How to Enclose a Door Opening: Tips, Tricks, & What Not To Do
Enclose an interior door opening easily without having to hire a contractor
Have you ever found yourself with one too many doors…
It is definitely not a design dilemma I encounter often but luckily it can be easily rectified!
We have been working on this Children’s Ministry room makeover and just completed the Smiley Face wallpaper and rainbow wall so now it’s finally time to say goodbye to this unnecessary extra door.
Originally this large room was actually two separate rooms, (which explains the extra door) here is what it looked like before we started.
Eventually I would love to build a small stage in this area so this extra door just had to go, it was really messing with the flow of the room.
The only other experience I have with enclosing an interior door is when we completed our walk-in closet renovation.
We had paid a contractor to enclose the door that originally served as the entrance to the space, but it wasn’t cheap…
We do not have the budget to hire help for this renovation so I had to learn how to do it myself via YouTube.
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How to Enclose a Door Opening: Tips, Tricks, & What Not To Do:
Materials:
– 2×4 lumber
– Drywall sheets (get the right thickness, usually homes use 1/2″)
– Drywall screws
– Joint compound
– Paint
Tools:
– Circular saw
– Drill
– Hammer
– Level
– Measuring tape
Remove the Door and its Hardware
Remove the door from its hinges and take out any associated hardware, such as knobs, locks, and hinges.
We also removed the trim around the door opening and the old door frame.
Cut & Assemble the Framing Structure
Measure the width and height of the door opening.
Cut two pieces of 2×4 lumber to fit the width of the opening, and two other pieces to the height.
Install the width pieces first using 3″ wood screws, followed by installing the two height pieces.
Next cut another 2×4 to the height of the door opening, install this piece in the middle.
Install the Drywall
Cut a piece of drywall to size using a sharp box cutter.
TIP: It is much easier to cut a straight line if you use a straight board or ruler as a guide.
Slide the drywall into the framed opening making sure it’s flush with the wall.
Secure it to the frame using drywall screws, screw them in so the head is just below the drywall surface.
Mud and Tape
Next time I work with drywall I will use self-adhesive tape, but I only had paper tape for this time so I had to apply a thin layer of mud before applying the tape.
Cut the tape to the length of the seams and gently press it into place.
TIP: Add a small amount of water to the mud, enough that it slides off the putty knife easily.
Mud the seams with joint compound to create a smooth surface.
Sand in between mud coats, apply 2-3 coats total.
Paint and Finish
Once the last layer of joint compound is dry, sand it smooth with sandpaper.
Apply a layer of primer and paint to match the rest of the room.
That’s it, no more extra door!
This room has a much better flow now and you would never know a door used to fill this space.
This project was much easier than I thought it would be honestly, plus doing it ourselves saved us lots of bucks.
Next up on the project list is tackling the long storage wall build, you can follow along here!
Hopefully these tips can help you tackle your unwanted door problem.
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