How to Install a Hidden Door/Bookshelf | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva is in Salem, MA, to help install a bookshelf that doubles as a door. (See below for a shopping list, tools, and steps.)
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Shopping List for How to Install a Hidden Door/Bookshelf:
- Scrap piece of 1x4 poplar wood [amzn.to/2Fpkded]
- Murphy door [amzn.to/2Xs1B7s] from kit
- Shims [amzn.to/2J3KIqD]
- Finishing nails [amzn.to/2IWY8EK]
Tools for How to Install a Hidden Door/Bookshelf:
- Hammer [amzn.to/2Fp3xU6]
- Nailset [amzn.to/2Fp0NWX]
- Pry bar [amzn.to/2WZul84]
- Levels: 1or 2-foot and 6-foot [amzn.to/2Rv9Zhd]
- Scribes [amzn.to/2Rtv63g]
- Circular saw [amzn.to/2WRVh4Y]
- Wood glue [amzn.to/2Y4uR1g]
- Drill/driver [amzn.to/2JcVevV]
- Utility knife [amzn.to/2XpBMVx]
Steps for How to Install a Hidden Door/Bookshelf:
1. Remove current door from its hinges by popping up the pins with a hammer and nailset.
2. Remove the old jamb and casing with a pry bar.
3. To level the jamb, place a piece of poplar on the floor and make it level. Set your scribes the overall width of the filler and drag the scribes along the piece of poplar.
4. After marking the poplar, cut it with the circular saw, following the scribe line you traced.
5. Using wood glue, glue the poplar filler piece to the underside of the doorjamb to fill the gap.
6. Repeat the same steps to fill the back side of the jamb.
7. Move the jamb from the door kit into place. Using a 6-foot level, check that it’s plumb; if it needs adjusting, place shims between the jamb and the wall studs until the jamb is plumb. Drill through the jamb and shims, and secure with screws.
8. Using a utility knife and a hammer, remove the excess shims on either side.
9. Lift up the bookshelf and place in the pre-fashioned pivot-point pinholes on the top and bottom of the jamb.
10. Glue trim to the jamb and secure with finishing nails.
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers-and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Install a Hidden Door/Bookshelf | Ask This Old House
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[@sakkiemaree4955]

Fits well into my space, I painted the back green. It's very easy to customize just the back if that's something you want to do. I would suggest sanding it first before painting, I got a little impatient. The shelves kzbin.infoUgkxM8H4CjCb79vzeyvgaFMdzmLm88oVFPMkare pretty small so keep that in mind if you're going to have it horizontal that some books won't fit. I like the snug look that it has. Good small shelf if you don't have much space, but not too small. Simple to put together, though you'll need your own tools, a screwdriver and a mallet/hammer, it's easiest to do with another person.

[@jesikmilkaritas9155]

Such a gorgeous book - each shed is unique and inspiring, and I love all the tiny details Kotite features to help readers imagine how to create their own She Sheds kzbin.infoUgkxe9yi0sulKgsp0VJJCIrLWWkvVqcU7LFR . The feature on Dinah's Rustic Retreat is like something from a fairy tale. It's really inspiring to see how creative all these ordinary people are in making beautiful and useful spaces on a modest scale.

[@patrickparr3331]

I like that it was pointed out that the material was meant to be painted rather than stained. That is a solid bit of info.

[@l1wolf]

good install video, but I would've used a better trim around the door for sure

[@taylorwest6986]

I think the trick is to have matching recessed bookcases next to the hidden door bookcase.

[@PippiOnePointOh]

Yeah the one door-sized bookcase by itself is a bit conspicuous.

[@rebelwithoutacause5853]

So many of you leaving negative comments. It's a normal home owner. Not like she's going to be leaving her Van Gogh's in there. Another great video gives me the ideas and knowledge to do it myself.

[@asml]

The framing around that bookcase looks terrible

[@dr.swiffelswaffel8445]

makes it look like a door as well

[@cindyhollenbeck2201]

Devon Napierski y

[@zstick]

I'm pretty sure they aren't done, unless you watched the whole episode and they left it like that.

[@SuperWoodyboy]

They were done!

[@MrLukeChandler]

Completely agree. Yuck

[@humblewarrior6585]

A recessed Bookshelf/ Door ...Room. I Love it, great Idea. Now thats how to hide a room !!!...Bravo, Well Done !!!

[@DaveWhiting]

"Hey, this bookshelf has a light switch!"

[@TechThisOutYT]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@kenkw5515]

The space under the door pretty much gives away the “secret” door!

[@melissaferraro8258]

This guy does some phenomenal work.

[@robbie6625]

I hope the MDF "casing" was a temporary fix, because it honestly looks horrible, especially since I know Tom can do much better.

[@julissadc6303]

I really like the personality of the man helping here.

[@clydebalcom8252]

That's severely cool! Thanks Tom!

[@Melodyloveshorses1]

He makes it look so easy ❤👍

[@liamdillon2478]

Can’t believe she’s going to paint that beautiful trim and door.

[@clambroth1923]

The bwox is made of MDF and the face is made of pwopler

[@Stevenowski]

Bill from PA, hysterical! 😂

[@Gxxthgirl]

Bill from PA I’m dead hahahsshahahah

[@Gxxthgirl]

1:32

[@AlexRochette]

Nice pro tips! Thanks a ton!

[@ryancoulter4797]

I love this! I’ve always wanted a writing room with a hidden door bookcase (preferably leading to the stairs to an attic office). But lately I’ve wanted the hidden door to be the front of the Tardis from Doctor Who with the double doors like in the show.

[@kronk358]

So you want the hidden door to look like a double doors? Sounds more like a door than a hidden door.

[@gregpaul6480]

Just love the way that lady was trying to hold the board with her fingers while you were cutting it with that saw. You and her were lucky to have NOT had kick back at that exact moment.

[@cindylong624]

use scrap wood...

[@hobbyhermit66]

Actually kickback would have pushed the wood, along with her hand away from the blade. Might cause a bruise at the most.

[@Natedoc808]

anybody else wonder why on earth she put her hand in front of his skilsaw?! I'd pull back so fast if someone put their hand in the path of any power tool I was running

[@dennisdownes9319]

EXACTLY!!

[@knottreel]

That made my backside pucker.

[@timhanby5662]

William Hutchinson I………… I think it’s time for me to get off the internet. Lol

[@markdavis4379]

do thay make it 4 in deap and swing out or a mirror on the wall

[@ghanatekton8459]

It was not in the path it was to the side

[@liesejunh]

It's a secret door that looks like a door. I don't get what the point of that is. Lol. How about not having the door recessed into the wall and have it pivot outwards so that it'll look like an actual book case.

[@istovall2624]

so true

[@JoshBabin]

Lee C. many houses (80s build comes to mind) have built-in bookshelves like this, so it looks natural

[@alec4672]

I completely agree, you'd need to have at least two more cases next to it for it to look natural.

[@phtevenmolz5030]

If it's going to be used as a panic room, you always make the door swing inwards so it cannot be jammed shut by debris from the outside of the room in the event of a tornado or hurricane. If it's just moderately-well hidden storage, I guess it wouldn't matter too much, but it likely only looks like a door because you're predisposed to seeing it as one by watching them change it. The average passer-by wouldn't know.

[@Yophillips3272]

Well if you do that you could just put a regular bookshelf infront of it.

[@thefixmdude22512]

I’m just here to read all the comments,from so called know it alls. Gotta love all the KZbin experts.

[@mikemunns7443]

Awesome build and you jacked the finish! That casing is hurting my eyes

[@robertwatkins8220]

Good job Tommy!

[@PatHaskell]

Can’t believe that lady is going to paint all the wood!!

[@sergeantc4073]

Good idea 💡. I'm looking into hiding my door to my master bedroom. The have two bedroom entry doors on the right of the upstairs hallway and one bedroom door on the left of the hallway This has has me thinking of my possible options

[@_elverbo_]

Excellent solution, nice book did you used

[@mariahchill9601]

Love this idea! We have a 1 bedroom house and use a sliding barn door for the bathroom but unfortunately it doesn't give as much privacy as I'd like, so we are gunna use a bookcase door instead!

[@still34u]

4:47 .. yeah.. I'm glad you used that square ..

[@kevinm8865]

LMAO!!! I didn't even see that the first time around. Wow, he was way off of that guide.

[@Dragonbornn]

LOL

[@justpix4581]

Probably because of the floor wasn't leveled had to compensate

[@giannismarkidis9546]

Nice video. I like it so much !!! John from Greece!!!

[@kevincarbajaldbz7724]

I like how they did show the finish product

[@90proofwisdompodcastwithje26]

Murphy Door is the bomb!

[@RedRebel8]

Got that sinking feeling that as soon as the weight of the books are put on it, it won't open and close smoothly.

[@rossl2544]

not that it did without all that extra weight. if you wait for the end they show you a close up of the latch at the bottom of door, when it closes it pushes the door up and then drops down when the door latches shut but that could be poor fitting on the installers part i guess

[@ryangiffel2136]

Makes a great safe room!!

[@oldskoolwayy]

Always wanted one of these

[@Data4664]

Very good job!

[@eliseoaguilar6337]

Es verdad no conosco alguien como tom silva es un sabio para la carpinteria felicidades tom silva eres el mejor

[@DigitalSwagg]

Sweet! I need several of these!

[@JeremyBarker482]

Www.themurphydoor.com

[@miltonnegron65]

Great job !!!

[@michaelmcbride4310]

The light switch the was for the closet is right by the new book case, which also give it away

[@philipkenakin7804]

Wouldn't it be odd that there was just this one bookshelf inside your wall?

[@isabelamontgomery9182]

Really cool tutorial! You inspired me to do this in my own home! Thanks so much!

[@garyc2677]

How did you get on? Did you do it?

[@chosenkin_]

so did you do it

[@chosenkin_]

?

[@chosenkin_]

TODAY Junior

[@robertbutler8004]

The huge gap under the door/bookshelf is a dead give away.

[@meg-k-waldren]

ROBERT BUTLER yeeup

[@flexiblestrategist9922]

So what. It's still need and reminds me of the old movies that had hidden bookshelf/doors that baffled Police.

[@Mrcaffinebean]

ROBERT BUTLER you could fix that with trim and paint

[@phatdonkey78]

It should swing out and the trim should go to the floor. That would hide it much better.

[@percyperanamus7432]

i dont think they really care about being stealthy . it's mainly decorative and functional

[@arkadi9]

Good job.

[@JineshVaria]

This is awesome!!

[@TheGilbalfas]

beautiful

[@JoJo-oo7zt]

I would love to see how it looked after everything was completed. Cool idea if you have the real estate.

[@marcstoogood8478]

If you have a door lol

[@TranTheClever]

Umm so this is way too badass for me to attempt but I'm in love with it and will stream of the day that I can make this!!😍 1:25

[@rndmukn]

I need to find some of these popluh trees.

[@Rumeel12708]

This is awesome, I want one as my room door but I want the shelves inside the room and have the outside looking like a dead end!

[@jbenz1990]

Me inside with the book door closed “Honey can you push the case in I’m stuck here again”

[@balakrishnang8969]

Nice job

[@MechInvent]

Love this old house!! You guys truly teach all the cool stuff. Ignore the haters.

[@baloo1522]

What haters lol. Everyone loves this show

[@iamdann783]

i love it!

[@SuperToughnut]

I want to get one of these doors so I can hide all of my tires!

[@unclefreddieDied]

hahaha I thought that's what he said. wtf is she using it for?

[@mcauliffephotography253]

@@unclefreddieDied nowah nobodah knowsah youah tireahs are back theah! What?? Is she a tire smuggler? Like tires full of drugs? I have questions

[@TheReviewPigeon]

Cool concept, relatively easy install when the murphy style door is already assembled....the purpose of it being a hidden door is basically defeated by the relatively poor finish quality and exposed gaps though.

[@justinfowler2857]

That was kinda my thought too. Looks good from a distance, but probably won't last. The friction latch will be the first failure point.

[@donaldcampbell5277]

$1800. For just the door. Hinges add another $40.

[@percyperanamus7432]

love it!!

[@sanity1977]

Not Tommy's best work if i may say.

[@rexcherry33]

hahah Truth!

[@stephenirwin2761]

So cool!

[@juggaluggalocoroniweirdo1650]

That is so cool

[@benholmes320]

Mr Pennyworth & Mr Wayne approve of your work!

[@absy7384]

Loved the video. I want to do the same for my home. Can you tell me where you got the door from?

[@robertbrunston5406]

Very good.

[@texasruss]

Welcome to another episode of "This Old Meth Lab".

[@Danny-fs1hk]

Russell Anderson 😂😂

[@davidgraham2673]

Russel Anderson, That was hilarious.

[@Snarelli]

This is something I've always wanted to do for gaming room mix uth

[@seanvella5313]

Sup uth Owahhhhhhhh

[@Snarelli]

@@seanvella5313 mix uth

[@yeltsin6817]

I would also trim out that bottom so it looks complete. Also the trim needed to be 1/2” wider. Huge gaps on that right side.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Rushed for time? Maybe she had a tire delivery that afternoon?

[@erickoch3507]

Great video, you forgot to show how many times I have to go back to the store because I forgot something…

[@Jonacarpenter]

Hello there. Great job!!!👍. Where would I buy the hinges?

[@SteelHorseRiders]

Murphy Door makes a real nice unit . . . .

[@itoolscom-tm8ul]

holy sh... !!a nice job old man!

[@michaelmcnew744]

Hidden door a great idea.

[@jasonjuneau]

*After Joey builds the huge entertainment center* Joey: "You turn and slide. Turn and slide." Chandler: "No, you throw it out!"

[@davidgraham2673]

"I'll bet you five bucks you can't fit in there". "Cha- Ching!"

[@mrsrex]

My parents home burned years ago, it had a similar setup. Instead of being recessed though, it just appeared to sit against the wall. It had small caster wheels on the bottom to help it open smoothly

[@Nowehi305]

Awesome

[@tiffanylusch6609]

Always start with hinge side jamb being plumb

[@mcinkyt]

I like this but it needs a secure latch too make it a true secret entry

[@renaissancemen1]

You can do that by using a gate latch and the book unlocking mechanism.

[@zstick]

A lot of people install magnetic child safety locks from Home Depot. The idea is it'll lock a door or cupboard until a magnet is put in the right place. Then you just build a magnet into a trinket or picture frame and use that as the "key."

[@shaunmiller9369]

Its also much too loud, what if you were trying to hide

[@keithmiller6277]

I agree on the hidden part. If it is to serve as a panic room put steel brackets on the back of the door, and on the inside wall on each side of the door. Use a 2" x 4" piece of rectangular steel tubing bar that can be dropped in place across the door when your inside the room.

[@benholmes320]

Bat family is that you guys?

[@marshahartley6852]

The light switch next to the "shelf" is another giveaway.

[@uuuh6441]

Dang thats cool

[@homelessjoe]

That trim though...

[@crapper1]

what trim ive seen better trim by using scrap drywall and screwing it on the casing lol

[@annconklin6354]

Since I am a novice at rehab, I thought his tips were great, I learned how the door functions and once painted up and some nice trim, it will be nice. Would like see a hidden door that is not a bookcase or cabinet, just wall. Overall, I liked it.

[@marlinbundo2409]

Hidden doors in plain drywall are virtually impossible. However if you don't mind adding some decorative trim then it can be fairly easy to disguise a door as a wall. Check this out for example kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGK9hGdpi9lrfZo

[@Twista1016]

Making dreams come true, 😀

[@mariebarnes1518]

I love that ideal. Where can I get the bookshelf name of company?

[@wakawaka1976]

That piece he cut to level the jamb... does it not need a piece on the other side as well?

[@its_bob_from_accounting801]

the way it's flush is a straight giveaway. should be bumped out more

[@marlinbundo2409]

there are problems with this design, but I don't think this is one of them. I've seen a lot of recessed bookshelves in my day.

[@DJ_Bola]

Is there a video how to make shims?

[@Chopwoodcarrywater]

I used to watch this on UHF.

[@kaminakawena]

Great video, hardware and timber in the US so much better and accessible than the UK, this gentleman is fantastic with his explanation.

[@lothean2099]

That will come in handy for a 30 days and 30 nights situation

[@BD-tn5um]

What does it mean when you say set the scribe to the over all filler. How do you determine that

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

This looks like a big PITA for a room or area that is used regularly. No thanks for that application, give me a regular door. But for a room that is seldom used, like a storage area, this would be fun.

[@tommynorthwood]

This old Growroom

[@alexhernanez3475]

😂🤣

[@JDgiggles]

I would love to make a hidden room in my place. Somewhere to keep my family safe if the need arises.

[@chrismiesner6973]

Nice I want one where

[@anavrinhsub6081]

I’m in!

[@chriseldabroughton7356]

thats a good one 2 in 1

[@becbell74]

I'm in Sydney Australia, can you purchase these bookcases already built? I'd love to hide my laundry door.

[@bushball333]

Why the hell was she holding the wood as he was cutting it?

[@bradleym.2008]

I’ve been wearing my tool belt backwards my entire life... thanks a lot dad

[@DDay-vv9ec]

What's up wit the trim

[@gordonadams5891]

I can see this as a solution for limited storage space in a small house.