How do I extend this door?

Question

I have these wonderful old doors, they are the right width, too short. How do I make them work?

Jeanette S · Answer

Build in a transom over the door...just box it in and add glass.

Adrianne C · Answer

How in the world did that happen?! Easiest way is to get another door that fits! The Habitat for Humanity Restore has a lot of doors, and a lot of other things too! Local contractors here take all kinds of stuff there.

Christy Henne · Answer

5 inch putty

Darla · Answer

I wonder if you could put a filler board in the top of the door frame?

Marianna · Answer

The transom idea is awesome!

Ann Foglia · Answer

We had a few'high water'doors due to removing wall to wall to expose the hardwoods underneath. You can take the door down add a strip, repaint etc., a lot of work, but in our case, they matched the other doors in the house.

Lezlie · Answer

Yes, transom....with stained glass.

Gradmama · Answer

Stained glass, or clear colored vinyl would be nice to capture the light coming in, and it could look like part of the original door opening design. Glass block could look nice too.

Ang · Answer

you can also add a peice of wood and mosaic it . would be charming:)

Gooche54 · Answer

Our local home improvement store has a section of slightly damaged doors of varying sizes that range in price from $1 to $20. I'd start there.

MamaSita · Answer

I like the idea of stained glass or glass block above it. Transom's are awesome. Don't try to extend the door with wood to make it look like part of the door as that will just look shabby. 1/4/ or 1/8 inches can be 'fixed'..anything else needs more creativity.

Pete Wells · Answer

If you add a filler section to the door, raise the door and add it to the bottom where it won't be as noticeable..but the best solution is to find a door that matches and fits the opening..Habitat ReStore is a great source..a transom will require major framing alterations...there may be sources other than a 'big-box' store for new doors as well...you won't find a perfect replacement w/o doing some searching...best luck!

Boards & Beams · Answer

An old rustic piece of wood might be nice. One with lots of character. :)

Jim L · Answer

Frame the space and leave it open. Looks good and great for air circulation. I've seen this in house new plans and it lets light and air circulate.

J Rolen Highland · Answer

What about using a window that opens down like they used to have in older buildings?

Karen powell · Answer

Make a transome window . Make the fream all the way around to meet the celing. Its perfect.

Lisa Schneider · Answer

frame it out and fill it in or trim it out according to your own style.

Katie Pepin · Answer

If you don't want to do anything to your door frame, which I suggest you don't unless you know you will never sell the house. I would make the changes to the door itself. As mentioned here the space could be to let light flow thru. Or at least appear that way. I have experienced doors like these over seas. Even in the rest room in a home, had a window with frosted glass. Seems strange to you, because you are not use to seeing it. If you sell the house, the next person would only have to purchase new doors, if they didn't like the light at the top of the door. Just a thought

Elizabeth S · Answer

Transom! Maybe find some lovely old stained glass? It doesn't HAVE to be operation, but that would be a plus for air flow.

Donna Broussard · Answer

you need a door that fits that doorway.

Terry Smith · Answer

I LIKE @Lezlie IDEA. I WAS TELLING MY PARENTS THAT IT IS A SHAME HOUSE ARE NO LONGER MADE WITH TRANSOM'S. I WOULD LIKE ONE OVER MY BEDROOM DOOR SO THE AIR CAN FLOW THROUGH AND STILL HAVE PRIVACY. MY ROOM HAS THE A/C IN IT FOR THE BACK OF THE HOUSE.

Bibi Sweet67 · Answer

Just make the door frame smaller and sheetrock the top.

Centrd · Answer

Definitely a transom window...but in your situation you need to take the molding and/or glass all the way to the ceiling...should be an inexpensive carpentry job. I'd get a window that opens for air circulation but fixed glass works too. Would add a lot of value to your house. Honestly, any other solution is problematic...adding length to the door at the bottom, messes with handle placement. But adding at the top will look strange. Here are some photos of transoms.

Sharon W · Answer

Why not create a cat pass-through on the bottom with some wood cut into the shape of a 'mouse hole' to let them come and go without having the door actually open. I'd put a little door on the back so you can latch for privacy when they start to drive you nuts though in the middle of the night.

Nancy Spencer Carlson · Answer

maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't do anything to it at all. Good airflow. Would be better if the bottom of the door were also an inch or so above the floor. 
But a non-permanent fix would be to make a box that will fit in the space and fill it with something you love. For me, twigs in a random pattern
 come to mind.

Colleen · Answer

I like the transome window above the door,it will add more light to the room and if you make it so it opens then more air flow between the hall and room.

Lesa · Answer

Okay curiosity kills the cat...but how did that happen...I usually have ideas, but all I can say is buy another door new or used.

Prichinna · Answer

To answer some of the questions, I salvaged 4 of these gorgeous doors, complete with brass hardware to replace my cheezy luan builder doors. The doors are from my family's home being torn down and not only are of excellent craftsmanship, but have sentimental value as well. The width fits, the bottom is the problem. The hardware and knob fit when the door is raised to the top. For purposes of gravity, I was only able to capture a picture of the door sitting in the placement in which you see it.

I love the transom idea, but I would have to move all the hardware, which all works where it is right now when the door is raised. Plus there is only a 4 inch gap when all is said and done. The glass of the transom would only be about 2 or 3 inches at best after framing.

Pete Wells · Answer

Simplest solution is to raise the door, it is easy to move the hinge recesses and strike plate for the latch, and you'll find the gap at the bottom much less noticeable than the gap at the top...

Centrd · Answer

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