side of both doors.
2. Unhook the bifold door from the track. Release the leading door's pin first. Twist the pin until it unlocks and then swing the bifold door out so it is off the track. To remove the jamb side door, pull the locking lever away from the pin. Repeat this process with the second bifold door. Set the old doors aside.
3. Stand the new bifold door's jamb side door on its edge. The edge facing up should be the edge you will install hinges upon. Measure 11 inches up from the bottom of the door and 7 inches down from the top of this door, on the edge. Measure the distance between these two marks and divide this by two to find where to put the mark for the center hinge. Repeat this process on the opposite side's jamb side door as well.
4. Place the bottom edge of a hinge on the bottom mark. Drill a pilot hole through each screw hole in the hinge, using a self-centering bit. Use the supplied screws to secure the hinge to the door. Repeat this process with the center hinge and the top hinge. Secure hinges to the second bifold door in this same manner.
5. Place the leading door on edge next to the jamb side doors. The backs of the doors should be touching. Make sure the bottoms of the doors are level with each other, using a square. Put the hinges on the leading door making sure that they butt up with the hinges on the jamb side door. Drill pilot holes and secure the hinges the same way you did in the previous step. Repeat with the opposite side's leading and jamb side door.
6. Screw the track hardware to the top and bottom edges of the bifold doors. The pivot plates attach to the top and bottom of the jamb side door. They will be mounted on the side of the door closest to the jamb. Screw the locking pin to the leading door on the side of the door opposite the hinges. Each manufacturer has different recommendations for the placement of this hardware. Follow the diagram supplied with your tracking hardware.
7. Place the new floor bracket on the floor next to the jamb. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations regarding place if from the jamb. Hang a plumb bob from the center of the sliding track. Move the floor bracket forward or backward until the hole in the bracket aligns with the plumb bob. Screw the bracket loosely in place. Remove the screws and set the bracket aside. Repeat with the jamb door on the opposite side of the closet.
8. Hook the pivot plate on the upper edge of the jamb side door into the pivot socket on the track. Push the lever on the pivot socket to lock the pivot plate in place. Put the locking pin, on the leading door, into the track. Twist the pin to hold it in place. Lock the floor bracket into place on the bottom pivot plate on the jamb side door. Repeat this step with the second bifold door on the other side.
9. Position the holes in the floor bracket over the screw holes you made in Step 7. Place a flexible bit extender on a drill and secure the floor bracket to the floor with the provided screws. Repeat on the second set of bifold doors. Close both bifold doors.
10. Center the two doors over the closet opening. The gaps on the sides should be the same width. Tighten the pivot sockets, using the wrench that came with the hardware, to hold them in place.
11. Go inside the closet and close the bifold doors. Where the doors meet, measure 6 inches up from the floor. Place the two pieces of the door aligner together. Place the bottom edge of these pieces on the mark you just made and screw them to the backs of the doors.
Tags: jamb side, side door, bifold door, floor bracket, jamb side door
