Door Restoration
Restoring Vitality and Ease of Operation in Original Wood Doors & Doorways
Preserving Architectural Integrity Starts at the Front Door
Precisely because original elements such as doors fit seamlessly into the overall design of a building, it is difficult to appreciate what is lost when they are replaced–that is, until it is too late! Perhaps the best way to get a sense of the loss is to compare these two similar historic buildings, one which has retained its original doors and one which has replaced them. Historic churches are a good choice for this comparison because they are often the most aesthetically rich buildings in a community. Because of financial constraints, though, they are also the buildings most prone to replace, rather than restore, original doors.
Replacement Doors
Original Doors
Before concluding one’s original door is too far gone, take a look at what is possible. It is understandable why replacement has so often been chosen.
Doors get a fair amount of abuse. And to the untrained eye, it is easy to conclude that any given door is too far gone and needs to be replaced. Even architects and contractors frequently underestimate the seemingly magical transformation that can be accomplished by the trained artisan.
If an entryway door that is in this bad shape can be brought back to life, imagine what we can do for yours! It takes skill and patience plus the right kind of materials and experience–but our trained artisans are able to achieve seemingly miraculous transformations like this.
Consider These Reasons To Restore Rather Than Replacing Original Doors
Restoring Entryway Doors is Like Hitting a Triple in Baseball
Both windows and doors already serve double duty for the preservation of architectural integrity because of the contribution they make to both interior and exterior design. But entryway doors, in particular, serve triple duty because of a particular kind of architectural memory they awaken. As we pass from the exterior to the interior of a building, we remember what we have just experienced. If the exterior has no relation to the interior, it awakens a sense of disharmony. But if the exterior is suggestive of a pleasing interior design, it draws us in and pulls us forward like an unfolding story.
As was the case with this project, historic preservation easement agreements provide yet another, and sometimes determinative incentive to restore, rather than replace the original entranceway door. Because of the historic easement on this property, this entranceway had to be restored or, at cost prohibitive expense, replaced with an exact duplicate of the original design.
The High Quality of Materials From Which They Were Made Make Original Doors Even More Valuable
Need another reason to consider restoration rather than replacement? Consider the quality of the materials that were used to construct the door. Most original doors are 2 inches or even 2 1/4 inches thick. The standard thickness for contemporary doors is a mere 1 3/4 inches thick! And while the thickness of the original door is a security and insulation issue, this is not the whole story.
By the way, have you ever stopped to listen to the sound your entryway door makes as it closes? Perhaps not consciously. But the subtle auditory impact of opening and closing a solid, well-built door that operates smoothly is one of reassurance and well-being. It sounds solid! It’s a reassuring sound. We underestimate how significant for our sense of well-being is the psychological impact of a solid, well-functioning door! Conversely, seemingly small inconveniences–such as a door needing to be forcefully pulled shut to lock properly–weigh upon psyches even if we don’t explicitly pay attention to them.
The home is a space for well-being. And well-being reaches far beyond mere mechanical necessity. Well-being has to do with the felt sense, as well as the actual sense of security. And the sound of a door opening freely when unlocked and closing securely when shut supports and confirms our felt sense of security.
Consider, also, the skin of the door. While many vintage doors are covered with veneer, the core is still solid wood. And that veneer? Most often, it is 1/4 inch thick! By contrast, the standard thickness for contemporary veneer is a mere 1/32 of an inch! And the quality of the wood? As can be seen here, the quality of the wood combined with the mellowing effects of aging make this vintage skin irreplaceable and beautiful.
This is just such a an irreplaceable, original door-–a 2 ¼” thick door with this beautiful ¼” curly birch veneer. Does it surprise you to learn this door graces the entrance of a modest house? But the fact is that the initial homeowners did not have to pay the arm-and-a-leg it would cost to reproduce this door today. That’s because it was built at a time when premium quality wood was as readily available as were the skilled craftsmen to make good use of it.
In fact, many century-old homes in the Chicagoland area were finished with this same, curly birch wood. More than once, we’ve been called magicians when all we did was strip umpteen layers of paint from vintage wood elements, thus revealing precious wood. Like a magician pulling away the cloth, the appearance of beautiful wood beneath thick blankets of tired paint is just as magical. Of course, a bit of skill is required to make the magic happen!
Sometimes it isn’t paint, though, that is obscuring the beauty of the wood. One often finds, beneath layers of paint, a dark, reddish brown, opaque stain color which almost completely obscures the grain of the wood. Go here for a full explanation of why this dark reddish brown stain is so commonly found in vintage Chicago homes.
As can be seen here, lightening and revitalizing the original stain color awakens the nymph-like drama of lively wood grain with a tone that is more in keeping with contemporary tastes.
What was previously dull and oppressive comes back to life with dramatic flair!
High Quality Penetrating Oil Finishes Can be Maintained for Decades at a Time
Remember this entryway door?
This door was stripped down to bare wood ten years ago. Since then, it has been washed and the finish refreshed just once! Year after year, it retains its just varnished appearance.
Ask us about our historically appropriate, polymerized linseed-and-tung oil varnish which, if properly maintained, can keep exterior wood looking as though it had just been varnished for decades at a time, without having to be stripped down to bare wood each time it is in need of attention!
Vintage Hardware is Worth Restoring
Yes, door hardware can be particularly tricky, given how often it has been jerry-rigged or fallen out-of-alignment because the frame and/or building has fallen out-of-square. But many homeowners don’t realize the simple mortise locks on these doors can often be repaired. Sometimes all that is needed is a new spring or two and a squirt of oil!
Finally, though, one should be well-prepared with patience and sufficient resources needed to restore entranceway doors. The truth be told, doors are more complex than many building owners realize. Add to this complexity the fact that we’ve never restored a vintage entryway door that hasn’t been jerry-rigged to some extent. Door restoration, if done properly, is a substantial project, the scope of which should not be underestimated; neither, though, should the transformation that is possible.
Every Entranceway Should Afford a Grand Entrance
But let’s not talk about doors anymore! At least not in isolation. The door may be central to, but is only the most active part of a larger complex of elements we call the entranceway. And the purpose of this complex architectural element is to provide a smooth transition from public space to a dwelling place. Included in the “entranceway” is everything that contributes to this transition–the path or sidewalk leading from the street, perhaps a set of steps leading to a porch. And the entranceway door might be flanked by sidelights which afford an anticipatory glimpse of the interior. Interior elements such as vestibules and foyers are part of the “entranceway” because of their function as transitional spaces.
Ideally, the way of the entrance has a flow to it. And the movement might extend beyond the door itself to include, first, a vestibule, then a foyer, perhaps even a parlor set aside for guests to sit while waiting for the homeowner to come to meet them. All of these elements need to have continuity and encourage flow–for instance, a place to drop mail or keys as one passes along, a place to hang coats ( a coat rack or closet), perhaps a bench to sit on to remove shoes in a shoe-free house.
(To learn more about the complexity that contributes to a good entranceway, read Christopher Alexander’s “Main Entrance” and “Entranceway Transition” in his classic book on well-designed architecture, The Pattern Language.)
The entranceway to a dwelling place turns out to be quite a complex set of features and elements!
Even if Never Closed, Interior Doors Enclose Space and Define Transitions
Interior doors are just as complex as entryway doors. These doors, for instance. The homeowner purchased these doors at an architectural salvage facility and asked us to refinish them to match the surrounding woodwork, then install them. And for what purpose? Not solely for closing off one space from another, but also as transitional markers which announce the separation between spaces. Even if these doors are never closed, they still serve this function. But these doors are also beautiful. Not only are they beautiful, but their many divisions of glass invoke the Japanese style of design that influenced so many of the Arts and Crafts designers. Interior doors often function not just as points of transition, but also as sculptural objects.
Finally, their very presence, even if these doors are never closed, contributes to the intimacy of the dining room. If entryway doors facilitate the transition from public to intimate space, interior doorways similarly enable interior transitions. And they can do so matter-of-factly or with–as do these doors–grace and elegance.
So let’s not talk about doors. Let’s talk, instead, about entranceways and interior transitions between spaces. In this way, transitions between spaces flow fluidly rather than abruptly.
Doors Are So Amazing!
We could go on for pages and pages about the splendor, the wonder, and the richness of well-designed and well-aged doors. Maybe another time, though. What you need to know now is what procedures we offer that can revive your tired, vintage entranceways and interior transitions so as to recover their original elegance.
Our In-Depth 15 Step Process for Restoring Your Entryway
Our comprehensive restoration process brings doors back as close as possible to their original condition through procedures such as these:
Deep cleaning finish removal and period appropriate finishing.
Repair of damaged wood with hardener, epoxy, and scarf repairs.
Replacement of whole parts which have degraded beyond repair.
Use of various kinds of bleach to reverse damaged patina, alter existing stain color, and achieve deep cleaning. Grain matching veneer repair and replacement.
State-of-the-art weather-seal systems.
Refurbishing of existing hardware. We’ll also work with you and locksmiths (of your choice or by our recommendation) to fix hardware problems and/or source and install new hardware.
Fixing of door hanging problems to recenter doors in jambs and/or make accommodations for doors that are warped, but still serviceable.
Replacement of ugly caulk build-up between the brickmold and the stone or brick.
Door reconfigurations. For instance, replacing center panels with glass.
Molding and motif repair and reproduction.
Replacement and re-bedding of glass.
Upgrading of glass to beveled, sandblasted and/or figured glass or alternative patterned glass
Consultation and education about how to maintain your doors and entryways
Period appropriate enhancements for transforming drab into grand entranceways!
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!
Do you want to see what a difference this meticulous set of procedures makes? Click on any of the images below to see the transformations that are possible.
Taking a Door Back to Square One is Sometimes All That is Needed
Unbutchering Butchered Doors
Bleach Magic
From Haunted House Door to Welcoming Sunlight
Veneer to the Rescue
Bringing a Door Back from the Abyss
Awakening the Wood Nymph!
Awakening the Wood Nymph!