Step 1: Mount the hinges

Mounting the hinges.
Photo: Kolin Smith
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Finish or paint the doors before starting. Label the doors to show the order they'll be installed and which sides face out.

Take a jamb side door and mark its inner edge 11 inches from the bottom, 7 inches from the top, and centered between the two. Place the door on edge with the marks facing up.

Take the lower half of a hinge and align its bottom with the bottom mark, its knuckles facing back and flush to the edge. Use a self?centering bit to drill pilot holes through the hinge holes. Screw on the hinge plate. Attach the top and middle hinges, on their marks.

Place the leading (inner) door on edge, facing back-to-back with the first door. Align the doors evenly against a square, then put the hinges together. Screw the hinge plates to the leading door. Repeat on the second pair of doors.
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    Tools List

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    • combination square
      Combination square
    • drill
      Drill
    • self-centering bit
      Centering bit,
      for drilling pilot holes for hinge screws
    • hack saw
      Hacksaw,
      for trimming track to fit opening
    • plumb bob
      Plumb bob,
      for aligning hardware above and below door
    • extender flexible bit
      Bit extender,
      for reaching into tight spaces with drill
    • hand saw
      Handsaw,
      for cutting finish trim that hides the track

    Shopping List

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    1. DOORS

    Bifold doors are available for sale, but custom-ordered doors can also be assembled into folding doors, as long as they're resized to fit your needs. [BR]When measuring the closet opening, account for a small gap around and between the doors. [BR]Measure the horizontal opening of your doors, subtract 13/16 inch, and divide by 4 to get the individual door width. Measure vertically and subtract 2 and 7/8 inches to get its height.



    2. TRACK HARDWARE

    The hardware that comes with bifold-door set can be flimsy. We've found its often best to order separate hardware[EMDASH]a kit that includes the track, the hinges, and all the pins and pivot plates[EMDASH]for a smoother, longer-lasting operation. A couple of companies, like Johnson, offer heavy-duty tracks that make the doors glide smoothly.



    3. DOOR PULLS

    Smaller cabinet knobs will get lost on a larger door, so look for "wardrobe knobs" or any knob that is 1 and 3/4 inches or bigger in diameter.



    4. 1x2 FINISH-GRADE FLAT STOCK

    You'll need just one piece to create a valance under the header to hide the track.



    5. 21/2-INCH TRIM SCREWS

    For attaching the 1x2 stock.