Can You Make a Door Frame Smaller?

Making a door frame smaller isn’t a huge task. In fact, it’s one that you can easily do without professional help. However, we advise that you seek help if the difference between your door and door frame is greater than 1-inch. If it is, you’ll need to replace the door casing or add new drywall around your frame.

How to Make a Door Frame Smaller

If the difference in size is smaller than 1-inch, it’s quite easy to pad out one side of the door. Here’s how:

1. Using a pry bar, remove the door casing and the top door jamb.

2. Using a hammer and wood block, remove the shims from behind the jamb.

3. Use furring pieces to pad out the gap. Cut furring strips from a piece of lumber using a sharp blade. Cut the furring strips to the exact length of the frame. For thickness, you need to make sure you have left a ½-inch gap to allow for clearance.

4. Using a drill with a ¼-inch drill bit, screw the furring onto the frame.

5. Attach the jamb pieces to the frame and insert the shims to help level the door.

6. Nail off the jambs with 2-inch nails.

7. If the gap was shorter than 1-inch, you can attach the old casing back to the frame. If it was a larger gap, you will need to source a new casing.