Cutting Down a Composite Door
In short, with a little bit of know-how, it is possible to cut a composite door.
If you want to cut down a bit of your composite door, we will guide you through the steps without compromising the quality of your uPVC door.
Even though these doors are highly durable and are strengthened with glass-reinforced plastic skin, the solid bottom rail can be cut down or altered.
Why You Should Cut Down Your Door
Composite doors are extremely well manufactured; every composite door in the range is made for peak performance and is top quality.
Once installed, though, weather exposure can cause a composite door to warp over extended amounts of time due to the uPVC, damaging its components and pulling it away from the door frame.
You can realign the door to the frame by simply removing a small portion of the bottom rail (also known as planing a door bottom), and voila!
What Materials Do I Need To Cut Down My Door?
Here is a combination of items you will need to cut down your composite door:
- Razor or sharp blade utility knife
- Rectangular cut wooden piece
- Clamps
- Measuring tape
- Sharp blade circular saw
- Sandpaper
These recommended items and materials work well to remove installed UPVC doors.
How To Cut Off The Bottom Of Your Composite Doors
Prepping
- Firstly, get the material needed to cut or shave down your door.
- You will have to remove the composite door from the hinges and door frame and lay it on a flat surface, as you want to make sure you do not negatively impact the door's performance, damage your composite door or the hinge, or compromise the door frame structure.
- If a hinge is stuck, gently line it up and pull the door to loosen the hinges, but be careful not to damage the paint or the frame.
- Your door will not crumble under pressure, as the frames are solid and sturdy, having been your home security's first port of call, so gently until the door has become unhinged.
Measure
- Measure the portion of the composite door you want to cut down.
- To avoid the door from splintering, use a razor knife to make the cut line, cutting through just the glaze veneer.
- Line up a rectangular piece of wood to rest on the top of the door, exposing the bottom part you will be cutting off.
- Fix the wood piece to the door with clamps, and then you can start cutting.
Cutting
- Use a sharp blade circular saw woodcutter to cut down the bottom bit, following the line of the line you drew with the utility or razor knife.
Finishes
- Take sandpaper to smooth the bottom finishes.
- Lastly, use polyethene or paint, preferably the same colours as the rest of the door, to seal its frame for the bottom of the door.
- Your door will still fit into the original hinges and securely lock as you have only trimmed it down, but its placement in the frame remains the same without compromising your security.
Can Composite Doors Break If I Cut Them Down?
UPVC doors are unlikely to break when you trim down the bottom.
Due to the solid composition of composite doors, it is the perfect choice for your house, and you will continue to enjoy its sturdy benefits for years to come.
If you follow the steps and use the right material, your door will be as good as new, even after cutting or trimming it a little!
Can Composite Doors Be Re-used After Being Cut Down?
Absolutely! When we install a composite or uPVC door, we do so with the guarantee that it will be durable for years to come.
Trimming your door will not impact its energy efficiency performance or robust strength. You can even spray paint your composite door if you have damaged it to ensure it still looks gorgeous.
Got Questions? We Got The Answers
Value Doors are experts on doors, so contact us to guide you.
Or, you can check out our blog, packed with handy hints and tips on everything composite door related!
