Bifold
closet doors are probably the most commonly seen doors in the
United States for reach in closets, laundry closets, and often
pantries.
These doors consist of two panels each,
attached to a top
rail. When you open them, they two panels stick out, folding together
at their hinges.
They are easy to operate and install, and
they are
very inexpensive, which is probably why they are so popular. It is also
easier to see into the contents of a closet with bifold doors than it
is with one that has sliding doors.
These days, bifold doors are available in
much more than the slatted variety we see in newly built homes. You can
get them in heavy wood with different finishes and hardware, to lend a
unique look to any room. Installed properly, they glide beautifully and
are a true asset.
The first step is to measure the opening of
your closet to determine what size bifold closet doors you need.
Purchase a kit based on this measurement and on the look and style of
your room. Specialists at the home improvement center can help you with
this choice.
The kit should come with detailed
instructions, but they should all be somewhat similar. First, you must
remove the old doors from the opening, including any track that might
be there.
Attach the sections of the bi-fold doors
together with the
hinges that are included, and screw on the hardware that will allow it
to hang from the track.
Next, install the track at the top of the
opening. Drill shallow pilot holes to keep the wood on the door frame
from splintering, and tighten the track securely. Make sure the screw
heads are flush with the track, or the doors will not glide properly.
Now, install the floor brackets. These keep
the doors from swinging out of place. Hang the bifold closet doors on
the track, and attach them to the floor brackets and any aligning
hardware that was included. Test them to make sure they glide well, and
finish the project by attaching the handles to the doors.