DIY: Widening a Doorway

Widening a doorway will open the area and create the illusion of more space. Small homes or rooms benefit from the openness provided by widening a doorway. It is important to check the area for electrical outlets, electrical switches, plumbing and duct work. Extra support is required for weight bearing walls.

Tools and Material:

Tools required include: hammer; pry or wrecking bar; measuring tape; miter saw or circular saw; reciprocating saw; framing square; level; drywall tools; carpenter's adhesive; and a pencil. Optional - 6 feet ladder.

Materials required include: 8-penny6 nails; 16-penny finishing nails; 2 x 6's; 2 x 4's; 1 x 6's and ½ inch or ¾ inch drywall; ½ inch or ¾ inch plywood; door casing or plastic drywall corners; and drywall mud.

Process:

Begin by removing the door molding. Then measure and mark the new door opening making sure that it is level and square. Check for visible electrical outlets or switches. Remove the plates and turn off the electrical before beginning to remove the drywall or plaster and lath. Check for hidden plumbing or duct work after the wall covering has been removed. Contact a professional to move the items if you are not capable of doing so yourself.

For a weight bearing wall, brace the opening. This is done by building a temporary wall out of 2 x 4's. The temporary wall should be a minimum of 2 feet larger than the opening desired. It should be placed by centering it with the new opening and placing it 2 feet away from the current wall.

Remove the header and visible studs. This may be done with a reciprocating saw and a pry bar or wrecking bar. Clean the area before beginning to install the new doorway.

Replace the header with a new one made from a 2 x 6 sandwich. The sandwich is made by taking two - 2 x 6's the length of the new opening and placing a piece of plywood between them. Put construction glue between the layers before nailing. The construction glue helps with strength and stability.

Slide the new header into place then fill any gaps with shims. Use the 8-penny nails to nail into place. If the new door opening does not match to an existing wall stud, new side supports will have to be installed. Slide the side supports in, shim any gaps and nail into place.

Install drywall in any holes; on the front/back of the header; and the front/back of each side piece. If a door casing will not be used, drywall the front of the side pieces and the bottom of the header. Door trim is not essential depending on the style of the house.

If door trim is not desired, finish the edges of the opening with plastic drywall corners. Tape any drywall seams. Apply drywall mud and finish off the drywall seams. Sand the drywall mud.

Install the door trim using the finishing nails. Do not use the plastic drywall corners if door trim will be used.

Finally, paint and/or stain the walls and the door trim for a finished doorway opening.

Any dimension is possible when widening a doorway. The only limitations are the size of the wall, whether the wall is weight bearing, and what hidden obstacles exist within the wall. Ron Hazelton.com provides an excellent website describing how to widen a doorway.

Warning:

Do not attempt to widen a doorway if you are a novice carpenter. Knowledge of weight bearing walls is essential to prevent permanent damage to the home.