How to Cut Down Steel Pre-Hung Door + Installation

In this video, I show you the final step of my bulkhead/ basement project… adding a new basement door! Even though most of you wanted me to keep my blue plywood doors, I decided for security reasons, to install a new steel door. My rough opening for the door was roughly 72” and my door was 80” tall so I needed to cut it down. This is a how I do because of my unique space and I hope this video helps you with cutting down your door!
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Check out some other videos on this bulkhead project -
• Replacing My Rotted Ba...
• Basement Bulkhead Door...
• Painting My Basement B...
• How to Install Gutter ...
• Replacing Rotted Sill ...
• How to Build Stair Str...
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Videos produced by The Fixer are provided for informational purposes only. All material provided within this video is for informational, educational, & entertainment purposes only. Some of these projects, materials, and techniques may not be appropriate for all ages or skill levels. Please use all safety precautions while following any instructions or concepts provided by this video. Viewers must be aware that by doing projects on their homes they are doing it at their own risk and The Fixer cannot be held liable if they cause any damage to their homes. It is the sole responsibility of the viewer to educate themselves on their local codes and regulations before undertaking any sort of project. Always have safety in mind and have fun!

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Subscribe to my channel: bit.ly/SubscribeToTheFixer Thanks for watching! 😃

[@joncorwin6134]

Awesome job. Pro

[@michaelfontaine5612]

You are doing your foam corner seals wrong ! Check in to it. Other wise looks like nice job to me . 35yrs union carpenter retired. Lots of hollow metal doors and frames in 35 yrs.

[@armandogomez6589]

I like it

[@robertoarriola-bustamante9169]

Checking the level on the floor is very important too

[@shola7987]

😊​@@joncorwin6134

[@bollera.bolljr2414]

AH....a carpenter using an Estwing steel hammer , brings back memories ! Nice workmanship !

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Great hammer! 😁

[@wallywrench9844]

Nice to see old school commonsence, pride and work ethics still being used.

[@briananderson2093]

With the construction adhesive under the threshold: "I'm not going to go crazy with it." Proceeds to go crazy with it. Exactly as I would do.

[@kevinritchie9227]

Dont know whats better, the 50 minutes of professional instruction, or the two minutes of bloopers at the end. And, I see your left hand is about as useless as mine. lol By the way, the door came out looking great!

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

🤣 thanks, Kevin!

[@rodmacisaac5963]

I’ve been a carpenter for over 40 yrs and I would have done that job exactly the way you did it! Very professional install and great video work too!

[@jaystevens3548]

Nice to see a ' new school " use " old school " tools and techniques cutting in hinges. damn good job.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thanks! 😃

[@michaelramos3589]

Man, I really enjoy your videos! Great pointers and it's like your one of the guys! Thoroughly enjoy your outtakes at the end their funny as can be. Thanks, keep emailing coming!

[@kirkjohnson1035]

Blooper reel was pure gold 11/10

[@davidfly7426]

And I’m gonna watch you do it… Right now!

[@ca6177]

I like it! I always point back at him when he says that! 😅😊

[@valerielucille3204]

Lol

[@andrewc6385]

Me too!

[@elizlee1]

🤭

[@sandiwalker761]

😅

[@stevenbastian3882]

Thanks for the outtakes at the end. It's a reminder that "real life" happens for KZbin pros just like us normal mortals. Plan well for war but when the battle actually begins, all bets are off.

[@newttella1043]

I wish I had this video 6 months ago. Oh well, now everyone points out how low my door knob is. Love your outakes.

[@denniss5512]

Hi, Been bing watching your videos and learning a LOT!. I'd love to see your wife's reactions to the wonderfull creatrions and repairs you have done.

[@lauretiu]

i absolutely love your end of the video bloopers. i don't even need to learn how to do a door installation anymore since i botched mine but for the bloopers i will watch it 😂

[@ChaiLatte13]

Dang measuring from the hinge on the frame to use that measurement on the door was like a big brain moment for me. lol I totally would not have thought of that.

[@T.E.P..]

Yeah man!!!!!!!!! Thanks for making Friday a great day publishing another vid. Needed a vid ... my wife is leaving me .... she said I'm tooooo UN American ... told her I could see she had that opinion from a Kilometer away. 🤣 It's been a tuff week ... gave a handyman a list of 5 things we needed done ... he only did 1,3 and 5 ... we were pissed and asked why ... he said he only does odd jobs. Hope you have a great weekend with your loving family and thanks again for all these vids!

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Ok, I’ll admit it, you got me. 😂 Thanks for the comment, have a great weekend!

[@johnlorts8226]

I've never seen anybody work this hard and do everything backwards and I've been to finish Carpenter for 47 years

[@nigelmiller5860]

Thanks. I love your videos, no music, just great information and demonstration. Like the outtakes.

[@markuhler]

The bloopers at the end are hilarious!

[@robertbonesio5498]

The hump in the floor. If you wanted to. It would have caused a dusty and cloudy mess. Lol And if you have a grinder. Used it to grind down that hump in the concrete floor. But I will say this. I’ve installed many doors in my life time. And I’ve gotten it down to almost perfection and very fast. And today I still learned a lot from your video. Love it! Great job!

[@jscheu71]

Nice job! Never seen a steel door shortened. All that missing is the Terminus poster....

[@arifnoor8358]

The moment I get a notification of your video, it's like 🎉🎉🎉

[@sbkhider]

Thank you for showing me how to notch out for a hinge when you don't have a router. I have a door that doesn't close correctly and I know it's the hinge. My dad passed before he had the chance to show me how to do things like that. It doesn't help when you have a friend hang the door and they (you find out later) didn't know how to do it. But thanks to you, I got this!

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Sorry to hear about your dad's passing. Glad the video is going to be helpful and reach out if you have any other questions on the project! 😃

[@kreight007]

Bob Ross meets this old house! Makes my day! Thank you for your content, boss. Keep up the good work!!

[@juanlucas983]

Good job...from a 57 y.o. finish carpenter...like your attention to detail!😊

[@ByHis3Grace]

You are such a kind & thoughtful person. A great, patient, methodical and thorough teacher (your videos are clear, up-close and at a good pace). Thanks for what you do (and for not trying to be "Hollywood" with all the loud background music and special effects that mess with my nervous system) 😊

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

This is amazing to hear. Makes me feel like of all the ways I could make these videos, I am doing it the way I should. Thank you! And thank you for watching!

[@davidparker9676]

The outtakes at the end IS Hollywood. If you cut them out , leave them out... otherwise leave it in, unedited. I live in Los Angeles and I can't stand Hollywood and the garbage they spread around the world. I know exactly what a bunch of degenerates Hollywood is composed of.

[@0MIDO1280]

I am a huge fan of your channel. I saw all your Videos, you make me feel like a friend talking to me. Love the simplicity in your work, and always waiting for your new videos.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thank you so much! 😁

[@stabbb1299]

Again, crafting this 72" doorway with you vicariously and as a 6 foot 3 inch dude I will give you a preemptive OUCH, MY HEAD!! Nice Job!!

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Haha 😂

[@TheBorrito]

Wow. This is like, “This Old House.” Very professional.

[@huntercook5501]

I know for those of us who don’t own routers; even though you own one, using the old school method of a chisel and hammer just goes to show your appreciation for your viewers to show them you can do it even the hardest of ways. Keep up the good work brother!

[@jessipandarawr]

I own a router, but still prefer to do it the old school way. I actually find it easier than using the router

[@davidparker9676]

The old school way is not that difficult. Without templates, without special bits, without removing the door or weatherstripping, you can get a better looking result with a sharp chisel and a razor knife. I hang doors on a regular basis and the router is only a time saver when you are using templates and doing multiple doors.

[@tylerjames3029]

Great video thank you. I am capable of a lot of carpentry and have done virtually all my own renovations however it is nice to see someone make an actual detail step by step video like this. Particularly with details like plugging the top after the cut. A lot of small details I may have overlooked. Thank you and job well done

[@denisetharp2500]

Love the bloopers at the end. 🤣

[@jwbr2]

Again a great video, the result is awesome! The tone of explaining is great too, I even learn some Englisch from it (I'm from Holland). Everytime you've a new episode, it's a treat, so thanks again. Till the next one!

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thank you very much for watching! 😃

[@jwbr2]

That little detail... you are a Patriots fan? LOL

[@thorbjrnhellehaven5766]

In Norway, the naming convention for left/right is: You observe the door, while standing on the swing side, (inside/outside). The you observe if the hinges are on the left orr the right side. This door would be : left hinge, in swing. Swinging inward. When watching from the inside, the hinges are on the left side. Proves that it can be important to know the naming convention they use if you order things from a different market.

[@shanaproctor100]

I will never hang a door, but I watched the whole video and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thanks for watching!

[@bradleythomas5445]

Was really looking forward to this episode. Great job! Maybe you could hang the old door on one of your basement walls as a decoration? It has so much character. Love your channel.

[@sgtzsquad]

Really nice job an instructional for me. Thank you.

[@timbrown9305]

One of the very few people that I have ever seen to properly hang a door. Doors should be treated like a fine piece of furniture.

[@ca6177]

Thanks again for showing me something new!

[@donobe1]

and we're gunna do it ..... right now LOVE IT! Changes my mood instantly...

[@sweetpina3875]

The plastic bag getting wrapped up in the drill is such a “me moment” 6:00

[@btimbyindy]

When I cut a metal door, I cut it 1/4" long then use a router with a pattern bit to make a cavity at the top (remove foam). Then glue wood into the cavity. Cut a notch oit of the metal, 1/4" x 1/4" to prevent overlap. Finally bend the excess metal skin over the wood. Place some silicone under the metal before you bend it and prime the top. A hammer is good enough to do the bending.

[@chrisw443]

Those levels were nice and level.

[@Danil-wo3yv]

Hello I am from Russia. I love watching your videos of you fixing things. You have golden hands.

[@lindaroyal8161]

Solid, now that's a solid door. You make installs looks so easy. Even though I don't do actual construction or remodeling myself, watching videos like these gives me enough knowledge, that I know what someone is supposed to do when I hire them. I can't do the work, but I sure now how it's supposed to be done, especially being a female, so I'm not taken advantage of. I sure wish you were in my neck of the woods in Florida, I have some projects and upgrade that are on my list.

[@davidparker9676]

There are many ways to do the same job correctly. Nobody wants to be micromanaged by a KZbin expert when you hired them to do the work. Hire professionals with a good reputation and you will be fine. The people that get ripped off are the ones that don't research their contractor and shop by price alone.

[@dianadunham6691]

You make it look so easy.

[@samfeldman1508]

And it isn’t. I’ve installed many entry doors and it never goes easy for me.

[@davidparker9676]

There is an easier way.

[@samfeldman1508]

@@davidparker9676 KZbin video or it didn’t happen.

[@davidparker9676]

@@samfeldman1508 Sure, just give me $10,000 to my go fund me and I will make a tutorial video for you. Time is money, I am not here to give my time and experience away for free. There are better videos on how to install doors on KZbin. This one was okay but there is a better and faster way.

[@samfeldman1508]

@@davidparker9676 riiiiiiight.

[@Good-Citizen]

Never seen a video on this topic. Great job.

[@tonybrandt8850]

It's good to know no glue was harmed during the manufacture of the door.

[@dannydahlke1845]

I know it's just a basement and that door doesn't get seen or used often, but it would be cool if you made a video of you trimming that door out with some nice old barn wood planks or something similar. I bet you'd get a couple two tree views 😉

[@peternicholsonu6090]

Been fitting doors about 60yrs taught myself. Built 3 houses for my family. Learned so much tonight....thankyou. Yes have cut down doors. Your shimming method blew me away. Once built a fabulous Cypress 2 stage internal stair case recessing steps and risers into the stringers and same with the handrails....a month later the timber (that’s what we call it in Australia) shrank! Opened up all over. Well I figure perfection is something I have a ways to go even if it takes a millennium.

[@williamwales6619]

yet another masterclass. Cheers

[@65csx83]

You covered just about all the alternatives to cutting that door except for excavating the floor. I think lowering and re-pouring the floor and replacing the footers would make for a great video.

[@marlamiller4055]

What a skill you have. My first video. You are so personable and talented. You have an old soul, you are very, very skilled. I enjoyed your bloopers! I'm a fan. Thank you and your camera person. Good job.

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thank you so much! And welcome to my channel!

[@seancorcoran5172]

A Big Fan for a long time. But love the new outtakes. Makes me feel so much better when I blame my bits every weekend!

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thanks for the support!

[@SpadeAce]

When you're installing anything to do with a door, make sure you use 3" or longer screws so that the screws securing the door and the hardware of the door are driving far into the frame of the wall.

[@jsaysyay]

and now it looks much less like a dungeon entrance! lovely! educational, fun, what more could you want? hope the wind from that hurricane that's offshore wont be causing any trouble, even if its minimal (currently watching some birch trees swinging around, hence why i thought of this) those bloopers are hilarious as always

[@aaronorr5586]

Kill room cellar...good place to hang meat hooks and chainsaws.

[@najmuddinf]

Even this is all about just one door installment, but I gain a lot information, hacks, tips on it. Thanks💪☺️

[@graciemaca6996]

Excellent job!👍 Having the precious ability to 'think ahead' saves time, $$ and the frustration of having to do the job over again. I ❤ that you give options for those who want to do it differently and that you always tidy up after each portion of the job!👍👍👍

[@Landlordsplace]

getting ready to cut a door, this was a great help. been 20 years since i did this. thanks for sharing.

[@tomlewelling4088]

That's a nice clean installation. Love them Ryobi tools.

[@wyattsdad8561]

Nice job brother. I have a handyman business so I have to do weird shit all the time. You know.. stuff like this. I wanted to mention the many uses of an oscillating saw. I was changing out 25 sprinkler heads last week and when I was digging them out a lot were covered in thick roots. I used to used my sawz all and clippers for stuff like that. Last week I tried using my oscillation saw and man it was perfect for doing those sprinklers. I even used it to do an initial cut on the SOD. Great video! I’m still watching it.

[@Aty3Studios]

... "another one!" Great vid and work. Thank you. I am now inspired to replace my basement door which (surprisingly) looked just like your old one :)

[@John-cb6wn]

As a finished carpenter I really enjoyed watching your videos, I recently purchased a few Ryobi power tools and have been satisfied with the quality results, you did outstanding with the installation of the door

[@davidparker9676]

When did you finish being a carpenter? They call that retired where I come from.

[@CLDino]

You brought me back 23 years ago when we hung 1600 doors in A NYC project. They were much heavier( you might say bulletproof) and had much more elaborate locksets with integrated deadbolts.

[@neijames]

Great job. It is good to see a regular guy make sense and be completly understandable in there technic and be able to follow to the very end. Thanks for the help. I will be doing the same but from the bottom because they will be 6 panel pattern. I am now a subscriber and wish you luck on the new home purchase.

[@alanrobison3298]

Nice job bud!

[@c50ge]

I’ve been using a Pica-Dry heavy duty mechanical pencil. The leads are strong and don’t break easily and it has a built in sharpener which is fantastic for precision marking. Watching you use the flat pencil made me thankful I don’t use them anymore. I also bought white”leads” that I use when working with steel or dark painted pieces. Splurge a little, you’ll love it.

[@dloregon]

I like how you explained all the steps,, One thing I would suggest is when you cut the door,,, put the straight edge on the door away from the cut,, that way if you mess up and the saw jumps, it will cut the part you are taking off,, not the good part of the door,, Hope this makes sense.

[@danieldoherty6475]

I was impressed you did a fabulous job. your explanations were on the money

[@TrixieJFerguson]

KZbin is more than a little bit creepy in that I was talking to my dad yesterday about needing to get a metal door for my side garage, but that it’s a weird size and I would need to cut it down. Now today … voila … KZbin offers me your video about how to cut down a metal door to size. I appreciate you making this video and I think you did a fantastic job on your door; but, I am going to be special ordering my door because this way too complicated for my simple mind. Also, thanks for the blooper reel. That’s more like my speed. 😂

[@jessipandarawr]

Lol always love the "bloopers". Also, this is one of the few times I also use foam. It's still open so plenty of room for the foam to expand outwards instead of applying pressure to the frame.

[@davidparker9676]

There is a special version of expanding foam that does not over-expand and make an absolute mess. It is low-expansion foam for windows and doors.

[@DiscBelief]

Good video with good tips. I like to do the hinges the same way except I just slap the hinge up there and use it as a cut out guide with the razor knife, especially to get those rounded edges right. 👍

[@ryanomac27]

Thanks Matt. Love to see new videos from The Fixer!

[@beglitchery]

I don’t want to cut down a metal foor but I learned a heck of a lot about measuring a rough frame, installing a door frame and shimming to adjust the reveal😊

[@Kirstalyn272]

This was awesome to watch! I have always try to be hands, so I love watching your videos!

[@r6f09]

I would have purchased a larger door, Rabbet cut the existing frame, cut down the door to fit. I would take nothing from the opening and still have the steel door. Thanks for the video and showing the installation.

[@jennifermartinus4929]

You did great, Matt. Very fine 🏠

[@andrewc6385]

Something small but my coworkers typically frame doors 2" bigger than the door slab itself. Ie framing a 36" door with an rso of 38". I know that technically that should give almost a half inch to level but ive been burned in the past and also frame mine 2.5" bigger

[@mjb12141963]

You can hear how solid and tight the door is. Very nice. Keep out the upcoming seasons.

[@MaMa-qh4dy]

Nice work! This guy really knows how to make it all happen. For me, I would just pay the extra $ for the custom door and be done.

[@davidparker9676]

If you value your time and want to maintain the manufacturer's warranty, you are 100% right. This is for people that don't value their time or quality.

[@user-pm2ki1zt4z]

That cut you made was perfect very well done.

[@jayjudd6518]

I enjoy your stuff,guy. Hope you stay with it.

[@marcosislas4633]

Bloopers were awesome!!! Thanks for the videos.

[@somebodypeculiar]

I just found your stuff for the first time today. I watched the one where you built steps for inside the bulkhead basement access, then the one where you cut down the steel door for that doorway. I am impressed with everything about it, including the video quality, your explanations of what and WHY of everything, and the quality of your work. Top notch stuff!

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thanks!

[@texasproud3332]

Great job

[@yobespierre]

it's ok matt, sometimes we all must use products we despise when retrofitting something. XD

[@EWB66]

I am old school. I would have went with a solid core wood door and buit my own frame. A lot of people today have no idea of how to hang a door from scratch. Today everyone wants a prehung door. My grandpa was an old time carpenter and he taught me how to hang a door. He died in 1965, I still have all his old tools and I still use them.

[@btimbyindy]

I have had to hang doors like that. I call them slabs, as opposed to pre-hung. I once had to hang slabs in an entire house since they took the doors but left the jambs and trim.

[@regankaldahl8496]

Grandpa used a horse and buggy also but now we get more done with cars and trucks.😅

[@EWB66]

@regankaldahl8496 a solid wood door would have been a much better choice. Carpentry may have changed over the years, but I still would have went with a solid wood door. People today don't know how to build a frame from scratch. That door wasn't designed to be cut and the frame on those cheap doors would be easy to kick in. I would have built it with a 2 x 6 frame ripped to fit. A wood door would have been heavier duty, wouldn,t rust over the years and would probably last a lifetime.

[@jeffjones4006]

You are very good at explaining the process and unlike others you use plumb and level correctly. Keep up the good work.

[@prestonball4982]

It all turned out in the end. A few tips. You used an inswing door instead of an outswing. Door manufacturers use the same height door slabs for both but different thresholds. The inswings are about 1-1/2” taller which means with an outswing it’s less to cut off and lower threshold to step over. We always cut off the bottom of the doors. Lowes and Depot sell a U shaped vinyl pieces that fits over the bottom cut. Those side jamb cuts are easier removed by hitting them with a hammer to separate and you don’t need a pry bar. Less likely to damage the jamb you are trying to restore.

[@dingeldiy]

Your passion for DIY really shines through in your videos. I'm learning so much from you, and it's driving me to make my own content

[@mcbethd]

great video ! i always cut from the bottom this looks easier 😀

[@tamora.monique]

I needed this❤

[@teresamoore4141]

Good Job! Loved it

[@tellmesomething2go]

a neat little trick for the hinge radii, is to use a wood spade bit. makes a perfect round corner.

[@erwinbrubacker7488]

Im delighted to see a craftsman caring what he's doing.

[@stevedockery3534]

Dude, that was an awesome job on the door. I learned a lot, and I've done a few doors before. Great video.I plan on watching more. Steve

[@paulmonk7820]

I have those same runaway screws!😅 ❤

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

😂

[@clarechomyn9686]

Thank you. We have a problem with our metal basement door. This video is the perfect answer. Thank you so much. I've subscribed

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thanks for subscribing to the page! 😃

[@MsConrad]

If there was a "love" button, I would click it! Seen several of these vids from others and this is the best! Unfortunately my door has the panels, so I have to go from the bottom. :( the tape trick on the punch saw, the 4 braces for frame install... great job and thank you!

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thank you for watching! Hope it helps!

[@Bdbrad71]

Always love watching your video's very detailed thanks for sharing

[@TheFixerHomeRepair]

Thanks for watching them! 😃

[@tomw4231]

Great job. Perfect timing, as I need to do this project, and was not sure how to approach it. I feel much more confident now. By the way, love your outtakes. We've all been there.