DIY Dutch Door

This DIY dutch door project started in my mind’s eye years ago…
This is the door between my house and my workroom. I’ve been eyeing this door for years with the desire to cut it into a dutch door. I knew the door was solid wood, but I wasn’t sure it would stay in tact if I cut it in half.

First I took the door off the hinges and set it on two saw horses with 1×4’s underneath for end to end support.

I used a T-square to mark a line across the door evenly between the bottom of the glass windows and the hole for the door knob.

I used my cordless circular saw to cut the door in half, following my line exactly. (I had to take the door knob off the door because my saw wouldn’t fit around it)

I separated the door to inspect it for strength and stability. Fortunately, it’s solid wood and it’s just as strong cut in half as it was whole.

I brought it back inside and hung it on the same three hinges that were on it before, and added a fourth hinge because the bottom half of the door only had one hinge. Now the bottom and top are fully supported with two hinges each.

Next I cut a small shelf for each side of the bottom half of the door out of No.2 grade pine. I used my jig saw to cut curved corners and my circular saw for the straight cuts.

I painted the door with some leftover charcoal paint from my hallway/foyer reno. I love how it turned out…From the start, I wasn’t sure this project would work. I was unsure of the inside construction of the door and whether or not it would stay stable after being cut in half. And I wasn’t sure it would still swing properly after re-hanging. It all worked out and I’m thrilled with the results.