How To Measure Doors On A Mobile Home

Home improvement projects in mobile homes can be a valuable investment. Replacing or repairing doors on a mobile home can help the structure maintain its structural integrity and decorative appeal. Before replacing doors on a mobile home, measurements must be taken to ensure proper installation. Door measurements on a mobile home are not the same as those on typical foundation laid homes. Due to the variation in mobile home door styles and designs, proper measurements must be taken before remodeling the space.

Step 1

Measure the size of the opening in the wall. Imagine the space as if the entire door were completely removed and measure the opening from wall to wall. This measurement offers a rough starting point for figuring the doorway perimeter. Do not measure the outside frame of the door because mobile home door frames vary according to different manufacturer's specifications.

Step 2

Determine if the desired mobile home door is the standard door that swings outward. For an outward swinging door, measure the entire opening from inside the house. Mobile home doors are only available in 2-inch-high and 2-inch-wide measuring increments, so the entire opening measurement will provide the closest guesstimate for replacing the door.

Step 3

Check to see if the mobile home door opening is a standard size. The most common size for a mobile home door is 32 inches by 76 inches. Older mobile homes that were constructed before 1980 have slightly smaller doors. The standard for those doors is typically 32 by 72 inches. These two typical mobile home door sizes are the easiest to find and offer the widest selection, but alternate sizes can also be purchased.

Step 4

Determine if a combination door with a storm door and inward swinging standard door is desired. Measure the entire opening in the same manner as if it were a standard outward swinging door. In addition, measure the inside rough opening that includes the door frame.

Step 5

Include the wooden frame in combination door measurements. Combination mobile home doors have a wooden frame that is approximately 1/2 inch thicker on each side and on the top and bottom of the door than the metal frame that typically accompanies a standard outward swinging door. Include the additional 1/2 inch measurements all the way around when measuring the inner rough opening. 34 by 36 is one of the standard sizes for combination mobile home doors.