How to Hang Bifold Closet Doors
Doors and Windows by Danny Lipford
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.
26 Comments on “How to Hang Bifold Closet Doors”
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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
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.
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!
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.
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!
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?
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?
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?
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 ?
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
August 1st, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Need the answer to the question I don’t want to drill a hole in the floor and why does a door buckle outward after installation, there is no pressure on it we can find?
August 29th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Our closet doors are also those bi-fold doors, except I don’t see any tracks on the bottom or anything liek that — only on the top.
The doors are flimsy, and in fact, my 4yr old was trying to push one side open but the top often gets caught in the track, and the door ended up falling right out of the frame. Luckily, it fell back instead of forward, so she did not get crushed.
Is there any way to make these doors more secure?
I’d honestly like to just take it down so this doesn’t happen again in the future, & just put up curtains or something in its place.
Any ideas?
Ben Erickson Says:September 2nd, 2008 at 11:51 am
Hi J Ann,
Try adjusting the doors so they fit securely in the track. Squirt a bit of silicone spray or other lubricant in the track and on the pin to help them slide smoother.
September 27th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
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 ?
November 15th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
my closet is 6′ wide and already has bifold doors. the track is split at 3 ft.thert door fell off (kids) and i have not gotten it back on. i tried new hardware didnt work then i removed the recessed track wanting to replace all but cant find the same track.. any suggestions
November 18th, 2008 at 6:39 am
Need the solution for bifold closet door buckling outward…
Thanks
December 31st, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I can’t get the sliding doors off the track! There is no “button” to push to release them, there is no “hole” to align them with to have them slide off and lifting them up isn’t an option because the wheels won’t come over the guard that keeps them in the track. Any suggestions? I’m totally confused.
January 3rd, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Hey Laura, I have the same problem… when I lift up to pull door back the white plastic piece stays in the track on the bottom… I can’t figure any way to get the doors out… anyone have any answers?
January 17th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I have a 8 foot wide closet and want to put in bifold doors. I bought 4 24 inch doors and the sales man said their would be no problem attaching them together. Well I want the doors to open toward both sides of the closet and do not want them to swivel from the center of the closet opening because I have built in drawers. Anyone had run across this issue?
February 15th, 2009 at 6:33 am
IF YOU CANNOT LIFT THE DOORS HIGH ENOUGH TO GET THEM OUT OF THE BOTTOM BRACKET, THE ADJUSTMENT PIN ON THE BOTTOM HAS BEEN “TIGHTENED” (UNSCREWED) TO NOT ALLOW THE DOORS TO SLIP OUT. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO “SCREW” THEM INTO THE DOOR (OR UPWARDS) WHICH WILL SHORTEN THE BOTTOM PIN AND ALLOW YOU TO LIFT THE DOORS UP AND OUT OF THE BRACKET. IT MAY REQUIRE A WRENCH TO DO SO.
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I want to install raised panel bifold doors in my closets but the smallest doors i can find are 48″ but one closet is 45.5″ and the other 46.5″…what do you recommended.
April 27th, 2009 at 10:28 am
I have a bi-fold door that don’t close all the way anymore, is there something that can be done so it will? Thanks!!!
July 4th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Since you are only covering the existing recessed slider opening with a board, does the board now become the “support” for the new bi-folds?
Since it seems you will be installing the new track on a board directly below the recessed track.
What thickness board is req’d?
August 2nd, 2009 at 8:21 am
Do you have to buy a solid door to cut it to size…
Ben Erickson Says:August 4th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Hi Karen,
Hollow core doors have an inch or two wide piece of solid wood around the edges, so if you are going to only cut off a small amount (less than an inch), you can use them. When cutting off larger amounts, you should use a solid door.
Good luck with your project.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Visit this site for side-mount and non-track mounting http://jhusa.net/fdindex.aspx Just wish I could attach all four of my 12″ doors to open to one side.
Shar