I'm using a small space in my house to make a small closet. There is only enough width to have a 36" door opening. I would like to use a pair of bifold doors. Each door would have two panels, each 9" wide (4 x 9" = 36"). I'm looking for the type with louvers on the top and solid on the bottom to match other doors on my home's closets.

However, I have not been able to find a source. The smallest panel width in the stores is 12", or 24" for a 2 panel door. I checked at Home Depot to see if they could special order, but they said no. I could use an alternate method. Use one 12" bifold (24" wide) and use only one 12" panel from another 2 panel door.

Does anyone know of a source - store or web - for the 9" bifold doors?

Thanks, Tom

schwim

Hi there Tom,

I can't help you with a source, but if you can find a door with thick sides, you can cut the doors down to what you need.

Most cheap doors at Lowes or HD only have 1 1/2" rails on the side, and I've gotten away with cutting that in half for a grand total of 1 1/2" on each panel/3" on each door removed. This requires additional support in the form of pocket screws since you compromise the strength of the door by cutting into the dowels that hold it together. The doors with thinner rails will of course not allow this much loss.

Also, if you can, it's best to not narrow the two outer most vertical rails on the two doors(those nearest the jambs) if you can help it, as visually, they look too thin for the rest of the doors. All of the other verticals look ok, because they all butt up to another when closed which doubles the visual thickness.

Once you've cut it, just use a router with a small roundover to get the original look of the door back. I leave the sharp edge on side of all verticals
that but up to another. If you align your doors well, it's an awfully clean look.
I know it's not the solution you were looking for, but between narrowing the doors and maybe doing something creative with the door jamb(using a thinner stock), you might be able to get enough space to suit your needs.

thanks,
json

ballengerb1

I am afraid that the most you can take off a louvered door is about 3/8 to 1/2 " on each side before you start to expose the slots for the louvers. I will checvk again but I do not recall any bifold that fits in a 36" opening.