How to Frame a Dutch Door

Install frames for your Dutch door.

A Dutch door is actually two doors fit into one door frame, with the top and bottom sections of the door opening and closing separately. You can open a Dutch door as a whole door, or with one half open and the other half closed. The classic Dutch door is often used in a barn, with the animal able to look out the open top section of the door, while it's kept inside the barn by the closed bottom section of the door. Build a frame for your Dutch door to keep the doors from sagging, warping or shifting.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Carpenter's plumb
• 5 pieces of 2-by-4 wood
• Circular saw
• Wood screws
• Power nail driver

Instructions

1. Measure your Dutch door with a tape measure. Build an opening for your Dutch door by leaving or cutting an opening in the wall. The opening should be 2 inches longer in height and about 4 inches wider in width than the measurements of your Dutch door. Straighten the vertical posts of the door using a carpenter's plumb.

2. Choose which side of the opening where you want the door hinges to be located. Cut two 2- by 4-inch pieces of wood according to half the height of the door frame with a circular saw. These will be the hinge jambs of your Dutch door.

3. Attach the two hinge jambs you cut in Step 2 vertically to the hinge side of the door using wood screws and a power nail driver. The 4-inch side of the wood planks should be parallel with the door opening. Use wood screws that are more than 2 inches long to secure the plank into place.

4. Cut one 2-by-4 piece of wood according to the height of the door frame with a circular saw. Attach it to the opposite side of the door frame using wood screws and a power nail driver.

5. Cut two 2-by-4 pieces of wood according to the width of the door frame using a circular saw. Hold each piece in place at the top and bottom of the door frame and make sure the corners meet evenly. Attach each piece to the top and bottom of the door frame with wood screws and a power nail driver.

6. Screw in the hinges and install the Dutch door to your door frame. A Dutch door has a total of four hinges because it has a top door and a bottom door that open separately. Make sure that all the four hinges are perfectly in line when you screw them into the hinge jamb.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure all sides of the door frame are level and plumb before attaching them to the wall.

• When working with power tools, wear goggles to protect your eyes.

References

• Cannonball HNP: 3000 Series Dutch Door - Frame & Panel Installation Instructions
• Innovative Equine Systems: Dutch door specifications