Bow Fronted Door - supplier recommendations

[Loki7430]

Hi,

We moved into out house in the summer and one of the many jobs on the list is to replace the front door. We love the one that is here except someone has cut an enormous cat flap into it (why the didn't use the back door I don't know). The door itself is an 1980's reproduction so not worth saving except for the fact that it suits the rest of the house perfectly - hence the question; does anybody know where I can get replacement in this same style? I've seen it described as "bow fronted" but there maybe another term. I can't find one anywhere (occasionally used ones pop up on ebay but not found a useable one yet).

We did look into getting it repaired but it is not a panel but a joinery door so difficult to repair (excuse me if I got the terminology wrong).

Thanks

Ian

 

[plasticpigeon]

 

[plasticpigeon]

I'm sure it could be repaired, but what an annoying place to put a catflap!

 

[Feltwell]

What were they thinking?

I agree, that should be repairable - I'd save the door you've got rather than go looking for a new one. I appreciate a repair may be a bit awkward, but with some inventiveness I'm sure it can be done. If you post some close-up pictures of the inside and outside of the panel containing the cat flap I'm sure we can come up with some suggestions.

Fitting a used one - if you could find one of the correct size and radius - will bring it's own problems with things like lock positioning. Easier (& cheaper) to repair what you've got I reckon.

For some reason I can't see the pictures on your original post, but I can on PP's reply. Whereabouts are you?

 

[88v8]

Umm, the moulding around the edge of the panel is presumably part of the rails and stiles rather than planted. But you could replace it with planted.
Find or make or have made some moulding to match.
Can't see from the pic, has the external moulding been cut away by the flap? That would need cleaning up back to a clean flat surface.

Cut out the panel.
Work from the inside. This will destroy the internal moulding but leave the external intact, the better to resist the weather.
Before you start, make a new panel, slightly oversize so you can cut it more precisely when fitting. Ascertain the thickness by removing the catflap. Purpose of making it beforehand is that creating a panel of the correct thickness may involve hunting out a plank of the necessary size or planing one down. Depending on the size of the panel it may have to be jointed. If you use plywood, it must be 'external' grade, but I would be very suspicious of ply as a long-term solution.
Prime the outside and edges of the new panel before fitting.
Around the inside, affix your new moulding with brass pins and glue.
If the external moulding has been removed or damaged, make good in the same way, ie new moulding, but with waterproof glue.
Note that the panel is not fixed to the moulding, it just floats between the mouldings.

Just an observation ... door handles, knobs... quite apart from its 80s mock Georgian naffness, at that height it should be a round knob. The hand and wrist naturally fall onto a knob*, and it looks 'right'. If one were fitting a handle at the height of the Yale, it should be a handle. Just not that one.
In matters of antique door furniture, eBay is your friend.

Ivor

* I regret the opportunities provided by this phrase.

 

[MikeG]

.........Work from the inside. This will destroy the internal moulding but leave the external intact, the better to resist the weather........

Nice post otherwise, but I don't think this particular part of it is the best approach. Having an external upstand to the rebate means that any water which finds its way past the paint and glue-line is going to end up inside the house. Rule number one of external joinery is not to rely on the paint for weathering, and having the rebate this way around unfortunately means doing precisely that. I did this exact same thing myself many moons ago, and tried repairing the leak for year after year. No, I would do exactly as Ivor says but from the other side, putting your planted moulding on the outside.

 

[Loki7430]

Thank you all for your advice....

I'll certainly take another look at repair as it is my preferred option - but yes the mouldings are part of the door frame itself - Image below which does at least show the moulding is undamaged.

And yes, the furniture will be replaced (I'm resisiting knob jokes for a bit)! The handle looks like an internal one that made do as a quick fix (same could be said for much around the house!).

Which leads me into a side topic if I may - I talked about the door matching the house but happy to be educated if there is a more 'period correct' door (keeping in mind all the good advice you've just given me on repairing the existing door) - the house seems to be a mix of styles from over the years - mid 17c originally timber framed but later encased in brick and given the Georgian stye windows.

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Thanks

 

[noj]

Obviously the door isn't original, but it does form part of the narrative of the house - I'd keep it if it's at all possible.

In our cottage you can guess the relative age of the doors by the number of planks they're made from - the biggest and oldest are just three thick boards nailed together with a couple of ledges and the newest are about seven skinny ones, ledged, braced and generally warped.

 

[LadyArowana]

You could always get a cat ir two.....

 

[Loki7430]

I just thought I'd post a picture of the completed door following your very useful advice... I won't lie I didn't do the panel myself but I did at least replace the handle!

Thanks again. Now... onto the next problem.

 

[JoceAndChris]

What a lovely house and lovely door! Absolutely the right decision to keep it and repair. Well done.

As for what style it would have been originally - probably v simple sturdy planky door, unlikely to be glazed. In Georgian times they liked ( particularly on estate cottages) a honeycomb or diamond lattice door - I don't mean the leaded modern type, I mean actual joinery lattice ones which where they survive are just gorgeous.

But I like that 1980s one.

 

[Mickey]

Lovely and what a difference that knob makes!

Mickey