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How to build an open doorway bulkhead?

Hi there, I have an open doorway (no bulkhead) from my bedroom to the bathroom.

The ceiling is 2430 high. I need to make a timber-frame bulkhead to lower the height down to 2140 high, gyprock out for plastering into the existing walls, re-do the cornice work around it, and then add a barn door across the opening. This is a project many people want to do these days.

What is the best timber and width to use for the framing out ? do I need to use any special fixings to secure the timber to the plastered brick walls - single brick thick.

Do I make the frame work completely separately and then install it as a made structure / bulkhead or make and fit everything separately in the doorway itself in sections ?

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Mitch.

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Jason

Hi @mitch4u2 (Mitch)

Great to have you join the Bunnings Workshop community. We're looking forward to seeing this project come to life and trust you'll get loads of help and inspiration from members for all your projects around the house and garden.

As there will be a delay before one of our resident Bunnings D.I.Y. experts can get back to you, let me tag some helpful members who have shared their own barn door projects with the community to kick off the discussion:

@LePallet, @peta, @Jwyatt, @mattoharae, @Hansi, @GeoffB, @Megarakawa, @woodalwaysworks, @TammieBrown

I also wanted to check if you have seen the guide How to install a barn door by the Bunnings team?

Jason

JacobZ

Hi @mitch4u2,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community and thank you for your question.

It would be great to see some photos of the opening to help direct our planning. Let me know if you need a hand uploading images, I'm happy to help if required.

Bulkheads are generally made from standard framing pine, either 70 or 90mm thick depending on the depth of the opening. They follow the same principles as stud framed walls where there is a top and bottom plate with vertical studs at 450mm spacings. Check out How To Build a Stud Wall for some info on how they are made.

I'd suggest measuring the opening and building your frame in one piece before lifting it in place and fixing off. Ensure you factor in the thickness of the plasterboard when you are designing your frame.

You can use dynabolts to attach the frame to the brick on the sides of the opening, using at least two per side. I'd also suggest using a studfinder to locate any available ceiling battens and use batten screws up through the ceiling into all available battens.

Once the bulkhead frame is in place, you can attach your plasterboard, do your finish work and then install the door using How To Install A Barn Door as a guide.

Let me know what you think and if you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

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