How to assemble and install folding doors with your own hands?

Loading…

Folding interior doors will help you decorate the room with taste, and at the same time preserve free space. The design received its name because of the peculiarity of the mechanism - when opened, two doors are folded in half. Paying attention to doors of this type is important if the size of the apartment is small and the openings are narrow. In the manufacturing process of the product, various materials, fittings and mechanisms are used. Having understood what kind of folding interior doors there are and how they need to be installed, it will be much easier to arrange the interior (see step-by-step instructions for installing interior doors with your own hands).

Main advantages

It is convenient to install the product in any room except the toilet. The door will also serve as a screen in a dressing room or wardrobe. If the hood works well in the kitchen and odors do not reach the apartment, then it is important to install a door in this room as well.

When decorating an apartment, many people prefer folding interior doors because of the following features:

1. When opened, the structure does not extend beyond the doorway. This feature allows you to save space in the room and will not take up free space in a small corridor.
2. The product is safe for small children. The design opens smoothly, so kids won’t be able to hit it.
3. The product opens in both directions.
4. It is not necessary to install a threshold here (especially if the product is completely suspended).
5. The model looks very unusual in the interior, helping to emphasize the advantages of many style solutions.
6. The interior folding door is made from various materials, just like the standard model. In the production process, solid wood, veneer and laminated coating are used.
7. The design is considered to be of much higher quality than an accordion door. Fewer sheets and joints are used here, which makes the fabric much stronger.

Types of folding doors

Folding doors of any type are simple to construct. They consist of separate strips movably connected to each other. One of the stripes - the far right or left - is fixed motionless. All the others at the top (sometimes at the bottom too) have small rollers that are inserted into the guide. When force is applied, the rollers slide along the guide, causing the segments to fold. Depending on how and where the rollers are fixed, folding doors come in two types: “accordion” and “book”.

Types of folding doors: book and accordion - that's the difference

If the rollers are fixed in the middle of each door slat, the result is an accordion door. In this case, each fragment rotates around the axis on which the roller is fixed. The folds are small - approximately the width of the wall (a little more or less - depends on the model and parameters of the wall). The width of the lamella of a folding door of this type is 8-20 cm. The most common ones are 12-15 cm wide, the rest are less common. The standard height for a door is about 220-230 mm, the minimum width is 50 cm, the maximum is 600 cm. There are higher models for folding partitions.

The length of the canvas can be easily adjusted - by increasing or decreasing the number of segments, up to the creation of folding partitions . Just one point: long doors/partitions require two guides - at the top and at the bottom. Otherwise, the mechanism often jams during operation.

Accordion door device

The advantage of a folding accordion door is its low price. There are many offers for a standard doorway with a price of about 2-3 thousand rubles. There are, of course, more expensive ones. Service life is about 5 years. The most common failure is failure of the rollers. In the cheapest models they are made of soft plastic. As a result, the doors are “noisy” and wear out quickly. As usual, there is a choice: more expensive and possibly of better quality, or cheaper.

Book doors are distinguished by larger fragments. There are no more than two parts for a standard doorway. In this case, the rollers are attached through one joint, and at the junction. In this case, it turns out that the door leaf folds, resembling the pages of a book. The part that does not have rollers extends into the room.

Folding doors: basic design

When folded, folding doors take up more space than accordion doors, but this type of device has its advantages. Fragments of an accordion door cannot be made from very thick material: the design itself will not allow it. That’s why they are most often made of plastic, MDF. When making it yourself, you can use plywood and other similar materials. Hence the scope of application - most often used as a door to utility rooms - such as storage rooms, they can be installed as doors in a homemade shower stall. In this case, plastic is one of the best materials: it provides tightness, is not afraid of high humidity, and is easy to clean, possibly with the use of detergents. Such doors are installed as interior doors or partitions when they only delimit space: there are practically “no” sound insulation characteristics.

Book doors can even be made from solid wood. Firstly, the rollers used are more solid, and secondly, the design does not impose restrictions on thickness. Therefore, book doors can be made of wood, glass, or metal-plastic. Moreover, when using special fittings, metal-plastic folding doors can be used as entrance doors: as they provide a sufficient degree of security. They are often placed in the house as an exit to the terrace or courtyard. The disadvantage of such systems: a hefty price. A set of fittings for one folding door made of metal-plastic costs about $550-600. Ordinary ones are a little more expensive than standard canvas. There are options for 3-4 thousand rubles. They can be used as interior doors or placed in closets.

Related article: Proper wallpapering with your own hands: 5 stages

Technical parameters for book type folding doors:

• Length - up to 7 m when using wooden systems (with or without glass) and up to 6 m in metal-plastic systems.
• Wooden height - from 800 mm to 3000 mm; metal-plastic - from 640 mm to 2400 mm.
• The width of one wooden door is from 440 mm to 1200 mm; in metal-plastic - from 490 mm to 940 mm.
• The number of sashes is from 2 to 7.

There is another type of space-saving door - sliding. You can read about what they are and how to install them here.

Disadvantages of the model

When installing folding interior doors, you will have to face the following disadvantages of the model:

1. Poor sound and heat insulation. The presence of folds, a seal in the upper part, as well as a guide with rollers leaves a small distance through which noise and cold penetrate.
2. When installing the product, you cannot do without specialized fittings.
3. The folding mechanism is not as durable as a door made from a single piece.
4. If the door is too heavy, then you will need to additionally install not only the fastening on top, but also rollers on the bottom, and this is an extra expense.
5. When the door leaf is decorated with glass inserts, you need to open the product carefully or equip the mechanism with a closer so as not to break the decoration.

Equipment

1. Door panels. The quantity depends on the type of product. Made from MDF or PVC. Plastic panels are more practical and durable in use.
2. Necessary fasteners for fastening the sashes and assembling the complete structure.
3. Rollers.
4. Stops.
5. The required profile is in the form of an upper guide and two side ones.
6. Accessories (rails, supports, hinges, handles, seals, clamps, clamps).
7. Assembly instructions.

The specified configuration is represented by a minimum set of components. Each mechanism requires a certain number of items in a specific set.

If you plan to install a folding door yourself, you need to make sure you have the necessary tools.

How to install folding interior doors yourself book

Before you begin installation, you will need to prepare construction tools. Take a tape measure, a miter box, a pencil and a saw. Don’t forget to prepare a screwdriver, hammer drill and jigsaw for the work.

You will need to first purchase platbands, wooden blocks, and foam for sealing cracks. During work, fastening fittings for platbands and extensions will be useful. Another important detail is the MDF panel 2-2.5 cm thick.

Having taken all the necessary tools and materials before installing the book door, proceed to installation. First of all, start with the doorway by removing the old frame. Carefully level the slopes and install the extensions (planks that serve as a door frame). Use a jigsaw to cut the panels into suitable strips. Using a dowel, fasten them in the shape of the letter “P”. Do not forget to take into account the size of the opening when preparing the additions.

Install the resulting structure (the letter “P”) in the doorway and drill it with anchors. Install the book door fastening hardware, drilling it at the same distance, as this will help avoid distortions. Additionally, use a level to ensure correct measurements. The extensions will hold up better if the gap between the wall and the panels is covered with foam.

Attach the door leaf to the frame. When installing the door, first select which direction the structure will open. Use book door hinges, you will need 3 sets in total, they will withstand heavy loads perfectly.

Do not forget that when installing the structure, it is necessary to recess the hinges into the canvas so that the distance between the canvas and the extensions is the same. If you do not adhere to this condition, it will lead to the door being skewed.

Practical recommendations

They will help those who are thinking about how to make an accordion door with their own hands:

• To make planks, you can use thin boards, multilayer plywood, chipboard, fiberboard, and PVC siding. It is necessary to take into account the location of the intended installation. Plastic is more suitable for installing an accordion in the openings of built-in wardrobes or for curtains, for example, in showers. But you shouldn’t use it for an interior door - it’s difficult to fit into the interior. If the lamellas are attached only at the top, this is definitely not an option - the slightest draft will lead to spontaneous movement of the folding sash.
• Its weight can be artificially reduced in order to simultaneously facilitate installation and decorate the canvas according to the principle of paneled doors. That is, provide inserts made of thin glass, plastic, film or original grilles. Focusing on a specific opening, choosing the best option is easy.

• To avoid skewing of the canvas panels and possible snags, it is recommended to leave a gap of about 2.5 mm between them.
• The accordion design is designed so that it is slightly wider than the opening for which it is intended.

If the installation principle is clear, then installing the door, regardless of its modification, will not cause any difficulties. The main thing is to properly prepare the opening, taking into account all the features of the wall material. And what kind of accordion to choose (make) is up to the owner to decide.

Features of installing a sliding mechanism for book doors

Before installing the sliding mechanism, prepare the carriage with rollers, rail and roller guide. Using the last part will make it easier to attach the carriage with rollers to the door. Don't forget about screws and stops. It is thanks to the limiters that when installing doors, the door book will not hit the wall.

The mechanism installation process involves the following steps:

1. If using a level, attach the aluminum rail horizontally to the top area of ​​the box. The groove should contain a carriage with rollers.
2. Make sure that the carriage slides smoothly in the middle of the groove.
3. Attach stops along the edges of the rail.
4. Attach the roller guide to one side of the door leaf. Thanks to this procedure, the guide and the carriage with rollers should be connected.

The folding door system will work at its best if you coat it with lithol at the end of assembly. Thanks to this type of lubrication, the mechanism will not be subject to corrosion and will begin to move as smoothly as possible.

How to make sashes

The main structural element is the sash. Let's consider the most optimal material used by many craftsmen for these purposes: MDF canvas. Let's take some measurements first:

• measuring the height of the opening, its width;
• the size of the opened canvas, consisting of two parts (it should cover the opening completely);
• it is necessary to take into account how many centimeters will be needed to connect the canvas and the supporting structure.

When the material is sawn according to measurements, its edges are processed, which protects the MDF sheet from the penetration of moisture and dirt. It is recommended to use plastic tape and warm air from a construction or household hair dryer for this purpose.

If glass is used as a canvas, the size of the canvas must be increased by 6 mm to further fix it in the grooves using a bead. This will create additional structural strength.

Additional measures

Equip the door frame with a floor-mounted roller mechanism if the door is heavy. This measure will allow you to avoid door distortions and various deformations of the mechanism. Try to install the book door according to the instructions and, if necessary, additionally install an aluminum rail into the floor surface. Install the carriage with rollers into the rail, and then attach it to the bottom area of ​​the door using the roller guide. This system is additionally equipped with anti-dust brushes, which prevents dust from accumulating in the rail.

Experts advise using closers when installing a door leaf when the model is large or if the mechanism is often opened. Such a system will allow the door leaf to close smoothly and will not hurt anyone.

When attaching the fittings, pay attention to the handles that are recessed into the door leaf. During the process of closing and opening, such a handle will not damage the wall or frame. Do not forget that in this case a protruding handle is not suitable, as it can damage the wall or hit a person passing by.

Installing a folding door is not an easy process, but the result is worth the effort. It is as easy as possible to install the book door using a video where all the steps are shown clearly.

Materials

Glass Wood MDF

It’s not difficult to make a “book” design with your own hands: you can use various materials for the canvas, and the accessories are sold in any hardware store. The sashes, according to experts, can be made without much difficulty if you have the skill to work with the tool.

The material is chosen taking into account the functionality of the product: in what room and under what conditions it will serve.

1. The use of wood and thick plywood will give the product visual massiveness and ensure strength
2. MDF sheets are able to satisfy aesthetic requests for appearance. The external decorative finishing of such material is:

• laminate coating;
• finishing with PVC film;
• wood veneer finish.

In order for a homemade folding book door to serve for a long time, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the material. If it is made of wood, the material must be treated with an antiseptic material and varnished.

It is recommended to use plastic in a sliding structure when the room humidity is high.

Folding interior doors of the “book” design made of glass look beautiful and original, but to make them safe, a material that has undergone special treatment is used as a canvas:

• hardening process;
• increase in strength by reinforcement;
• installation of a protective film on glass;
• other special preparatory processes.

You can buy ready-made glass in the store that has gone through all the processes.

Design nuances, production techniques

Diagram of elements of a folding door.

The standard version of this book is considered to be a door with two leaves. There are doors whose number of leaves is much larger. This is due to the requirements of functionality and personal desires of the owner. One of the types of book doors is the asymmetrical division of doors. This model looks very impressive and practical.

Related article: How to install a toilet in a private house on a wooden floor

The main advantage of the book is the ability to modulate the space. A variety of color solutions using a variety of materials make it possible to harmoniously fit the door into the interior of the apartment. The original design is realized by selecting the desired model.

An additional positive quality of the book is its easy installation. To install a leaf into a door frame, you do not need special carpentry skills. You just need to read the instructions and follow their instructions. A folding door is installed even when installing a swing door is generally impossible. You can independently install a folding door in the narrowest corridor. Sometimes this structure becomes an internal partition.

Diagram of the folding door mechanism

The most famous folding structures are:

• accordions;
• books.

The second type consists of two canvases that have the same dimensions, folding during opening.

Folding doors are made from a variety of materials:

• chipboard;
• wood;
• plastic;
• glass, which is framed by a metal frame.

Combinations of wood with other materials look impressive. The industry uses leather, stained glass, etc. Before installing the door, it is necessary to choose the right material and future design of the structure.