Typically used for closets, pantries, or other interior openings, bi-fold doors are two doors that slide together on a track in accordion fashion. With the right tools and a little bit of time, you can install bi-fold doors yourself without having to call in a handyman.
The first thing you do is measure the space where the doors will be. Use a tape measure to determine the height and width of the space, and do this twice to be sure of your numbers. When purchasing your bi-fold doors, the doors must have a combined width that is 1-inch less than the width of the opening, and 1 to 2 inches shorter than the height. This will give you room to open and close your doors, and also takes into consideration the track that they’ll slide on.
Before putting the doors on, you first have to install the track at the top of the frame and floor brackets at the bottom which are in the shape of an “L.” Once these are in place, find the pre-drilled holes at the top and bottom of the doors. At the top, the hole closest to the sidewall, place the dowel in that comes with the spring assembly. The dowel with the screw assembly goes in the bottom hole that is nearest the sidewall, and the dowel with no assembly goes in the top hole that is farthest from the sidewall. Using a hammer, tap the dowels into place.
Now it’s time to install the doors. First put the dowels into the track at the top, and then push the door up until the bottom dowel is in the L-bracket. To adjust the door height, rotate the screw to raise or lower them until they are at the desired height.
The last step in the process is to install the hardware. At the center of the door panel farthest from the sidewall, make a mark with a pencil where the handle or knob will go. Drill the hole and then screw the hardware into place. Be sure to test the doors a few times by opening and closing them to make sure they run smoothly on the track and are at the appropriate height.