Do Slab Doors Have Hinge Cutouts Or Require Mortising?

Folks who want to add slab doors to their house may sometime find themselves unaware of this particular information. And it’s about the door having hinge cutouts or not. And guess what, after looking onto this matter, I found the answer! So, do slab doors have hinge cutouts or there’s something else to know.

Well, slab doors don’t come with hinge cutouts or holes. In fact, it requires cutting and drilling, for which you may need to use a special technique.

Don’t panic if you are stuck as long as you have this guide. Because I’ll explain an effective method of how you can make your own hinge cutouts on slab doors. Shall We Begin?

What Is a Slab Door?

A slab door is a type of interior door that consists of a single, flat panel without any embellishments or raised moldings. It is typically made from wood or a wood composite material such as medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and can come in a variety of sizes, styles, and finishes.

Slab doors are often used in modern and minimalist interior design schemes as they offer a sleek and simple look that can complement a range of decor styles. They can be used as swinging doors or as sliding doors, depending on the installation method and hardware used.

Slab doors are available in a range of sizes and thicknesses to fit different door frames and applications. They can also be customized with different hardware, such as hinges and handles, to match the style and function of the room.

All Slab Doors Don’t Have Hinge Cutouts!

In both online and offline stores, the slab doors don’t come with hinge cutouts or mortising holes in the surface.  It’s because this kind of door comes in wood panel pieces. These panels require assembly to properly shape them. After that assembly, they need cutting for door knobs, hinges, and latches.

If talking about customized or specialized slab doors, still you won’t find the hardware and pre-holes for them. Most of the time, this kind of door will contain drilling for the floor guide or sliding use. Other than these drilling holes, they look like a paneled or flat doors with no holes.

How To Cut Hinges On The Slab Doors?

As slab doors don’t have hinge cutouts, it gets essential to cut the hinge holes. To know the directions, look beneath:

Tools You’ll Need:

• Measuring tape.
• Pencil.
• Chisel.
• Router and router bit.
• 4 wood bricks.
• Scale.
• Utility knife.
• Brush.
• Double-sided tape.
• Driller and drill bit.
• Sandpaper (optional).
• Screw gun.

1. Measure The Hinge Holes In A Door

Unlock the door and swing in the middle area so that you can see the hinges clearly. Use measuring tape to know the distance of each hinge. Then, note the distance on a notepad.

2. Remove The Door Hinge

Grab the screw gun or screwdriver to unfasten the screws. Take out one hinge from any door to use later when drawing the shape. Secure the screws in a plastic bag.

3. Set Up The Slab Door

Place the newly brought slab door on a table. Insert 4 wood bricks on the sides so that the door sits in a horizontal position. Be sure this doesn’t shake or move and take the necessary adjustments.

4. Mark The Hinges Holes In The Slab Door

According to the measurement that you’ve noted in the notepad, mark the slab door using a pencil or marker. Ensure to mark the length first with a ruler or scale and then draw the hinge width.

After that, insert the double-sided tape in the hinge and put this on the marked area to know if the measurement is accurate or not. Hold the hinge on the marked area and draw the shape using a marker or pencil.

Be sure to mark the other 2 hinge areas in the slab door based on the measurement. Next, use the utility knife to cut the edge of the marked hinge holes using the right pressure.

5. Use The Router To Mortise

Insert the router bit on the router and hold the hinge to know the depth or thickness that is right to use on the marked surface. Ensure to use a quality router to make the holes like the BOSCH GKF125CEK.

After confirming the depth, turn the device on. Keep on using the router to ensure the right mortising of hinge holes.

6. Trim The Hinge Holes With Chisel

Grab the sharp chisel and simply run it on the edges of the hinge holes. This might seem a little challenging since the hinge shape is not square and even. Just use the chisel and hammer it to ensure the level surface in all hinge holes.

If needed, I’ll suggest using sandpaper on the hinge holes to even out the surface. Be sure to use fine-grit sandpaper to do it like the 3M 19015NA-CC sandpapers. After that, take a brush to wipe out the wood dust from each hinge hole.

7. Mark The Screw Holes

Hold the hinge on the mortised areas (one after another) and mark the 3 screw holes using a marker or pencil.

8. Drill The Marked Screw Holes

Next, insert the right-sized drill bit on the driller. While holding the hinge on the mortised areas, turn on the device and make the screw holes. Again, use the brush and remove all the wood dust from the screw holes of each hinge.

Wrapping Up

So do slab doors have hinge cutouts? I hope you are not asking this question anymore. And once you are ready, t’s time to take the needed action. If you are planning to buy these kinds of doors, be sure to gather all the tools and take preparation for the mortising procedure. You can always take help from an expert for any step that seems too complicated.

Good Luck On This Project!