Is it feasible to add a door to our old 1890s house’s walk-in closet room, considering the existing door frame and our upcoming move?
Asked by Meral Düşenkalkar 
4 months ago
Last Updated: July 28, 2024
Do you think it would be doable to put a door back on this room based on these pictures? The room used to be a nursery but now we use it as a walk-in closet. The house is pretty old, from the 1890s, and the door frame looks to be in similar condition. Do you think it’s possible to just add hardware and a door without having to do any major renovations like replacing the old frame? We’re planning to move in the next year or two so I don’t want to make any big changes.
If the door is the right size, it should work well. Double-check the alignment of the hardware, and if it seems off with existing holes, you can use toothpicks or dowel rods to fill them. I wouldn’t recommend using wood filler, as it may not hold up over time.
Because of the split wood on the latch side, I think getting a new framed door would be a good idea. You could remove the trim from one side to take rough measurements. If they’re standard, you should be able to purchase a door with a frame included. The widths for standard rough ins are shown in the chart below. Doors to fit your rough opening are quite common and can be found in most building supply or big box stores. In terms of height, they usually come longer than necessary, so you can trim them to fit. Typically, you would trim the bottom of both the door and the frame.
It’s possible to do it, but you would need some solid carpentry skills to pull it off. Maybe consider getting a pre-hung door instead…
I’m thinking if I use clamps or screws to bring the split together, then apply wood glue and use a clamp. We can drill out the rest of the holes for a dowel to glue in and replace the wood for the hinge and latch screws.
Sure, you can definitely measure the height and width to get the right door size before fixing the jams.
When purchasing, make sure to get the correct size blank, reinforce the frame, and then add your own hinges and doorknobs.