Door furniture

[MetManMark]

All

We are having an ash stable door made for our kitchen (the house in Georgian and the kitchen is hidden away at the back of the house). The chap that is making it will put 3 coats of Danish Oil on it and I'll put another couple of coats on once it is in place. However, we aren't really sure what to do about bolts & handles etc (ie "door furniture" as it appears to be called...). We are after something sturdy that isn't too intricate and will go with the natural look of the door and the Victorian tiles we have laid in the kitchen.

There is another door to the rear of the house so we don't want the kitchen door to be unlocked from outside. Having done a quick web search (and having been disappointed by B&Q and our local builders merchant) we were thinking of going for these:

One on the inside and one on the outside:
http://www.blackironmongery.co.uk/acatalog/black_antique_iron_door_pull_handle_2121.html

One top and bottom and another to hold the top and bottom together:
http://www.blackironmongery.co.uk/acatalog/black_antique_iron_door_bolt_2042.html

Any thoughts would be grateful - with regards to style, usability, recommended sites from which to purchase these sorts of things...

Thanks in advance.
Mark - hoping to place an order on Monday.

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

Hi, Mark,

May be too late now, but I would not use Danish oil on a door, especially if is an external door. In my experience it does not have the necessary durability. Personally I also dislike the shiny finish that builds up after a few coats. I recommend Osmo finishes.

Anyway, door furniture. There's lots of nasty powder-coated iron hardware to be had from the diy sheds and many online suppliers. I'd take a look at the Olde Forge range at ironmongerydirect.com. Finer detailing, generally a bit nicer. Some of the reclamation suppliers do some nice stuff too - I think I had some proper Suffolk latches from Cox's once. However, iron fittings can soon rust if used externally, so perhaps brass would be more appropriate. There's no shortage of choice, as you will see from a Google search. But you generally get what you pay for in hardware.

 

[MetManMark]

Hi Andrew

Thanks for your comments. Our builder said that he also recommended Osmo stuff rather than Danish Oil. But the carpenter intends to put 2 coats of Danish Oil on before the door is installed and then recommended another couple of coats.

What would you suggest - let him put the initial coats of Danish Oil on and then top up with Osmo? I had a quick look at the Osmo website - which product would you recommend?

Cheers
Mark

 

[Nigel Watts]

Is there a tradition of using Ash for doors? Its a wonderfully tough wood, usually used for making shafts for hammers, chisels, mallets, pick axes etc. It is very pale though, and I would be worried about discolouration by iron fittings. Stainless would look good, but is hardly traditiona.

 

[Moo]

I seem to remember that Dan Cruikshank (in his book "Life in the Georgian City") said that door furniture in that period was almost inevitably black. So perhaps you could paint it with non-shiny Hammerite?