The need to reduce the opening often arises during redevelopment. In addition, errors may occur during the construction of the facility. As a result, to install the door frame, you need to adjust the dimensions of the opening to the required dimensions. To reduce the height and width, different materials are used. They are selected based on the type of structure: load-bearing wall or partition. In addition, the choice of material should be made taking into account the configuration of the doorway. For example, for the installation of arched structures it is better to use plasterboard.
Options for changing the size of the opening
There are several cases that lead to the need to reduce the opening. The most common are the redevelopment of rooms, the need to increase usable space, change the configuration of doors, and correct defects that were identified after the completion of construction work. There are several ways to help cope with this task:
| Smooth cut | There won't be any significant changes. The result will be a slight addition of wall space, but the rectangular opening will remain virtually untouched. | |
| Complex design | Possibility of partially filling the opening or using shaped design. For this, the best option would be to use drywall. It is possible to construct a vertical partition with subsequent design of shelves. This is true for rooms – studios. | |
| Arch | This method reduces the height of the opening. Quite a successful and original way. The result is achieved by removing the oval arch. |
Work to reduce openings is carried out using brick, plasterboard, wooden beams and plaster. If desired, other building materials can be used.
Where to get permission for redevelopment
According to the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, changes in the space of apartments include:
The narrowing of the doorway refers to the first term, so it must be recorded in the technical passport for the apartment. To do this, you need to contact the BTI (technical inventory bureau) and agree with specialists to inspect and measure the new parameters of the premises.
Staff will determine whether any proposed changes require approval. If a specialist from the technical inventory bureau, after an initial inspection, has given permission for redevelopment without the need to display it in the technical passport, you can safely begin work.
If not, you need to take the following steps to legally reduce the doorway:
- If you don’t have a registration certificate, you need to get one from the BTI.
Changes are being made to the data sheet regarding the narrowing of the doorway
2. Mark the planned work on the plan attached to the technical passport.
To narrow the opening, on the left side of the plan you need to display the apartment plan and all the doors
3. Develop a redevelopment project.
To reduce the doorway, changeable parts should be highlighted in the project
4. Having a plan and project in hand, draw up an application and contact the State Housing Inspectorate (GZHI).
Sample application for narrowing a doorway
5. After completing the work to reduce the doorway, draw up an act stating that the redevelopment was carried out and take it to the BTI.
6. Invite a specialist from GZHI to develop an updated apartment plan.
7. Receive a revised registration certificate from the BTI.
Ways to reduce doorways
There are not so many of them, but they all lead to the desired result.
- Moving to a new home is always associated with repair work and redevelopment, since all people have different tastes and preferences, and so do their possibilities. And if you are faced with an opening that is too wide and unnecessary, then you should adjust it to the parameters you need. This can be done using tongue-and-groove slabs. They are light weight and very easy to install. In addition to this material, you need to purchase a mortar that is applied to the ends of the slabs. An ideal match is achieved thanks to the presence of special grooves and ridges on the plates. After a short time (about 5 minutes), the wall increases to the size you need. Moreover, the new space made of tongue-and-groove slab will have significant rigidity, while the wall perpendicular will avoid additional load.
Tongue-and-groove slabs
- If you need to slightly adjust the door space, it is enough to use wooden blocks. This is the most common building material for this type of work. It will not take much time, effort, money, and even a beginner in the construction business can perform such work. First, you need to decide on the dimensions by which the space will be reduced and cut the bars to measure. The support bar is fixed at the bottom and top, then connected to a vertical leveling bar. To get a good result, you need to use a level.
- If you want to significantly reduce the doorway, you will need foam concrete blocks. Their main characteristics are manufacturability and lightness. Before installing them, it is imperative to get rid of the floor covering, if any. Afterwards, the overlap is securely bonded to the first block layer. When performing this type of work, before installing foam concrete blocks, a layer of mortar is laid out. Vertical seams are made staggered, so the next row is laid out not from a whole block, but from half a block, which is cut in half in advance. In order for the section of the resulting wall to have maximum strength, it is necessary to use screws when installing the blocks, which help to bind the overall masonry together. Once the work is completed, the new door can be installed.
- To reduce the doorway you can use brick, which is placed on a special solution. It is best to make it yourself, as there is no need for a large quantity of it, and it is not worth throwing money away. The main disadvantage of brick is its heavy weight, so it is almost never used in cases where it is necessary to reduce the height of the opening.
- One of the most popular materials for performing this type of work is considered to be drywall. It has a lot of positive qualities and compares favorably with other building materials that can be used to reduce the doorway. If it is available, you can create an opening of any shape and size with complex, arched and rectangular shapes. If the wall overhang is minimal, then no reinforcements are required. If the area being reduced is significant, then metal profiles will be needed. But there is one limitation that should not be neglected. Drywall never reduces openings for entrance doors, but only the spaces between the interior spaces of an apartment or house.
Differences in working with different types of doors
There are quite a few types of doors: from light plastic to heavy steel.
Aluminum or iron doors are rarely installed in the interior space, and other types are easily processed with hand tools. Almost any door made of wood, MDF or veneered canvas can be sawed to narrow or make it shorter. Except for glass. You can, of course, cut off an extra piece from a glass sheet, but it is, as a rule, made of tempered, thick glass. For this type of work you will need a special machine.
If the door is combined, for example, glass elements are inserted into a wooden frame, then such a door can be narrowed or shortened by the thickness of the wooden frame without touching the glass.
Laminated, veneered, laminated doors are very easy to saw, because they are wood processed in a special way. The same goes for plastic.
Dimensions and parameters of openings and door blocks
There are indicators that are often used when constructing doorways. They look like this:
| Canvas size in width and height (cm) | Door frame size in width and height (cm) | Desired opening size in width and height with maximum values (cm) | External dimensions of blocks taking into account platbands in width and height (cm) |
| 55.0 x 188.0 | 61.5 x 192.3 | 63.5 x 193.5 | 75.0 x 200.0 |
| 60.0 x 190.0 | 66.5 x 194.3 | 68.5 x 195.5 | 80.0 x 202.0 |
| 60.0 x 200.0 | 66.5 x 204.3 | 68.5 x 205.5 | 80.0 x 212.0 |
| 70.0 x 200.0 | 76.5 x 204.3 | 78.5 x 205.5 | 90.0 x 212.0 |
| 80.0 x 200.0 | 86.5 x 204.3 | 88.5 x 205.5 | 100.0 x 212.0 |
| 90.0 x 200.0 | 96.5 x 204.3 | 98.5 x 205.5 | 110.0 x 212.0 |
| 60.0 x 210.0 | 66.5 x 214.3 | 68.5 x 215.5 | 80.0 x 220.0 |
| 70.0 x 210.0 | 76.5 x 214.3 | 78.5 x 215.5 | 90.0 x 220.0 |
| 80.0 x 210.0 | 86.5 x 214.3 | 88.5 x 215.5 | 100.0 x 220.0 |
| 90.0 x 210.0 | 96.5 x 214.3 | 98.5 x 215.5 | 110.0 x 220.0 |
Country affairs
Smooth wooden lines in the manner of tree branches in combination with stained glass windows will look impressive on them. Designing doorways in an apartment or private house is no less important a process than finishing, decorating and arranging furniture.
There are various options for finishing the doorway. They help to achieve a harmonious and stylish design of the room. It must be taken into account that these designs are divided into two types, which depend on the presence or absence of a door leaf.
Doors are often not given due attention, although they can be effectively used and even made exclusively. If you don’t want to miss this nuance, use the help of designers from TopDom. We will measure and implement the design of the openings, ideally suited to the interior. An experienced designer will always be able to create a doorway, the design of which will be in effective harmony with the entire home.
A door decorated with fabric looks original; the choice of fabrics today is surprisingly wide, but this method also has its drawbacks. If you choose a single piece of fabric to decorate a door, you should take care of the original design. First, when choosing a fabric, you should make sure that the glue will not leave stains on it. Secondly, the edges of the fabric should be pre-treated, otherwise the protruding threads will not look very aesthetically pleasing.
Thirdly, doors decorated with fabric will not suit every interior design style. Those who are fond of patchwork, that is, creating canvases from different pieces of fabric, can turn their door into a real applique of bright scraps. By the way, if there is space on the door for a glass insert, you can hang a small curtain here, securing it with fishing line and small nails.
In what cases is a door not required?
A very cute door, decorated using patchwork technology. An option for creative people and a great idea for a teenager's room. The door can be decorated with a poster and an image of your favorite artist or group, sheets from an old geographical atlas, or sheet music.
Pasting such paper sheets and posters is as easy as regular wallpaper. This simple and not too expensive way of decorating a door is becoming more and more popular today. Stickers with such funny and at the same time useful inscriptions will not only decorate the doors, but will also cheer up the guests.
Tools for reducing door openings
Whatever material you choose for the job, there is a list of tools needed to make a doorway of the size you need.
You will need:
- screwdriver;
- perforator;
- dowels and screws;
- roulette;
- level;
- pencil;
- stationery knife;
- putty;
- primer;
- serpyanka;
- perforated corners or profiles.
But this list is not exhaustive, since the components are needed to make a laying mixture when working with foam concrete blocks or bricks.
How to reduce the height of a doorway
Let's focus on the most common material - drywall. It is most often used for this type of work. You need to do the following:
- Mandatory marking. The standard height of modern doors is 210 cm. This distance is marked off on the sides and marks are made using a pencil to mark the bottom edge of the plasterboard sheathing. Then you need to retreat 1.25 cm and mark the area where the frame guides will be installed using a metal profile. As a rule, a simple frame is used to reduce the height of the opening.
- If there is a need to make the structure more rigid, then the proposed racks of the horizontal frame should be connected to the load-bearing wall using direct hangers, the places for which are also marked.
- To fasten the guides using dowels or nails, holes are pre-drilled. Depending on the width of the opening, there can be 2 or 3 attachment points on each side.
- Direct hangers are attached according to the marks on top. Dowels are used for fastening. A minimum of 2 plates are required per meter width.
- As soon as the guides are installed, frame posts are inserted into them, which are connected with metal screws in the amount of 2-3 pieces. Straight hangers need to be bent to the posts and attached with at least 2 pieces of hooks on each side. After the frame stands are mounted.
- The final stage is the installation of cross bars between the posts and the sides. For this, a rack profile is used, the side shelves of which are removed using metal shears. Fastening occurs using metal screws.
For more information on how to reduce the opening height using drywall, watch the video:
Carrying out calculations and creating a layout
For a reduced opening, the following measurements are required:
- length and width of the door leaf;
- size of canopies;
- threshold height;
- door frame parameters.
To get this data, you need to understand:
- the depth of the opening should be the same as the thickness of the adjacent walls;
- the height of the opening corresponds to the height of the door frame;
- the distance between the opening and the ceiling is 1.5 cm;
- To calculate the width of the opening, you need to sum up the thickness of the frame and the width of the door leaf. Double the resulting figure;
- The gaps between the box and the wall are made equal on each side - 1 cm.
How to reduce the width of a doorway
But there are times when the door opening needs to be reduced not only at the top, but also in width. Accuracy and correctness in calculations can be achieved thanks to the rule. It is placed on the floor so that it is in contact with the side of the opening. Using the rule, a line is drawn parallel to the main wall. Such lines are drawn on both sides of the door opening. Marks are made vertical both on the slope and on the floor. A building level is used to draw stripes. Then marks of the same distance are made on the slope and the floor. Next, markings are made in such a way as to produce a high-quality frame.
An indentation is made from the existing line identical to the thickness of the drywall sheet. The base must be of high quality and strong. This is achieved thanks to rack profiles with a width of 10 cm. They are cut out and fixed to the slope and floor, taking into account the marks made. The profile is attached to the guides, but is not temporarily fixed.
The drywall sheet must be cut in compliance with all parameters, and accuracy is required. Then you need to prime the surface of the wall. It is better to purchase the mixture from trusted manufacturers, since cheap products do not have sufficient quality and can negatively affect the final result. Wait until the primer dries completely. The plasterboard base should be covered.
Let's start making the adhesive composition. It is important to first study the instructions on the packaging and strictly follow them. If glue is not available, gypsum plaster can be used. The prepared mass is used for plastering the surface. Do not make a thick layer of glue. Even a thin layer of high-quality glue can ensure good adhesion to the surface.
The cut drywall is applied to the base of the wall so that there is emphasis on the profiles. Using the rule, excess glue is squeezed out. A larger amount of the mixture must be applied to the place where the drywall comes into contact with the corner. To ensure that the base is level, the check is carried out using a rule. Drywall is connected to the profile using screws. The second part is done in exactly the same way.
You can watch the video for visual instructions:
Instructions for doing the work yourself
Before carrying out work, remove the canvas from its hinges and prepare it by removing handles and other accessories from it. The door is cut on a workbench, but if one is not available, a large, stable table will do.
If a solid wood panel needs to be adjusted to the opening due to sagging or rising floors, then it is best to trim the door from below. Take 2 height measurements: at the hinge part and in the vestibule. Transfer the measurements to the canvas, setting aside the new dimensions from the top edge. Draw a straight line through 2 points. To do this, it is advisable to use a long ruler and a square to control the right angles between the edges.
Attach the guide rail according to the marked markings. When using a power tool, it is better to use a metal strip or ruler. If you cut a door with a hand hacksaw, guides made from straight slats will do. Press the template to the canvas with clamps above the markings.
To preserve the layer of varnish and veneer on a polished door, treat it with a grinder. The tool's blade will leave a cut with smooth edges that cannot be made with a saw. You need to guide the angle grinder along the guide bar. Before processing, stick tape along the marking line and transfer the straight line to its surface.
If there is no grinder, the varnish coating on the part to be removed is removed with emery cloth, and the veneer is cut with a sharp knife on both planes of the canvas and on its edge parts. After this, the door can be sawed off along the guide.
Remove the clamps and sand the cut edges with sandpaper. You need to glue an edge strip onto a veneered door, matching its shade to the veneer. If the massive canvas is painted, cover the cut with paint or varnish. Hang the door leaf on the frame, eliminate distortions and attach the removed fittings.
Work is performed in the same sequence when replacing the canvas: the standard dimensions of the new product can be changed in height and width. When performing work, you need to consider what the product is made of.
How to reduce a doorway with drywall
This is an excellent material for such work. It is light weight and easy to install. You don't need any special skills to work with it. And you need to stock up on tools according to the following list:
- aluminum profile;
- special scissors for cutting profiles;
- drywall cutter;
- pencil for marks;
- glue and screws;
- screwdriver and drill;
- primer and plaster for finishing work.
First of all, you need to draw out the future design, using a tape measure, level and pencil. The profile is screwed on according to the marks made. The wall is built up using cut sheets of plasterboard. They are attached to the wall using construction glue. Fastening to the profile occurs with self-tapping screws. As soon as these works are completed, the surface needs to be primed and plastered. The final touch is the decorative decoration of the walls.
What materials will you need?
To change the size of the opening use:
- drywall;
- brick.
Inexpensive and easy to use, drywall has all the necessary characteristics to change the size of the doorway. Advantages of this material:
- suitable for painting and wallpaper;
- ease of dismantling and installation of structures;
- long service life;
- the ability to make an opening of any shape.
For narrowing in buildings with thick walls and panel houses, brickwork is used. It should be borne in mind that brick is more suitable for reduction in width. To change the height, builders recommend using lighter materials.
How to reduce a doorway with plaster
If the opening needs to be adjusted slightly, you can use plaster. The best option is cement mixtures.
To prevent the solution from falling off, you must first prime the wall. If the surface is smooth, you need to make small notches. You can resort to using a special metal mesh, which is attached to the wall with dowels. But if you expect to have very heavy doors, then you should abandon plaster and choose better materials.
How to reduce a doorway with a brick
It is worth noting that this material is much stronger than drywall. But it can only be used when it is necessary to significantly reduce the doorway and when the thickness of the walls is equal to or exceeds the dimensions of the brick.
Before you get started, you need to make sure you have the following tools:
- containers;
- level;
- roulette;
- trowel;
- construction mixer;
- spatula;
- fittings;
- metal scissors;
- rubber mallet;
- plasters;
- wooden beam (to reduce the height of the opening).
First, prepare a solution of sand and cement in a ratio of 1:3, as well as water to achieve a medium consistency. You can also purchase ready-made mixtures at a construction supermarket.
Before laying brick, you need to carefully level the surface. For greater strength, reinforcement is used. Several rods are placed along the wall and the same number across. Then the prepared area is covered with bricks. The seams are rubbed down, the brick is plastered. Once the solution has dried, the timber is removed and the frame is inserted into the door opening.
With the help of timber
Timber is used in wooden houses. This is structurally more convenient and more harmonious from an aesthetic point of view. First you need to adjust the timber to the required parameters.
- Width of the beam - trimming must be done so that the workpiece fits into the opening as tightly as possible. Then you won’t need to “wedge” it.
- The thickness of the timber - if it protrudes beyond the plane of the partition, it is enough to process the excess part with a plane.
Work order:
- The timber is measured, cut at the required distance and installed in the doorway.
- If its tire is not enough to narrow, then the next beam is installed, etc. - up to the size that suits the owner.
- To increase the strength of the structure, the timber is attached to the top crossbar of the opening, to the floor and to each other.
- Upon completion of the work, it is advisable to decorate the timber with plywood or plasterboard.
