Bathroom door gap

19 years ago

We've been getting ready to put our house on the market, one of the changes was the master bath, which was pretty small, had no linen closet and for some strange reason had saloon doors. We hired a local contractor, he took about 3ft from the master closet to add the linen closet, and the door change was a pocket door. When he was framing it out, I was going to change to a regular door but didn't, I'm kicking myself now.

We were talking to him, I mentioned we called him because I didn't want a half a$$ed job like my old neighbor would have done. This guy has put a larger window in for us and also put up crown molding in the dining room. He did a good job on both.

Last week I was rushed for a doctors appointment while he was working. My son was here, would be staying with him while I was gone. Before leaving I went to check on how he was doing. He said he was finishing up for the day and that the door was on. He then slid it. My mouth dropped, there was a "good" 2 inch gap at the bottom. I told him I wasn't happy, he really didn't say anything other then, I followed the directions.

My husband called his brother who sheetrocks & does things like this for his job. He said there should be something on the door to lower it. My husband tried, he brought it down maybe a 1/4 inch, but it's still close to 2 inches of a gap even with tile under it.

He's probably coming today to do more spackling. I'd like to hear feedback from realtors plus buyers, even other sellers. Would this 2 inch gap put you off? To me, it looks like my husband or I did the door ourselves. We have a linen closet in the main bathroom that has a 2 inch gap, it's always bothered me because it doesn't look professional.

Should I insist it gets fixed now before he goes any farther or should I say that if my listing agent or a buyer wants it fixed, he's going to fix it for free.

I've had a few friends give their input, each says it's too large and needs to be fixed. I now also worry that the door for the linen closet will also have this gap :(

What would you do?

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Comments (15)

cordovamom
19 years ago
2 inches is a big gap, as a buyer if all else was perfect in the house I wouldn't let a 2 inch gap stop the sale, but it is one of those things that would make me scratch my head as to what else had the sellers skimped on. Personally I'd have the guy fix it because if it bothers you as a seller and your friends are bothered by it, then chances are it will bother a prospective buyer.
kec01
19 years ago
I would ask the guy to fix it. In my opinion, 2" is wayyyy too much of a gap.
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qdognj
19 years ago
Keep the door open during showings ;)
I'd bet good $$$ nobody would notice then.
cpowers21
19 years ago
They might not notice during showings but once they decide to make an offer, they usually look at things more closely.
I agree, I think that 2 inches is too big of a gap. I don't know if it would turn buyers off, it's always hard to tell. Invite someone over that you haven't told about the gap. Say you want to show them your new linen closet and door. See if they notice.
melbat
19 years ago
Threshold molding would do the trick, and be a lot easier than rehanging the door.

If you rehang the door would there be a gap at the top?

If a threshold isn't to your liking , and the door is painted, he could also add a cheater to the bottom of the door, or a sweep.

just throwing out a few ideas.
qdognj
19 years ago
threshold molding is a good idea...Go with one that is raised in the middle as opposed to a flat one, this way the gap would close up better...
theroselvr
Original Author
19 years ago
The wood threshold molding was what calmed my husband down, altho it probably will not work for me.

I am handicapped, bad back, there are times when one of my legs will drag, or I can't pick my feet up as high to walk. Using a higher threshold molding may end up tripping me one day when I'm tired and can't lift the leg as high.

Thanks for the input. One of my friends is probably going to come by, I was also thinking to bring the listing agent by to show her the changes as see what she'd say. The door doesn't go all the way into the wall, so you do see it's high even open.
sparksals
19 years ago
It sounds like your workman did a shoddy job and he should install it properly until you are satisfied. Is it possible the door is too small and why doesn't it go all the way into the pocket? Ours does.
terezosa / terriks
19 years ago
I wouldn't mess around with a raised threshold. Have him make the door right!
dgmarie
19 years ago
Maybe your door is simply too short.
theroselvr
Original Author
19 years ago
The door we're using is a 6 panel colonial door and I'm wrong about it not going into the wall, it should once the moulding is up. This is a 1st for me, don't think I've ever seen a pocket door installed, so it's freaking me out a bit.

Putting a higher threshold does make it better, but the whole handicapped access is shot. When we were figuring out what to do with the opening, our realtor said to keep it larger for handicapped access, which may help sell the house. I have to agree, the house would be good for someone with a wheelchair or walker. Even the laundry area is set up for handicapped access.

There's a post here called what's the deal with bad remodels? (rant) and I'm feeling like this job might fall under this post. If we do sell, I want to be happy with the way I'm leaving the house and if for some reason we stay, I want to be happy here. I don't want to go into my newly remodeled bedroom and see this door gap.
pkguy
19 years ago
Two inches is too much. I just went and checked ours and they're about 1/4 inch. Now when we bought this house last year I was the only one of family/friends who came to look the place over during open house that even noticed there were two pocket doors, one of the foyer to sunroom, one between the hall and kitchen. But I think everyone would notice or be looking for a door on a bathroom, they might not notice if it's too short or not though.
clg7067
19 years ago
Now, why would your installer leave it that way. It sounds like it's obviously too large a gap. I'd tell him to fix it.
talley_sue_nyc
19 years ago
Say you want to show them your new linen closet and door. See if they notice.

this won't help you if the person has good manners! then they'd notice but simply not say anything.
C Marlin
19 years ago
It is just a bad job that you should not pay for, have you already paid, he's gone. If so, add a strip of wood at the bottom, paint it. We had short doors when the carpet was removed, my DH added wood to the bottom, don't do a threshold into a bathroom, that doesn't work in the interior of a house.