I have very plain hollow bedroom and closet doors which I'd like to replace one by one. I'm looking at the more modern doors that have a colonial design pattern on both sides but are also hollow.
Do I have to replace the door jams/frame too, or can I just take off the old and install the new ones ? I'm assuming I'd have to make new holes for the door knobs, as well as inset at the rear of each door so that the hinges are flush with the rear of each door.
I've never done this before, so bare with me. :rolleyes:

You have the right idea. There are jigs/toolset for doing the locks. If you need to replace the hinges, look for something that will fit the old hinge pattern. It's highly likely that interior doors don't come with jambs.

Typically you'll have to cut the doors to fit the opening unless the doors are custom.

You will have to do the hinges and the locks. Some locksets and hinges are easier than others. The hinges will be the most critical. If you have to mortise a lot of doors, consider a router rather than a chisel.

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Originally Posted by KeepItSimpleStupid

You have the right idea. There are jigs/toolset for doing the locks. If you need to replace the hinges, look for something that will fit the old hinge pattern. It's highly likely that interior doors don't come with jambs.

Typically you'll have to cut the doors to fit the opening unless the doors are custom.

You will have to do the hinges and the locks. Some locksets and hinges are easier than others. The hinges will be the most critical. If you have to mortise a lot of doors, consider a router rather than a chisel.

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Funny, I thought the hole for the lock set would have been more critical. I'm pretty sure my existing doors are standard size [ 30" x 80" ] so by getting the same size, I was thinking of using the old door as a pattern then copy the measurements over to the new door. I plan on using the same hinges and door knob hardware.
I'll look into it tomorrow and see what the hardware stores have to offer.
Thanks for your response KISS.
:)

Ray, if you go to the home center you will see the same door sold pre hung or not. The pre hung can run $25 more but you have most of your work done for you correctly. You still have to shim and install the frame in the door opening and then the trim. It really boils down to your skills and time. I can do both and when its for my home I do pre hung. I am not sure but I don't think you will have much luck finding a Colonial door that is hollow. I get 6 panel pine doors pre hung at Menards for about $90.

I agree with Bob, if possible purchase prehung doors. Drilling for the lock set is the easy part. You can even purchase doors only that have the lock set holes already drilled but you have to insure that the heighth is correct. Cutting the mortices for the hinges is easy but getting them in the right place is HARD. The distance between the hinges must be exact and the backset must be correct. However, if you insist on hanging new doors in the existing frames let me know. I have a system that works and is efficient but requires a lot of preparatory work making templets and the purchase of a special router bit. I developed this procedure because I sometimes have to replace doors with out replacing frames. I have a tutorial using this procedure but it is far too long to post here. Send email address if you are interested.

Hi
Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure however what you mean by 'prehung' ? Sorry for sounding like an idiot, but even though I consider myself as an OK DIY'er, I've never attempted to replace or install a new door before. So, with that said, are you saying that I can buy a door with the lock set hole and hinges already cut so all I have to do is transfer my existing hardware onto the new door ?
I'm starting to question if it wouldn't be easier to buy a door(s) with new frame. Then again, maybe not.
Thank you both for your help.
PS: hkstroud~ I've pm'd you my email addy... thanks.

A prehung door is one that comes with the frame and molding. You can purchase a door with the lock set holes drilled but not one with the hinges morticed. While most manufacutures use approximately the same measurements they are not exactly the same. I woud say that hinge mortices must be within 1/32" of correct location to work and look right.

Ray,
Send email address to [email protected].
System is on blink and won't let me see you PM.

Like Harold says, pre hung has the frame , inside trim and hinges attached with lock hole drilled. You slide the whole unit in place and then use shims to fill the space between the pre hung door frame and your wall studs. I'd be interested in Harolds procedure if he can create a link or attachment.

It would probably be easier then to buy pre-hung. Shimming is does by wedging cedar shingles to get frame vertically plum... right ?
I'm heading to the hardware store this morning and check things out. Thanks guys.

Most pre hung doors will include directions for shimming. First you shim the hinge side insuring the door frame is vertical and sits aligned to your opening, shim and nail or screw behind each hinge. Now you are ready to shim the lock side starting with checking the header for true horizontal and then shim so that the sapce between the door and the frame is consistently 1/8", shim at lock, top and bottom. Insert two shims, one from front and one from back, nail and then snap off any excess material after scoring with a blade.

Shims can be purchased as such.