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Interior doors?
We've decided to move to a new house, already have a contract and are getting ready to close. Once we're out of our current house we'll put the old one up for sale.
Here's a small issue, though: Our interior doors are in really bad shape (and one is missing.) The house we're in is an older one and apparently some time in the last 50 years or so, they've changed the location of the doorknobs on interior doors which means that I can't just go to Home Depot or Lowe's and buy a new door and put it on.
Hoping to find a local source who can make 4 interior doors for us (3 of them are bedroom doors, 80 x 30 and one is a bathroom door, 80 x 24.) We've had a couple of handymen/contractors come in and the best price we've gotten is nearly $600 or $150/door.
The "missing" door is identical to one of the "present" doors, so all I really need is for someone to take a blank hollow core interior door (~$30 at a big box store) and drill the hole for the knob and then mortise in the hole for the lock work and the hinges, and they can even use our current doors as a template. Does anyone know of a place where I can get this done for a better price? I figure I can put the doors in myself if I can get them made but mortising the strike plate and hinges requires equipment and knowledge that I just don't have.
Thanks in advance!
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Have you considered buying one cased door from the big box store and just replacing the whole thing yourself?
May be cheaper overall
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Ryobi jigs are available at depot for both operations hinge and handle. You don't need to mortise the latch if you buy say a kwikset knob. You'd need a drill and router to use the jigs.
There is a shop that will build your doors in the Denver area but the name escapes me as I haven't used them in 10 years.
150/door isn't that terrible of a price.
Another option is to replace them with a new prehung.
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Prehung's the way to go. And any "handyman" service should be able to do it.
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If it were me I would go the pre hung route. Just replace them it will be cheaper and faster.
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+1 on going with a pre-hung from a big box store. Remember, the width measurement on a pre-hung is the casing itself and NOT the actual door.
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If it's anything like my house, the door jambs are steel, and the hinge placement is different than today's out of the box doors. Removing the steel jambs is a lot of work and that will probably tear up the drywall and end in more painting.
If the jambs aren't steel, then disregard.
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Prehung will freshen up the house. Can be done by you with a little time.
If you want to play with a new core for the missing door, I think I have a lock/knob install jig in my basement you can borrow. Used it twice to instal deadbolts and I believe it does regular locks too.
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I'd replace the door vs prehung. I have plenty of practice with both though.
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How about Option B: Sell as is, with an allowance for new doors.
If the market and buyers in your area are like up here. They'll complain about things, hoping for a better price, then gut the interior.