DIY Dutch Door?

bennelson · 10-09-12, 02:50 PM

Anyone ever take a regular door and convert it to a dutch door?

We've got a 2-year old girl at home who just figured out how to escape her crib. We don't want her leaping out and getting hurt, so the other night, I converted the crib to a "toddler bed". Basically the crib minus the front - sort of a daybed look to it.

The trouble now is that she can now leave her room at anytime easily enough.

I don't like any of those "baby-gates". They never really work well, and just end up being a hastle.

So, I wondered about a "Dutch-Door". If I cut the door in half, we could use the bottom as a very solid and simple baby-gate, while leaving the top half open.

Besides cutting the door, I'd also have to add an extra hinge, some trim on the back bottom of the top door, and add a flat top plate to the cut of the bottom half. It would also need a bolt or latch to connect or disconnect the two halves.

It could look rather nice AND be very functional. I've just never done something like this before.

Has anyone else? Any suggestions?

10-09-12, 02:50 PM	#1
bennelson Home-Wrecker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 546 Thanks: 3 Thanked 165 Times in 96 Posts	DIY Dutch Door? Anyone ever take a regular door and convert it to a dutch door? We've got a 2-year old girl at home who just figured out how to escape her crib. We don't want her leaping out and getting hurt, so the other night, I converted the crib to a "toddler bed". Basically the crib minus the front - sort of a daybed look to it. The trouble now is that she can now leave her room at anytime easily enough. I don't like any of those "baby-gates". They never really work well, and just end up being a hastle. So, I wondered about a "Dutch-Door". If I cut the door in half, we could use the bottom as a very solid and simple baby-gate, while leaving the top half open. Besides cutting the door, I'd also have to add an extra hinge, some trim on the back bottom of the top door, and add a flat top plate to the cut of the bottom half. It would also need a bolt or latch to connect or disconnect the two halves. It could look rather nice AND be very functional. I've just never done something like this before. Has anyone else? Any suggestions? __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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