DIY Internal Door Fitting: A Step-by-Step Guide

So you’ve found your dream door, used our stockist finder to track it down, placed an order and taken delivery. What next? We always recommend speaking to a professional door fitter or joiner, because there’s no substitute for experience. But if you’re still thinking about fitting an internal door yourself, and you’re willing to dive in and have a go, there’s no reason you can’t be admiring your perfectly fitted handiwork before the day is out.

This guide is the answer to ‘can I install interior doors myself?’ – Yes, you can! We’ll run through all the tools and materials you’ll need, and a step by step guide to how to do it. But first, how much does it cost? You’re already making a saving by taking on the job of fitting an internal door yourself. So that just leaves the cost of any tools or materials you need.

Step by step guide to DIY internal door installation

What do I need to get started?

Fitting an internal door will require a few common tools and materials. A drill with a range of bits, screws and a screwdriver, a chisel and mallet or hammer, a spirit level, tape measure, packers or wedges, and any filler or paint you might need to clean up the job after the job is done.

Most importantly of all, you’ll need a door. Our range covers all sorts of styles, so there will absolutely be an LPD internal door to fit your home. Think about whether you need any specific functionality, like a fire door rating, as well as any requirements for finishing and accessories.

Step 1: Measure your door frame

Next, remove the old door from the frame. This should be as simple as unscrewing the hinges, but make sure there’s someone to lend a hand. Doors can be heavy, and your old door will probably fall whilst you’re unscrewing the final few screws. Always start at the bottom, and don’t let the weight of the door pull out any screws which might damage the frame.

Finally, you’ll need to use your tape measure to accurately measure the door frame. There’s plenty of information on the subject available on another blog, how to measure an internal door. But one top tip is to use the door you just removed, if it was already a good fit. If you don’t have an existing door, you can also push your new internal door up against the frame and mark a line where any part overlaps the frame.

Step 2: Cutting your door (if applicable)

Start by cutting any excess on your new internal door using a plane (for smaller reductions) or a circular or table saw (for larger ones). The ideal gap between your door and the frame should be 3mm. If you need to remove less than 5mm, we’d recommend taking excess from the hinge side if possible – that way, the handle side (which most people will notice) remains pristine.

Step 3: Install the hinges on the new door

Now it’s time to fit your hinges. Hold your door up to the frame, then use packers or wooden wedges to make sure the door sits in the opening with equal space around it. Use a pencil to mark the position of the existing hinges on your new door’s side, and then mark the depth of the hinge plate on the face of the door.

With a sharp 25mm chisel, cut around the pencil markings to create a recess for your hinge plate. To do this, start by cutting around the edge of your pencil marks. Then hold the chisel at a 45 degree angle and make a series of stepped cuts, 5mm apart, to the depth of the hinge plate. When chiselling in the direction of the grain, making smaller cuts will help avoid splitting the wood. Then chisel out the recess carefully.

Drill pilot holes in the door by using the holes on the hinge plate as a guide. You might also need to drill pilot holes in the door frame if your hinge won’t be in the same place as your old door. Many people ask if you put the hinges on the door or frame first, but the answer is the former. Use a screwdriver to carefully screw the hinges to the door. The pilot holes should help avoid the wood splitting, and create a seamless finish.

Step 4: Hanging the internal door

This is the part most people worry about – how to hang your internal door without leaving uneven gaps or ending up with a door that scrapes your floor as it closes. Our top tip is to take your time, and to remember that even professional joiners and door installers don’t get it right every time. There’s always the opportunity to loosen screws, make adjustments and try again.

Hold your door up to the frame at a 90 degree angle, as if the door was open. Then fix one screw at the bottom of each hinge. With those screws in place, see if your door opens smoothly. Look for uneven gaps, any scrapes or tightness, and use your spirit level to check the whole door is straight where possible.

If there are issues, try loosening the screws a little – the tightness can have an impact on internal door movement. If any area is really catching, it might be time to take the door off the frame and plane or cut down those areas. Then start the hanging process again. Practice makes perfect!

Finishing the job

The next step in the process would be to then fit the door handle, and, if required, to make any adjustments to the frame. Painted frames might need touching up where hinges have removed paintwork, or there might be areas where the old hinges have left holes that require some wood filler.

Otherwise, it’s time to step back and admire your brand new door. Weighing up costs versus a professional door fitter will be different in every case, for example a tradesperson would bring their own tools and materials whereas homeowners may need to buy them for the job specifically. But whether you’re looking to save money for more renovations, or just enjoy learning new skills, you’ll have a door to be proud of.

If you’re interested in improving other skills around door fitting, check out our blogs on how to measure internal doors and how to treat and finish internal doors. Or explore our fantastic range of internal doors, designed to make fitting quick and simple, with styles to match any decor.