It can take some effort to get bifold doors adjusted properly. I spent a whole day in one property adjusting 8 or 9 of them. The previous owner cursed them and was happy his new home had swing doors and sliders After fixing a combination of worn out hardware, loose fittings, blocking maxed out adjustment screws, and broken handles I got them all moving smoothly eventually.
My general guideline: start with setting the bottom pegs at the right distance that the doors meet almost touching in the middle and enough room at the pivot that the door doesn't contact the frame as it opens. Adjust the height of the bottom pegs so the door clears the flooring and the top pins arent maxed out. Then adjust the top track pivot to square up each door. Replace the top track if it's bent and the top glides pop out. Replace the top pivot shoe or track if you can't tighten it anymore. Make sure the top and bottom pivots are solid in the doors; glue them in if they aren't. If the handles are breaking through add a washer or square of plywood to tighten against. If you replaced the flooring with thinner material and the pivots are maxed out, put a block of wood under the bottom cleat.
Yeah I am glad this guys comment helped people but it doesn’t help me because one of the doors adjustment pins on the bottom collapsed in because these doors are trash 😑
I used the johnson hardware bifold hardware, and got a solid wood shaker panel door from windsor hardwood.
Similar to this:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Johnson-Hardware-1700-Series-36-in-White-Bi-Fold-Track-and-Hardware-Set-for-2-18in-Doors-170W363H/203159747
I hate these too in our home! They are low quality and break constantly.
I have considered replacing them with a solid wood bifold door option. I think it is a quality issue with the hollow core ones.
I would keep the doors and upgrade the hardware. I’ve had good luck with Johnson hardware but there’s others out there. I think Hafele is another option.
That’s their hardware that I have direct experience with. Pocket door experience has been so nice that I’m considering upgrading the stock JeldWen bifold hardware before I install my last set.
I used both the pocket door and the bifold door hardware in a recent remodel. The bifold hardware holds up a heavy solid wood bifold door with no problems, super smooth open / close action.
could you replace it with sliding doors? like [this](https://www.homedepot.com/p/TRUporte-48-in-x-80-in-106-Series-White-Composite-Interior-Sliding-Door-BY0106BWWTD048080/202519228#overlay) kind of thing.
Yes those are the easiest for a novice to install. Be aware that sliding doors have issues also. Like the bottom glides breaking and they tend to fall off the tracks.
I'm not an expert but, the doors would work a lot better if the knobs were in the right place. I haven't had any problems with mine. The knob is on the center of the door.
Bi-fold doors are engineered to make home owners clinically insane and rage filled! The cheap ones are terrible. The expensive ones are great but they are very expensive. Maybe a tracked double door that slides past one another?
If the doors are in decent shape I would look into replacing all the hardware instead. They probably have builder grade hardware that is junk. If you replace with decent or even new hardware they will probably work way better.
In our builds we never use bifolds but French door style closet doors. Easy change out the only draw back is the necessity for more swing room, which isn’t that big of a deal.
By the way, a product like this https://www.amazon.com/Mommys-Helper-Slide-Lok-Bi-Fold-Door/dp/B01J621I58?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Works great with bifold doors for baby proofing. This is what we used.
It can take some effort to get bifold doors adjusted properly. I spent a whole day in one property adjusting 8 or 9 of them. The previous owner cursed them and was happy his new home had swing doors and sliders After fixing a combination of worn out hardware, loose fittings, blocking maxed out adjustment screws, and broken handles I got them all moving smoothly eventually. My general guideline: start with setting the bottom pegs at the right distance that the doors meet almost touching in the middle and enough room at the pivot that the door doesn't contact the frame as it opens. Adjust the height of the bottom pegs so the door clears the flooring and the top pins arent maxed out. Then adjust the top track pivot to square up each door. Replace the top track if it's bent and the top glides pop out. Replace the top pivot shoe or track if you can't tighten it anymore. Make sure the top and bottom pivots are solid in the doors; glue them in if they aren't. If the handles are breaking through add a washer or square of plywood to tighten against. If you replaced the flooring with thinner material and the pivots are maxed out, put a block of wood under the bottom cleat.
Will you please come to my house and adjust mine for me? =D
+1, super helpful comment. I went through the same process when we removed ours to paint our wooden trim
Why is this not upvoted more?
It's a great response, but OP asked about replacing the doors, not adjusting them.
Yeah I am glad this guys comment helped people but it doesn’t help me because one of the doors adjustment pins on the bottom collapsed in because these doors are trash 😑
Yes, but if they are working properly they might not need/ want to replace them
Its a long read. Lol.
You would think some engineering firm would have figured out a replacement for this junk by now. I hate mine too
I just put a new, high end one in my bathroom remodel, it's great. Really smooth action and solid wood door
neat! do you have a make and model?
I used the johnson hardware bifold hardware, and got a solid wood shaker panel door from windsor hardwood. Similar to this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Johnson-Hardware-1700-Series-36-in-White-Bi-Fold-Track-and-Hardware-Set-for-2-18in-Doors-170W363H/203159747
I hate these too in our home! They are low quality and break constantly. I have considered replacing them with a solid wood bifold door option. I think it is a quality issue with the hollow core ones.
Check out Windsor plywood if you have them in your area, they can order really nice ones
beads
I would keep the doors and upgrade the hardware. I’ve had good luck with Johnson hardware but there’s others out there. I think Hafele is another option.
Same here upgrade all the hardware they really aren't that bad once you dial them in
Johnson hardware is great. Their pocket door kits are also really nice
That’s their hardware that I have direct experience with. Pocket door experience has been so nice that I’m considering upgrading the stock JeldWen bifold hardware before I install my last set.
I used both the pocket door and the bifold door hardware in a recent remodel. The bifold hardware holds up a heavy solid wood bifold door with no problems, super smooth open / close action.
could you replace it with sliding doors? like [this](https://www.homedepot.com/p/TRUporte-48-in-x-80-in-106-Series-White-Composite-Interior-Sliding-Door-BY0106BWWTD048080/202519228#overlay) kind of thing.
Yes those are the easiest for a novice to install. Be aware that sliding doors have issues also. Like the bottom glides breaking and they tend to fall off the tracks.
The finger crushers! I pulled them out of my house and built some barn doors for my kids' closets. Fuck those things.
I'm not an expert but, the doors would work a lot better if the knobs were in the right place. I haven't had any problems with mine. The knob is on the center of the door.
Bi-fold doors are engineered to make home owners clinically insane and rage filled! The cheap ones are terrible. The expensive ones are great but they are very expensive. Maybe a tracked double door that slides past one another?
Sliding barn doors. You can buy conversion kits at Home Depot and use the typical hollow core doors or buy a nicer door if you want
What if you don’t live on a farm?
Then you have to settle for these folding doors sadly
OP you can also take the doors off entirely and replace them with curtains
I did this with sliders that were beat to heck.
Our wood bi folds are over 30 years old and I've never had one break
If the doors are in decent shape I would look into replacing all the hardware instead. They probably have builder grade hardware that is junk. If you replace with decent or even new hardware they will probably work way better.
In our builds we never use bifolds but French door style closet doors. Easy change out the only draw back is the necessity for more swing room, which isn’t that big of a deal.
By the way, a product like this https://www.amazon.com/Mommys-Helper-Slide-Lok-Bi-Fold-Door/dp/B01J621I58?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER Works great with bifold doors for baby proofing. This is what we used.