Hey everyone! We are first-time homeowners and just moved in back in March. Our bathroom door is in pretty bad shape and needs to be replaced. My fiancé has also been complaining about the noise from my gaming, so after doing some research, I found out that replacing our hollow-core doors with solid-core ones could help with sound insulation. I'm planning to swap out our bathroom door, and I managed to convince her that we should also change the bedroom doors while we're at it. I bought 4 solid-core door slabs (not pre-hung) to replace them. I know I need to add an extra hinge since our current doors have two 3" hinges. I'd like to double check my process as I'm a bit nervous since this is my first time. Here's what I'm thinking of doing:
1. Cut the doors to size by using the old doors as a template.
2. Use a router with a hinge template to cut out spots for the hinges and hardware.
3. Cut out a spot for a 3rd hinge on the door frame.
4. Install the hinges and the door handle, then test fit.
5. Paint or finish the doors.
6. Install the doors.
I have a couple of questions:
1. Should I upgrade the size of the hinges to ball bearing ones when replacing? (I currently have 3"x3" rectangular hinges).
2. Do I need to bevel the door? That seems like it could complicate things.
Thanks for the help!
3 Answers
You mentioned sound dampening—do you have rugs or carpets? They can really help absorb sound and may do as much good as the new doors. Just a thought before diving into the changes!
First off, switching to a solid door will definitely help reduce sound, but don't expect miracles. One of the first things I recommend is to put some weather stripping at the bottom of the door to fill any gaps. Even a small opening can let in quite a bit of sound! To replace your door, make sure to transfer the hinge locations from the old door to the new one—there are plenty of YouTube videos that can guide you. If you need to add a new hinge, put the top and bottom hinges in first, then hang the door, and finally mark and cut where the middle hinge goes. Good luck!
Absolutely prioritize sealing up any gaps! If your HVAC system is forced air, avoid blocking the door undercut too much; ideally, it should have around 1/2" to 1" clear to ensure proper airflow. A solid door helps, but sealing up the gaps will do much more for sound insulation.