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Hanging Bifold Closet Doors

Doors and Windows Published 10/01/2007 by Danny Lipford

Hanging Bifold Closet Doors

Sliding closet doors are a common feature in some older homes. They are not always the best choice, however, since they limit access to only half the closet at a time and have a tendency to come off the track at the most inopportune moment.

Replacing them with easy to open bifold doors allows full access to the closet space. Here’s how it’s done:

  • Remove the old doors.
  • Cut a board to cover the recessed track at the top and nail it in place.
  • Measure the height and width of the opening.
  • Purchase a set of doors to fit the opening. If the exact size isn’t available, buy the next larger size and plane or cut the doors to fit the opening.
  • Install the track along the top of the doorway.
  • Mark the location for the pivot points at the bottom of the door frame with a plumb bob.
  • Align the floor brackets with the marks and attach them to the door frame.
  • Insert the bottom pins in the floor brackets and the top pins in the track.
  • Fine-tune the fit of the door by adjusting the pivot points at the top with a screwdriver.
  • Paint or stain the doors.
  • Drill holes for the knobs 36″ from the floor in the middle of the two center doors.

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10 Comments to “Hanging Bifold Closet Doors”

  1. Tom Says:
    October 19th, 2007 at 2:56 pm

    BOUGHT BI FOLD DOORS FOR A 4FT. CLOSET THE PROBLEM IS TRYING TO OPENING THE DOOR WITH EASY, CAN’T GET IT TO SLIDE OPEN WITH EASE? HELP. TOM

  2. Official Comment:

    Ben Erickson Says:
    November 7th, 2007 at 12:11 pm

    Tom,
    Perhaps the doors are too tight a fit in the opening where they meet in the center? If so, either use the adjustment screws to move them closer to the door casing, or plane the edges down where they meet in the center.

  3. Larry Says:
    November 28th, 2007 at 11:07 pm

    Is there a way to install these bi fold doors without making holes in the floor? Some sort of mount for the wall maybe? I just put in new hardwood floors and really don’t want to drill into them. Thanks!

  4. guenther sagan Says:
    January 17th, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    Is there a special drill bit to use for the floor if you have new tile in the closet and foyer? We have to put back the folding doors but not sure of putting in the floor mounting.

  5. Max Thomas Says:
    January 21st, 2008 at 12:38 pm

    Larry — did you ever find a solution to hanging bi fold doors without drilling in to the floor. We’re in the same situation. Also, our house is very old and the floor board isn’t level. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!

  6. Lillian Steward Says:
    February 7th, 2008 at 6:46 pm

    We have been working on our old house (200 years old) I an trying to put closets in our bedroom. I have used bi fold doors and am trying to figure the size of opening I need for them. Can anyone tell me how much larger I need the the opening than the doors?

  7. Kathleen Says:
    March 13th, 2008 at 10:37 am

    I have double mirror bi-fold closet doors. The railing on bottom is rusted from shampooing the rug. I want to replace it or make them wthout bottom railing. How do I take the doors down?

  8. Robert Says:
    April 23rd, 2008 at 10:41 am

    My bi-fold doors came installed in the 1959 house I bought. There is a wall-mounted bottom receptacle for the adjustable pin that fits into the bottom of the door. Sounds like Max Thomas would do well to buy a new set of hinges for his doors because the new set would include the bottom bracket. Me? I can’t get mine adjusted to stay in the track. I am thinking it’s the up and down adjustment in the bottom pin. Sounds like we all need some more specific advice. Does anybody have the install instructions that come with a new set of hinges?

  9. Robert Says:
    April 23rd, 2008 at 10:44 am

    When you reinstall the door, which part goes in first, the top or the bottom of the door ? Is there a special tool to hold the spring-loaded top pin down during the reinstall ?

  10. david butler Says:
    April 23rd, 2008 at 9:58 pm

    owner installed brand new carpet now i am trying to install cheap bifold doors carpet runs completly through door opening also i am carpet is on concrete slab having trouble leveling doors and securing doors

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