Bi-Fold Door Installation Step-By-Step

Installing a bifold door can be a fairly simple process if you are willing to invest the time in preparing yourself and your space. The steps below will help you get this do-it-yourself project off the ground.

Choose a Door

Bifold doors add character and style to a room. These doors are generally used on closets, and make it easy for people to see what is inside a closet. These doors can shudder and shake when they are opened. In order to avoid that feel, it’s a good idea to look for solid core or solid wood doors, and avoid the hollow core doors. Heavier doors, however, will require heavier tracks and wheels that also help prevent the shuddering common on bifold doors.

Check the Hardware

Installing a bifold door can be tricky, particularly because of the delicate process of adjusting the hardware on the door and the track. If it is not “just so,” then the door doesn’t function properly. It pays off later if you double-check the hardware installation on the door when you get it, and then each step of the way through the process.

Adjust the Hinges

Assuming the door is already finished, be sure the hinges are properly attached. If you bought the doors in a pre-assembled kit, this step has likely been taken for you. If not, but sure to install hinges carefully, 11 inches from the bottom, seven inches from the top, and then centered between the top and bottom hinges.

Track Hardware

On the jamb-side doors, attach the pivot plates (the pins that will go into the track and the floor brackets), and the locking arms (these are hooks that slide in the track). These will go at both the top and bottom of the door, in most kits.

You’ll need to check the instructions carefully for exact measurements since each door kit is different. Again, watch to be sure you do not install a piece backward.

Install The Track

You may need a hacksaw to cut the track to the length of the door. Use screws provided with the door, and measure with a level to be sure the track is straight. Set the track one inch back from the front of the door trim, so that the track won’t be visible. At this point, leave the hardware loose for easier door installation.

Install the Bracket

Using a plumb bob hanging from the center of the track above, mark the spot for the bracket on the floor. Screw it in, then remove it and set it aside.

Install Doors

With the appropriate hardware attached, bring the doors to the track. Lift the pin into the pivot socket, then lock the pin into place. Place the bottom pin into the bottom bracket.

Attach the Floor Bracket

Swing the doors into place and match the floor bracket with your previously marked spots on the floor. You’ll need a second person to help balance the doors for this step. Using a flexible bit on a cordless drill, screw the bracket into the floor.

Repeat these steps for the opposite door, then use the provided wrench to tighten pivot sockets on the track and stops in the center of the track.