How to Order & Replace An Interior Door (With Designer Recommendations)
We finished up the basement media room renovation over the weekend and the last piece of the puzzle was replacing the doors and hardware… a much needed upgrade! With that at top of mind, I thought a blog post might be helpful. I wanted to share how to order and replace an interior door… as well as share my top recommendations for timeless options that won’t go out of style. Click through for an inside look at the process, cost, installation, and design selection…
Doors make a huge difference in terms of function and aesthetic. Millwork can add value to your home, doors play a big part in sound proofing, and stylistically speaking- doors and millwork play a very large part in creating architectural aesthetic of a home. In the past, I’ve talked about selecting interior doors, my love for classic brass door hardware, and how to choose hardware, but I’ve never shared the entire door replacement process. Let’s dive right in!
Measure the Existing Door
There are a handful of precise measurements you need to take, so grab a pen & paper to make a diagram and jot down your dimensions…
Determine the Door Swing
First you’ll need to determine the door swing. Does the door swing into the room, or away from the room? Which side is the handle hardware located on? Hopefully this diagram offers an easy visual explanation.
Measure the Door Length, Width, and Depth
Measure the door from top-to-bottom and side-to-side, keeping the measuring tape as straight or level as possible. I find it helpful to draw a basic diagram of the door, and jot dimensions as I measure.
Pro Tip: If you’re measuring down to 1⁄32, you’ll be paying extra for a custom sized door at that point… you can typically purchase standard size doors in larger increments, then cut them down (shaving from the bottom) prior to installation for significant savings- but, obviously this requires extra work. It is an option though if you’re on a budget!
Open the door and measure the depth. It’s important to get an accurate measurement here, so it closes & aligns properly…
Measure Hinge Size
Measure from the top of the hinge to the bottom of the hinge to determine your hinge size. Hinge sizes are 3″, 3 1⁄2″, or 4″. The door manufacturer will need to make the same size hinges that appears on the existing casing, which is why this measurement is very important.
Measure Hinge Location
Next, you’ll measure each hinge location- always measure from the top of the door down to the top of the hinge plate. Why? If the door needs trimmed or shortened- it comes from the bottom of the door… so it doesn’t affect the hinge placement. Each door will either have two or three hinges, and you’ll need that measurement for each hinge. Examples of my three hinges below…
Measure The Door Hardware (Knob, Lever, Etc)
Now, you’re ready to measure for the door hardware… from the top of the door to the center of the door handle (on the side profile), like below…
Next, measure the backset- most hardware requires 2 3⁄8″ or 2 3⁄4″. If you’re changing your hardware, you would opt for whatever measurement your new hardware specifies. For example, our backset moved from 2 3⁄8″ (shown below) to 2 3⁄4″ , using our new Carré door hardware by Grandeur.
Choose a New Door (Selection Tips)
Now that you have all of your measurements, you can move onto the fun part… choosing a new door style. Here are my best tips for making a timeless selection, as well as some things to consider!
Hollow Core vs Solid Core
Before you hone in on a style, you’ll be asked if you would like hollow or solid core doors. My personal preference is solid core doors because of their substantial weight and soundproofing abilities, but hollow core are less expensive and budget-friendly. Neither is a wrong option, as visually they’ll look the exact same. It’s situational and dependent on your needs, priorities, and budget. Solid core is higher-end.
Panel Style Selection Tips
I’ve found simple to be best when it comes to door selection. Consider the architecture of your home, what feels most cohesive, and I typically recommend avoiding any eased arched or angular panels (sticking to straight horizontal and vertical lines). Those tend to feel less dated. I circled the door style we’ve been using throughout our home. As we renovate each room, we replace the existing doors with these…
I did want to give you some “safe bets” or favorites that will withstand the test of time. As an interior designer, I consider these simplistic doors all to be classic picks… or variations of these:
Choosing Quality Hardware
Along with choosing a timeless door style, I also wanted to stress the importance of quality door hardware. A good heavy and aesthetically pleasing hardware can compensate for a less than ideal door style- and it can add weight to hollow core doors making them feeling more substantial.
Be sure to check out this post on how I select door hardware, and this one containing my favorite brass doorknobs & levers. If you’re looking for my exact hardware sources, I save all of them here!
Order or Purchase the Replacement Door
Once you’ve got your measurements, are set on a style, and have your hardware selected… you’re finally ready to make the purchase and place your order! Head to your local home improvement store (our doors were all ordered from Lowe’s, FYI), and keep the following in mind:
There are TWO main door options:
- A Slab Door = which is basically blank… no pre-bored holes, hinges, etc- in which case, you’d be drilling or routing the hardware location yourself- this option just requires measuring the overall door length and width to place your order.
- Ready- to-Hang Door = comes with pre-bored holes for hardware, routed for hinges, left swing or right swing specified, etc. It’s custom to fit your space and you’re equipped for ordering with the measurements we previously took. This is the easiest option for replacing a door if you’re leaving the existing door casing (like we did here, in our basement).
Ordering Process
Some quick tips as you’re actively placing your order… here’s the process:
- Take diagrams or visuals along to ensure the communication is completely understood when ordering your doors (especially from big box retailers), as we’ve had them make mistakes.
- Relay your measurements, specify the door swing, backset, hardware & hinge placement, etc.
- Specify the panel style- with an accompanying photo or diagram for accuracy.
- Specify the finish: unfinished, primed, or painted. We typically just have them primed and do the finishing work ourselves to save money.
- If you’re ordering multiple doors, make sure each door is labeled or numbered for organization when it comes to ordering & installation.
- Finally- place your order and note the lead-time. Most manufacturers are 4-8 weeks.
Remove the Existing Door
Before removing your existing door, check to make sure the new replacement is accurate.
The process for removing the existing door is easy… simply remove the existing hardware (if you’re reusing it or for resale), then unscrew the hinges from the casing.
Finish & Install Replacement Door
Prior to installing, it’s easiest to paint or finish the door first (if you didn’t purchase it pre-finished). Next, screw the door to the hinges, the hinges to the casing, and install the hardware. It’s as easy as that! Here’s how ours turned out… so much better.
FAQ
Surprisingly, no! Solid core is typically made up of MDF with a heavy foam center, but it’s still twice as heavy as a hollow core door. It’s also noise dampening / sound proofing and gives a substantial, heavy feel of quality. Why are solid core doors not solid wood? Solid wood is not stable- it’s prone to warping, expansion, contraction, etc. Therefore, it’s not the most durable option.
Aesthetically speaking, I do prefer when they feel cohesive. Of course the sizes, color, and hardware style can vary, but I opt for consistent doors. In regards to material, some people opt for hollow core doors in insignificant areas- such as closets, pantries, and areas where soundproofing is not needed. That’s a great way to save money in the budget!
It varies… anywhere from $100 to $800, depending on the material, customization, size, etc. Our doors cost around $400-$500 each.
I prefer semi gloss! It’s easy to clean and has the perfect sheen… glossy, but not too shiny. Check out this post on how to paint a door (with a professional looking finish).
I know this was a long thorough post, but I hope it’s helpful someday if you find yourself ordering and replacing interior doors- the prep work is the most time consuming! Feel free to leave me your questions in the comment section below. I’m always happy to help. Have a great week, friends! Be sure to check back for the basement media room reveal.