Door knob height for short doors - 75”

8 years ago

I’m in the middle of a basement remodel and the doorknob heights seem way too low. The standard is height is 36” but these are 32”. They ordered standard doors and just cut the bottom which lowered the door knob significantly. Does that seem normal? Thanks

Featured Answer

PRO

GN Builders L.L.C

7 years ago

If you working on finishing a basement and when you got your rough frame up and you got your door openings framed... you know the doors will have to be cut. If you order custom door heights, most likely it will cost you an arm and a leg.

Whoever is in charge of the project should have mentioned that to you and see what would be the best option in this situation...In most cases the doors should be ordered without bore for the locks and that should be done onsite after the doors are cut and the locks can be installed at the appropriate height using a lock boring kit.

Now the doors are cut and in place, and being this a basement and if you cannot live with the locks being a few inches lower, the only option is to go after the person in charge and tell them you want the new doors or get some kind of a credit for it.

Good luck

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Comments (7)

strategery
8 years ago
It’s 36” regardless of door height. Remind them of the requirement.
PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
7 years ago
Usually its 34" min and 48" max for ADA compliance.

Being this a basement and the doors already being cut, 32" is your normal.
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strategery
7 years ago
32” is too low.
User
7 years ago
Normal? Only if your contractor is Bozo the clown. 32" is ridiculous. Beyond that, call the door manufacturer and ask them what they think about cutting five inches off their doors.
HU-259974509
3 years ago
If the door is located in the basement, there could be something overhead of the door - an I-beam, ductwork, etc. I noticed you did not share a picture of the top of the door, and assume that is the case.

If your contract says the contractor is to install a "pre-hung" door, then having a lowered door knob is very standard, especially in basements with low clearing. The door knob hole on the slab and the boor for the strike plate on the frame come pre-drilled from the manufacturer, and the only way to install a pre-hung door when there is low overhead clearance is to cut off the bottom of the door; which in turn lowers the door knob height.

Basements have many obstacle to work around, it is very standard for prehung doors to have the knobs lowered due to cutting down a door. Unless you or your contractor specified a "custom built door", then what he did is acceptable. All of the comments on this string that are saying the contractor did something wrong - these people are missing some of this crucial information.
millworkman
3 years ago
" All of the comments on this string that are saying the contractor did something wrong - these people are missing some of this crucial information. "

Also crucial is the fact the issue was 4 years ago and long since resolved.