Internal double doors question

[disco_monkey79]

Hello,

A quick query please. I want to re-fit internal double doors where the previous owners removed them. I've found some 2nd hand in the correct size.

However, they aren't rebated, they simply latch using a rolling ball-type catch. I'd prefer rebated doors. I know the simle answer is to buy rebated doors, but these are a good price, and I need to conserve cash.

So, can anything be done to alter this? Could a strip be routed out of each, and a piece attached to one, to form a rudimentary rebate? Or would taking material off a door lengthways weaken it?

Apologies if that made no sense!

Thanks

 

[mrtree]

You could rout out to create a rebate, but that would depend how much timber is in the stile.

Perhaps you could check this by drilling a small hole, maybe where a hinge is cut, to see how deep it goes.
Hopefully the timber on the opposite stile will be the same, then as you say, add a piece to create the other rebate.
I think that even with hollow doors, the timber "stiles" are usually about 40mm

 

[cambournepete]

Ah, now that's interesting.
Mrtree thinks you want the rebate on the hinge side, but I'd assumed you wanted it where the the two doors meet...
I think we need clarification here

 

[disco_monkey79]

I did mean in the middle. Apologies for not making myself clear. Unfortunately, I didn;t thnk to measure (or photograph) the profile of the door. I guess it'll depend on the exact design of the thing. I was wondering if this was something that had come up previously in anyone's experience.

How deep is the average rebate? I mean in terms of how much it juts out. I'm trying to picture my Dad's conservatory doors.

Sorry for being vague, feel free to ignore me! ;-)

 

[mrtree]

Perhaps you could check this by drilling a small hole, maybe where a hinge is cut, to see how deep it goes.
Hopefully the timber on the opposite stile will be the same

Ah, now that's interesting.
Mrtree thinks you want the rebate on the hinge side, but I'd assumed you wanted it where the the two doors meet...
I think we need clarification here

No I don't.................it's just that if you test drill a hole where the hinge is.....you won't be able to see the test hole, if you test drill into the seen edge....well, you get the idea

 

[cambournepete]

If the frames of the doors are solid timber then a half-thickness by half-inch rebate on each door should be fine.
Make sure the doors will be wide enough for the hole after you have rebated them though!

 

[cambournepete]

Perhaps you could check this by drilling a small hole, maybe where a hinge is cut, to see how deep it goes.
Hopefully the timber on the opposite stile will be the same

Ah, now that's interesting.
Mrtree thinks you want the rebate on the hinge side, but I'd assumed you wanted it where the the two doors meet...
I think we need clarification here

No I don't.................it's just that if you test drill a hole where the hinge is.....you won't be able to see the test hole, if you test drill into the seen edge....well, you get the idea

Ah - I get you now

 

[mrtree]

How deep is the average rebate? I mean in terms of how much it juts out. I'm trying to picture my Dad's conservatory doors.

I would guess at about 12mm usually, but it wouldn't really matter as long as it did what you wanted, cut out light or a draught etc.

 

[mrtree]

Hopefully the timber on the opposite stile will be the same

Ah - I get you now

Makes note to himself....mustn't be so vague in future

 

[ondablade]

I did that with a couple of stock painted pine panel doors some years ago, it works well. Since I was painting them I just glued on a couple of roughly 15mm or a bit less deep strips to form the rebates. Stepping the face that would be flush with the door faces in say 1mm or so adds a little to the look and avoids what could be an unsightly joint.

There are rebate fitting stepped mortice door lock strikers (?) available which work with normal door handle sets - plus you can fit plates and non functional handles on the mating door to balance the looks if you like. If you go this route it's essentially the lock striker (?) that determines the depth of rebate you need.

Add a flush (inset) bolt top and bottom in the edge of the rebate top and bottom on the half you want to keep fixed/that has the non functional handles.

Use parliament hinges for both doors if the situation allows so that they can open far enough to lay back flat against the walls to both sides - this greatly increases the width of the opening.