How to Remove an Unused Doorway

If you are changing the function of a room, such as an office to a bedroom, you may find you have an extra doorway that should be removed. The average homeowner can easily accomplish such an alteration if he possesses some basic knowledge of tools. If you feel that the job is too difficult for you or you don’t have the time, call a professional.

Begin by removing the door from its hinges. Then remove any trim that is around the door. You may want to save this trim to patch your baseboard if it is the same pattern. Also pry off the interior casing that is concealing the rough framework.

From the outside of the rough framework, cut through the drywall towards the ceiling, stopping when you meet the wall. Remove this piece of drywall that is above the door opening, and count the number of studs that were cut to add this door. The average amount is two. Also measure the size of the lumber used. You will need the same type to frame the doorway. Be aware that a 2 by 4, the most common size for an interior wall, is not actually 2 by 4 inches. It is actually

To begin the framing, add a sole plate. The sole plate is the piece that attaches to the floor and the studs. It lies parallel to the floor. To add one, cut a piece that fits within the opening of your door and nail it down with concrete nails. Next, measure the height between the sole plate and the header. A header is the top of the rough framing for the doorway.

Cut enough studs to replace the amount cut to add the door. Install them by using framing nails to attach the top and bottom to the sole plate and header. You should use a technique called toe nailing, where you drive the nail in at an angle. Make sure to use several nails for each end that you are attaching.

After the studs are firmly attached to the header and sole plate, you must patch both sides of the wallboard. Cut a piece of wallboard to cover the opening of the door as well as the part you removed in a previous step. Using nails or screws, attach the wallboard to the studs, spacing them about every eight inches. Be sure to attach the wallboard to the rough framing that previously was the door opening.

Fill in any holes and tape the joints. Then paint the new wall. It is often easiest to paint an entire wall rather than just the opening that you have created, so you are assured a match in paint. Carefully add baseboard if your house already has it installed within the room. You be able to use the removed door trim if it matches your baseboards. If not, take a picture and match the trim at a home improvement store. If it cannot be matched, look online. However, be aware that there is often a minimum order required. Paint or stain the baseboard to match the rest of the trim.

Closing a doorway is a simple task for even an inexperienced framer. Be sure to take careful measurements when adding the sole plate and studs for a good fit. If you have never used the toe nailing technique before, practice on some scrap lumber before beginning. Also take the time to properly patch your wall. It may take some time to do it properly, but the results are worth the invested time. If this home improvement task becomes too difficult to accomplish within a week, enlist the help of a friend or professional to get the job done.