Restoring the Front Door of a Victorian Residence
Utilizing Bleach to Restore A Wood Door
Reversing Sun & Water Damage Can Work Miracles
This restoration project demonstrates the power of wood bleach to reverse sun and water damage. Not every wood species responds as dramatically to bleaching as did this white oak door. On the other hand, white oak was frequently specified in late 19th and early 20th century homes. So many vintage oak entryway doors can yield similar effects by the miraculous effects of properly applied wood bleach! All that is needed to effect a miracle is the right bleach combined with patience, diligence, and experience.
Working With Bleach Is Both A Science & An Art
Here’s another instance of bleaching–this time applied to window sashes–where bleaching procedures had a dramatic effect. And this instance was particularly magical, considering we were working with pine rather than white oak!
After several frustrating attempts using the appropriate bleach for reversing sun and water damage had failed, we took the risk of using a more powerful bleaching agent. Surprisingly, and counter to how this bleach is ‘intended’ to work, it accomplished a similarly magical transformation as is typical when working with white oak when working with white oak. Bleaching wood is as much an art as a science.
Letting the Sun Do the Work
Another ‘tool’ in our bleaching bag of tricks is the sun! Letting the freshly bleached door sit in the sun will enhance the effect of the bleaching procedures.
Does The Glass in Your Door Rattle Your Nerves?
There was one additional problem with this door that needed to be addressed. Every time it was opened or closed, the glass in the door rattled. Now the stops holding it in place were solid. So the glass was not in danger of falling out. But the space into which the glass fitted was wide enough to cause it to rattle.
On a practical level, solving this problem is fairly straightforward. The proper way to install glass in windows and doors is to “bed” the glass with a glazing compound. Over time, though, this glaze degrades and falls out, thus causing the glass to rattle. This problem is solved by re-bedding the glass. While oftentimes the rattling glass is in no danger of falling out. But the psychological impact is just the same…it rattles the nerves. And that matters, considering how many times one passes through an entryway door on any given day!
Pretty straightforward solution. So why the fuss?
Because this issue relates to a larger issue. Causing the glass to no longer rattle is, like so many other issues related to door operation, not just a practical issue, but a quality of life concern. A door that rattles every time you open and close it is at least an annoyance and, even if it isn’t in danger of falling out, the noise makes one feel like it is going to fall out.. And, while it seems like a small detail, its degree of annoyance is amplified by the multitude of times one experiences it on a daily basis. To dwell well is to experience a sense of well-being. But a door that rattles every time you open and close it hardly causes one to experience this peaceful state of being!
Door restoration, it turns out, has almost as much to do with facilitating an experiential sense of well-being as it does aesthetics and smooth operation.
Restore the Architectural Appeal of Your Doors
We use the highest quality materials on the market that are appropriate to the age of your building and doors. We integrate both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the door restoration process so that your doors are both welcoming and secure while simultaneously contributing to the architectural integrity of your historic building. And we offer enhancements that can turn drab doorway into grand entranceways!