Replacing a traditional swing-type door in a closet, pantry or other doorway with a bifold door can substitute an equally functional door, with the added space-saving advantage of a door that folds compactly to the side. A bifold door's folding feature also eliminates the swing area required of a conventional panel door. The basic installation procedure for a single bifold door is simple to do and can be adapted to double-bifold units in wider openings. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Prepare the door opening. Remove the existing door and hardware, if applicable. Remove the existing door stop from the jamb face. The jamb surface finishing, such as sanding, filling nail holes and painting or staining, should be completed before proceeding to install the bifold door.
2. Determine which side you want the new bifold door to pivot on. Most standard bifold doors are reversible and can pivot from either side. Mark the center-line of the jamb at the top two corners and the base on the pivoting side. These marks will align the top track and the pivot hardware for your new door. Measure the width of the door opening between the top two corners. Cut the bifold track, if necessary, to the door's width dimension minus 1/8-inch.
3. Place the door track flat against the door's top jamb with the ends aligned on the center mark at each corner. The track should be oriented with the adjustable bracket on the pivot-side of the doorway. Use an awl or center punch to mark each of the pre-drilled screw holes in the track. Remove the track after the holes are marked and push the awl or center punch into each hole to create a pilot hole for the screws. Reposition the door track against the top jamb. Secure the track in place with the screws provided upward through the track channel into the header framing above.
4. Install the door's bottom pivot bracket. Place the bracket on the floor, centered on the mark in Step 4 and the vertical mounting plate of the bracket against the jamb face. Use the awl or center punch to mark each of the bracket's screw holes on the surface beneath. Secure the bracket in place with the provided screws.
5. Check the top-to-bottom pivot alignment. Measure horizontally outward from the face of the pivot-side jamb to the center of the top and bottom pivot holes. Adjust either or both bracket setting, as necessary, to align the holes. Both brackets can be adjusted with a screwdriver to release the locking screw on the bracket and move the pivot as needed.
6. Lay the bifold door on the floor close to the opening, with the panel hinges facing upward. Make certain that any panel configuration that defines the orientation of the door is correctly positioned. For example, the horizontal rail of a louvered or raised panel style bifold door is always aligned toward the bottom of the door. The orientation of the door on the floor should be so that it could be tilted up into the opening and be correctly positioned.
7. Install the door's bottom pivot pin. Insert the threaded pivot pin with the hexagonal adjustment nut into the pre-drilled hole in the bottom end of the pivot-side panel. Push the pin's sleeve end into the hole until the molded collar is tight against the panel's bottom surface. You may have to gently tap the pin with a hammer to fully seat the sleeve.
8. Insert the sleeve-end of the spring-loaded top pivot pin into the pre-drilled hole in the top of the pivot-side panel. Push the pin's sleeve end into the hole until the molded collar is tight against the panel's top surface. Again, you can gently tap on the pin with a hammer to fully seat the sleeve into the hole. Install the spring-loaded roller guide into the pre-drilled hole in the top of the closing-side door panel.
9. Install the bifold door. Stand the door upright in front of the door opening. Grip the door on both sides and lift it up to guide the top pivot pin into the pivot bracket in the top track then swing the bottom of the door inward to align the bottom pivot pin into the floor bracket. Lower the door and release it. The bifold hinges use the door's weight to hold it in the pivots.
10. Latch the top roller guide into the track. Depress the spring-loaded shaft to allow the roller to pass below the track edge. Align the roller with the track channel and release it to lock the roller into the track.
11. Close the bifold panels and check the door alignment and swing. When closed, the gap on each side of the door should be equal and consistent from top to bottom. Adjust the side gaps with the appropriate pivot. The top gap should be approximately 3/8- to 1/2-inch and can be adjusted with the bottom pivot pin to raise or lower the door as needed.
12. Install the door pull knob, if applicable. Insert the knob screw through the backside of the pre-drilled handle hole. For doors that are not pre-drilled for a knob, the standard knob installation requires a 3/16-inch hole positioned approximately 32 inches from the floor and centered in the closing panel. Thread the handle onto the knob screw from the outswing-side of the panel.
Tags: bottom pivot, bifold door, bifold door, center punch, door opening
