Replies

1. 
   AitchKay | Dec 17, 2008 04:46pm | #1

   Temporarily prop the door flat, then stand inside the closet, and look out through the hinge gap. You should see light all the way.

   Another test is to see if you can slide a credit card all the way up and down that crack.

   If the doors touch at any point, they will not lie flat. If they are binding, relocate the hinges:

   Lay the doors on a pair of horses, and put a couple of tongue depressors (or something) between them to give the proper gap, and move the hinges up or down about 3/8", enough to get a fresh bite for the screws without exposing the old holes.

   Aitchkay

1. 
   JDRHI | Dec 17, 2008 05:09pm | #2

   Bingo, bango, boingo.

   J. D. Reynolds

   Home Improvements

    

    

    

2. 
   SteveInCleveland | Dec 17, 2008 05:29pm | #3

   Pop out the spring at the top, and stretch it a bit longer.  Reinsert the spring and see if that does it.

    

    

    

   "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

3. 
   allaroundcobber | Dec 17, 2008 06:43pm | #4

   check your opening to make sure it passes the crossed string test.

1. 
   wane | Dec 17, 2008 08:26pm | #5

   make sure you use the screws that came with the hinges, or hinge screws, the head should be flush with the surface of the hinge ..

4. 
   Ted W. | Dec 17, 2008 08:48pm | #6

   It's typical that these doors may be a little warped. Did you install the little overlapping tabs at the bottom of the doors, where they meet? I see a lot of people don't use them, so the doors don't line up.

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5. 
   mike4244 | Dec 18, 2008 02:28am | #7

   The hinges were installed with the doors not completely flat. Try this first as it is the quickest fix.Loosen all the screws in all three hinges,just enough so the doors can flatten out. If the doors flatten out with slight pressure,then retighten the screws.

   If this doesn't do the job, remove doors, reinstall hinges in new spot with 1/16" or so gap between the doors while they are lying flat.

   mike

6. 
   laudick13 | Dec 18, 2008 02:49am | #8

   Just had this problem today. The doors I was working on had two adjustable stops with springs in the track (where the two doors meet in the middle). To stop springing open we just moved the stops out, essentially the same as stretching the spring but with some more control.

7. 
   muffy1 | Dec 18, 2008 03:54pm | #9

   Had the same problem--butts of the hinges were screwed to the side of the door stile---moved the butts to the back of stile {like most bi-folds are } doors closed perfect. Just have to putty side screw holes

8. 
   Davo304 | Dec 18, 2008 09:09pm | #10

   You got many good answers...some concerning the hinges, some concerning the top spring- mounted center stop, and some concerning the doors themselves.

   I'd check them all,but in the following order:

   1. Remove doors and lay flat and or on edge and sight for warping. If the door is warped, not much is going to help you there. Try and return them for another set that is warp free.

   2. Check hinge gap between doors. Screws may not be flush...easy fix. Hinge leaves may need relocated a tad...easy fix. This is normally 90% of time where the problem can be found. Loosening all hinge screws until door lies flat and retightening usually works.

   3. If door now appears flat, reinstall in opening, but move spring loaded center stop away from doors. Close door section and note whether they are aligned flat. If they are flat, reposition spring loaded stop into place. If doors start to "pop" open, reposition stop a bit away from doors. You just want light pressure to hold closed doors in place...no more.

   4. Repeat steps 1thru 3 for 2nd set of bifold doors.

   After both sets of doors rehung, if they do not meet up in the same plane your doors are "cross- legged."You need to readjust hinge side bottom pivot on one set  or both in order to realign properly...sometimes door jamb needs silght "tweaking" with a light rap from a sledge hammer if jamb opening is not in same plane alignment.

   5. If both sets of doors are just barely out of plane, installing those metal "wings" to each door near the botom will force them into alignment...though I never use them.

    

   Good luck, hope you find and solve the problem.