How to Install Bifold Doors

Bifold doors are the ideal solution for wardrobes and doorways that are positioned in a way that makes traditional outwards opening doors impractical; usually this means that something is blocking part of the doorway.

Bifold doors are practical and they look great, and what’s more, they are deceptively easy to install. Below is a step-by-step guide to installing bifold doors in your home.

Tools

    • Handsaw
    • Hacksaw
    • Drill
    • Set Square
    • Drill
    • Drill Bits
  • Bit Extender
  • Plumb Bob
  • Doors
  • Tracks
  • Door Pulls
  • Screws

Instructions

The doors will be connected into pairs by hinges and hung on a track, which you will also have to install. The kit you'll need in order to install the doors includes the doors themselves, the track (which should include the wheeled mechanism that lets the doors glide smoothly instead of shimmy unpleasantly), the pivots and the door hinges. All of which will require assembly. If this sounds like more than you could handle, you might want to reconsider the DIY approach. If not, feel free to follow the numbered guide below.

  1. Mark the hinges – Make sure your doors have been painted or varnished prior to starting and then label them with both the order they'll be installed and which sides will be facing out. Next, mark 11 inches from the bottom and 7 inches from the top of the jamb side door (the side of the door that will be secured) and then put another mark at the equidistant point between the two.
  2. Mount the hinges – Align the lower half of the hinge with the bottom mark and make sure it's sitting flush with the edge of the door. Next, drill some guide holes through the holes in the hinge and screw on the hinge plate itself. Do the same with the top and middle hinges. Now, get the inner door and place it back to back with the first door. Align the two doors with the set square and screw the hinges together. Repeat the above steps on the second set of doors.
  3. Attach the track hardware – Take your track hardware and fasten the pivot plates (the floor bracket and pins) onto the tops and bottoms of the jamb side doors. Then fasten the locking arms (the hooks, which will slide along the track) on just the top sides of the inner doors. There should be instructions that come with the hardware, which should give you specific dimensions, placements and measurements so be sure to study those measurements and to take them seriously.
  4. Attach the track itself – Fetch your hacksaw and cut the track to whatever length you need to fit into the opening of the closet. Slide the hanging hardware included with your track kit into the track and then attach the track to the door header, there should be screws provided for this. Next, position the track about 1 inch from the front edge of the header so you there's enough room between the door and the track to avoid limited the door action.
  5. Get the floor bracket into position – Position the floor bracket next to the door jamb using the measurements supplied by the kit’s manufacturers. Next, hang your plumb bob from the centre of the track above to align the pin holes in the bracket and ensure that the doors fit comfortably when installed. Outline the bracket with a pencil to mark its location, then screw it in place. Next, remove the screws and put the bracket and its screws to one side.
  6. Hang the doors – Bring your doors over to the track and lift the jamb side into the pin of the top pivot plate, pushing the level on the socket to hold it in place. Next, slot the track hanger pin into the locking arm of the inner door and twist the arm to lock it. Close the doors and swing them forward so that they catch the floor bracket in the bottom pivot pin.
  7. Alignment – Swing the doors into place and make sure the floor bracket is aligned with the marks you made earlier. Screw down the bracket, using your flexible bit extender if you can't reach it properly. Hang the other set of doors and close them both, adjusting them both until they feel 'right'. Finally, use a wrench to tighten the pivot sockets.
  8. Aligners and door pulls – The final step is to mount the door aligners and door pulls. Start with the aligners by mounting them 6 inches up from the floor between the two inner doors. The aligners should catch when the doors close. Finally, measure around 36 inches from the floor on each of your inner doors and make a guide mark for your door pulls. Drill a hole through each mark and screw in your door pulls and you're good to go!

 

  • Information is accurate at time of publishing, however, may be subject to change.
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