1920s front door - paint or varnish?

[keith_df]

I really can't decide... I am 'sympathetically' restoring a late 1920's semi red brick house and have just bought a front door and frame, specially made in the three panel style with a nice stained glass upper panel, my design, not this (http://www.wilsonsyard.com/detail.php?id=1257). The wood is mahogany, which is nice, but I'm not over-keen on it and I was thinking of International ten year exterior gloss in oxford blue with a white frame, but, somehow it seems sacrilege. What do you all think - varnish to keep the wood look (and the annual maintenance) or the blue and white gloss? Authenticity is part of the issue and I should say the house has a slight marine theme to it now.
Cheers,
Keith.

 

[Penners]

Are there any similar houses nearby? If so, what finish is on their doors?

I'm not suggesting slavish plagiarism - just a harmonious look to the neighbourhood.

 

[Schoolmarm]

Crikey nooooooooo to the ten year international gloss. I'm sure some tests by Which put this kind of claim to shame.

Linseed paint will guarantee both an authentic finish and longevity. Plus less painting over the lifetime of both you and the door.

Go to the Holkham site and read all about it.

 

[Feltwell]

Another vote for linseed paint, the Holkham's stuff is great. Just beware of the drying time - with several coats you will need to have the door off it's hinges for a week I'd say, which is a pain in the rear. This firm claims to offer better drying times, I've never tried their products though

http://www.linseedpaintcompany.co.uk/

Varnish is up to you, but as you say expect annual maintenance if you go down this route. My Victorian pine front door is varnished (not by me) and it looks bl@@dy awful - on the list of things to be linseed painted.

 

[Penners]

you will need to have the door off it's hinges for a week I'd say, which is a pain in the rear.

No, this is a front door.

 

[keith_df]

Thanks folks,
I am rather sold on the linseed paint idea, which I had never heard of before. 'On screen', I prefer the Glasgow offering to Holkham.

Penners - we are surrounded by similar houses and if I went by them, it would be, can you guess.... white plastic.

Oh yes, the harmonious look around here is UPVC with ugly fake panels and discount-store bevelled glass. I am also in the middle of removing such abominations from this one (UPVC windows and window sills), but while I do that, the neighbours are busy installing UPVC fascias on their exterior window sills! I even saw one eccentric covering his brick work with stone-effect plastic, so I'm a bit out on a limb. ...And, by the way, the door doesn't need to be taken off its hinges, it hasn't got any hinges yet, it's new, so Feltwell's point is well made.

 

[Flyfisher]

I even saw one eccentric covering his brick work with stone-effect plastic,

I suppose it was only a matter of time. A house in our village recently had all its weatherboarding replaced with plastic 'boarding', which I thought was bad enough, but 'plastic stone' takes it to a whole new level. Still, it'll match the windows and doors.

Well done for taking a stand, although I fear it probably makes you the eccentric one.

 

[Cloudscape]

A bite late, but... I think varnished mahogany would have looked a bit pants, to be honest. I'd have expected oak (at best) on your house, and pine (quite likely), and the pine (and maybe even the oak, eventually) would have been painted. I have had a brand spanking new mahogany door before. I found that it took quite a while to settle down. Does the door get a lot of sun? You might find that your paint job will crack round the panels (mine did, and it's a pain when you have to start messing about). I'd probably not load the door with paint, but add layers gradually over a couple of years while the door settles down.

If the door has and sharp machined edges, I'd soften them slightly with fine sandpaper. Sharp edges don't hold paint well.

I'd also consider a bolt top and bottom on the inside, to encourage the door not to warp in the frame (again, as it settles down).

Sorry if all that sounds a bit neurotic. :?

 

[keith_df]

Very useful comments, Cloudscape, and I am pleased to find someone else who cares little for varnished mahogany. The panels are machined from solid, so paint cracking only likely due to sharp edges, which I have softened as you suggested, anyway. Not an awful lot of sun in Northern Ireland, by the way, your nickname suggests you would be quite at home here.

 

[Schoolmarm]

Linseed paint is totally different from normal paint in that you will apply 3 or 4 very thin layers at first. Then nothing for 7 years then apply oil. Then nothing for another 7 years then another coat of paint.

Brill!!

 

[Penners]

Penners - we are surrounded by similar houses and if I went by them, it would be, can you guess.... white plastic.

Oh, good grief! I suppose I should have guessed.

:roll: