French or double doors

Is there a way to DIY french or double doors?

I have a space that is 61"-81" going into my boiler room and storage room. I want to put double doors that lock.

French door combo's are like $600 and up.

I can buy regular 30-81 door for like $40 piece?

Is it hard to DIY and get the result i want?

~C

 

You mean as in building your own jamb and mortising the hinges? It can be done but is more work.

 

You could buy two prehung doors... carefully remove the latch jamb and top jamb from each one. (Carefully because you don't want to destroy the rabbet on top of the jambs... particle board jambs like to crumble) Buy some 81" jamb stock that matches the profile of your prehungs... cut it the right length so that your two doors will be spaced about 1/4" apart... then assemble it. Now you have a prehung double door frame. You would need a head and floor bolt, strike plate and a dummy knob for the passive door. You would need a keyed entry knob for the operating door.

Solid core doors would likely feel more solid. And not mentioned, but you could also add an astragal onto the passive door if you don't want to be able to look right through the gap between the doors or don't want someone to Jimmy the latch easily. Just add the astragal to the passive door before calculating what length to cut your head jamb.

 

So basically If I am not very handy with carpentry it is a lot more work and hassle than just purchasing it all done for me

~C

 

We don't know how "handy" you are, you kind of have to be the one to make that call. If you are not handy... yeah you could probably screw it up pretty good.

Of course, if you are not handy, attempting to install a double door might be over your head too. But that's why we are here to help answer the questions you might have along the way.