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Installing bifold doors is a simple process that can add style and functionality to any room. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you install bifold doors:
1. Measure the opening: Measure the width and height of the door opening to ensure you purchase the correct size bifold doors.
2. Remove the old door: If there is an existing door, remove it and any hardware attached to the frame.
3. Prepare the opening: Clean the opening and remove any debris. Repair any damaged or uneven surfaces.
4. Attach the track: Install the top track onto the header, making sure it is level. Attach the bottom track to the floor.
5. Install the pivot brackets: Attach the pivot brackets to the top and bottom of the opening.
6. Hang the doors: Hang the bifold doors onto the pivot brackets, making sure they are level and aligned.
7. Adjust the doors: Adjust the doors so they open and close smoothly. Make any necessary adjustments to the pivot brackets or tracks.
8. Install the handles: Install the handles onto the doors, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
9. Test the doors: Open and close the doors several times to ensure they are functioning properly.
10. Finish the installation: Install any additional hardware, such as door stops or floor guides, as needed.
By following these steps, you can successfully install bifold doors and enhance the appearance and functionality of your space.
If you are tired of reaching behind bypass sliding doors in your closets and want easier access to your clothes, installing bifold doors might be a good solution. Unlike sliding doors, bifold closet doors fold completely out of the way when open, allowing you to access your entire closet and providing ample light for choosing your daily outfits.
If you are handy, figuring out how to install bifold doors is relatively easy. The most challenging part is ensuring that the doors you purchase fit the closet opening, but if it is a standard size, this should not be an issue.
You have several options when it comes to choosing bifold doors, ranging from flat panels, louvers, or glass inserts, or even making your own doors. Flat-panel doors are often hollow core, but it is worth noting that hollow-core doors are flimsy and prone to damage. If you opt for flat panels, it is better to choose solid-core doors. Although they may be heavier to lift and place, they are less likely to come off the tracks and are easier to adjust if needed for nonstandard door openings.
Measuring for Bifold Doors
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To find bifold doors that fit, you need accurate measurements of the height and width of your door opening. It is important to measure from the jambs (the door frame) and not from any trim or tracks that may already be installed.
The doors you purchase should be approximately one inch narrower than the width of the door opening and 1 to 2 inches shorter in height. Keep in mind that each door panel is half the width of the actual door. You need clearance on the pivoting edge of the door to allow it to clear the jamb, and you also need clearance on the opposite edge to ensure smooth closing without any obstructions. The height gap allows the door to open and close without rubbing against the floor.
Tip
While taking measurements, it is advisable to check if the door jambs are plumb (level). This can be done using a spirit level or by measuring the width from the top, bottom, and middle of the jamb, and the height from the left, right, and middle of the top jamb. If the width and height measurements are not the same, choose the smallest measurement to guarantee a proper fit for your bifold doors.
What Hardware is Included with Bifold Doors?
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Bifold doors come with all the necessary mounting hardware for installation. Before you start the installation process, it is recommended to open the package and ensure that all the required items are included. You should expect to find the following items:
- The door panels need to be connected with hinges. If you buy a set with loose panels, the hinges and screws should be included so that you can connect the doors yourself.
- A metal rail that spans the header in the door opening should be included in the kit. For a double bifold set, there should be two rails with a connecting plate and screws to join them together.
- In the kit, you will find a spring-loaded top pivot and a ribbed bottom pivot to support the door. You will also find a guide roller to keep the leading edge of the door connected to the track. The pivot sockets are already installed in the top rail.
- A single bifold door comes with one bottom bracket to support the bottom pivot, while a double bifold door has two. These brackets have holes to attach them to the door jamb or the floor. Screws are provided for the brackets.
- If you purchase a double bifold door set, you will need aligners to keep the leading edges of the doors aligned when closed. These aligners are metal plates that you screw to the inside of the doors.
- The door pulls usually come with the kit, but you can easily find replacements if you prefer.
Things You’ll Need
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Pencil
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Drill
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Set of drill bits
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Hammer
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Hacksaw
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Screwdriver
How to Install Bifold Doors
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Before installation, make any necessary modifications to the doors, such as trimming them to size. You can also paint the doors before or after installation. Remove the existing door, including any tracks or trim, and patch screw holes and touch up the paint on the door frame.
Step 1: Connect Pairs of Panels With Hinges
Take the door panels out of the packaging and lay them flat on the floor with the inside facing up. If they are not already connected with hinges, place pairs of panels next to each other and align the top and bottom. Attach the hinges as directed by the manufacturer, mark the screw holes with a pencil, remove the hinges, and drill pilot holes on each mark. Reattach the hinges and secure them with the provided screws.
Step 2: Placing the Pivot Pins and Guide Roller
Put the top pivot pin into the predrilled hole in the top part of the door panel that is closest to the jamb, and gently tap it with a hammer. In the same way, put the guide roller on the top of the leading edge of the adjacent panel, and then put the bottom pivot pin in the hole in the bottom part of the door panel closest to the jamb. If you are installing double bifolds, repeat this process with the other set of panels.
Step 3: Installing the Door Track
Cut the top rail to the same length as the door header (if necessary, use a hacksaw). If you are installing a double bifold set with two rails, connect them using the provided connector. Then, if you need to adjust the size of the rail, cut equal amounts from both ends to keep the connector in the middle.
Place the rail in the middle of the door header, at least 1 1/2 inches away from the front edge. Make sure both ends are the same distance from the front edge. Mark the screw holes. Remove the track, drill pilot holes on each mark, and then put the rail back and secure it with screws.
Step 4: Positioning the Upper Pivot Socket
Loosen the screw in the preinstalled pivot socket in the top rail, and move the socket about 1/2 inch away from the side jamb. Use a screwdriver to tighten the screw just enough to prevent it from moving, but not all the way. If you are hanging double bifolds, position the socket on the other end of the track in the same manner.
Step 5: Installing the Bottom Bracket
Measure the distance of the top rail from the front of the door jamb, and make a mark on the bottom of the jamb at the same distance from the front. Align the front edge of the bottom bracket with the mark, and move the bracket down until it rests on the floor. Mark the screw holes on the jamb, drill pilot holes, and screw the bracket onto the jamb. Once it is secure, drive another screw through the hole in the bottom of the bracket and into the floor. If you are installing double bifolds, attach the other bracket to the other jamb in the same way.
Step 6: Hanging the Door
Insert the top pivot pin into the pivot socket in the top rail, and push the door up to depress the spring-loaded pin. Lift the door high enough for the bottom pivot to clear the edge of the bottom bracket. When it does, lower the door so that the bottom pivot fits into the bracket. With both pivots in place, push down on the spring-loaded roller in the top corner of the leading edge of the door, position that edge under the top rail, and release the roller to allow it to fit inside the rail. Repeat this process with the other set of doors if you are installing double bifolds.
Step 7: Adjusting the Pivots
If necessary, lift the door and turn the bottom pivot clockwise to lower the door or counterclockwise to raise it. Once the door is at the desired height, lift it again and move the bottom pivot along the bottom bracket until the edge of the door is about 1/2 inch away from the jamb. Then, loosen the screw on the top pivot bracket, slide it to align the edge of the door with the jamb, and tighten the screw. Repeat these steps for the other set of doors in case of a double bifold.
Step 8: Installing the Aligners (Double Bifolds Only)
Enter the closet, close the doors, and screw one of the two aligners from the kit to the inside edge of one door, about 12 inches above the floor. Ensure that the curved section overlaps the other door and faces away from it. Install the second aligner on the other door, just below the first aligner, facing in the opposite direction.
Step 9: Installing the Door Handle
The door handle is typically placed on the face of the leading panel, either in the middle or towards the leading edge, and about 32 to 36 inches above the floor. Drill a hole, insert the handle screw from the back of the door, and screw on the handle from the front. Repeat these steps for the other set of doors in case of a double bifold.
Step 10: Testing the Door
Open and close the bifold door to ensure smooth operation. If the leading edge closes too tightly against the jamb or the other door, or if there is a significant gap, adjust the pivot positions accordingly.
