External doors

[MetManMark]

All
We are looking to replace our kitchen door. We quite like the idea of a stable door (we had one in our old house) that has lots of glass at the top to let light into the kitchen. Something along these lines:
http://www.topclasscarpentry.com/category/Exeter/Nine%20Pane%20Stable%20Dowel%20Doors/

However, we don't know anything about doors or where to buy them from. I like the idea of getting a hardwood (don't know whether we would ultimately paint it or stain it in some way - I think I would prefer to keep the wood visible as it were. What are the important things that we should look out for. I notice that this one says that it is glued and dowelled. This doesn't sound great - isn't there a better manufacturing technique we should be looking for.

All top tips appreciated.

Thanks
Mark

 

[Zebra]

I don't know, but I want to know too. I am having a modern extension on my house rebuilt, which will incorporate both the front and back doors. I like those stable doors too, but there seem to be a number of things to consider:
- hardwood or softwood
- U-value if it's subject to building regs
- traditional appearance
- are you bothered about the ethics of imported hardwoods?
- cost

For me, the non-negotiables are that they have a traditional appearance, not be made of African imported hardwoods, and have to meet building regs U-value of 1.8.

However, if the door were reclaimed, then it wouldn't matter so much what it was made of, since you would not be creating a market for the import of the timber. I've been looking on ebay and there are plenty of second-hand doors on there. But with reclaimed or second-hand doors, I don't know how you would prove the U-value to the Building Control Officer. There is a formula created by BRE and mentioned in Part L, but it's too complicated for me to understand.

Which leaves pretty much only the option of new softwood doors.

I don't know if any of that helps. If you are only replacing the door then perhaps you won't have to prove its compliance with latest Building Regulations (although clearly it's a good idea to have one that's as heat-retaining as possible).

As for the argument against using imported timber, probably anything new that you will find in a hardwood, if it doesn't say it's European Oak (and is priced accordingly) will probably be idigbo, sapele, or another timber imported from Africa. Not very traditional, and what's more (I don't know a lot about this, I've just been put off by what I've read on here and other forums) although the FSC certification may prove that the wood comes from a sustainable source meaning that they plant another tree when they cut one down, there's no telling that the land wasn't virgin rainforest before they put a plantation there, and in any case the FSC system is allegedly quite corrupt in Africa. Best avoided in my opinion, just to be on the safe side, though I'm sure there is plenty of imported African hardwoods around.

I'm not sure, I'm on the same quest, and have to come up with something pretty sharpish as my builder is going to want to know what doors I am going to have, so do let me know the outcome of your researches.

 

[MetManMark]

Thanks for your comments - I am only at the start of my search so some of the things that you mentioned I hadn't considered.Let's see what others advise....
Mark

 

[biffvernon]

For me, the non-negotiables are that they have a traditional appearance, ... and have to meet building regs U-value of 1.8.

That's a big ask. No traditionally made door has a U of 1.8

I did once make a counter-boarded door, vertical planks outside, horizontal planks indoors, nailed together with roseheads but with a layer of 'spacetherm' sandwiched between the two layers of timber.

 

[Flyfisher]

That's a big ask. No traditionally made door has a U of 1.8.

I suspect that few traditionally-made anythings would meet today's ever-stricter (oppressive?) requirements for this, that and the other. We're living in very different times and are increasingly denied the freedom of choice to choose otherwise.

Those of us with listed houses have official dispensation to ignore a lot of the modern bureacracy (at the cost of a different sort of bureacracy) but I feel sure that many others just do what they like with their own homes anyway!

 

[Feltwell]

Those of us with listed houses have official dispensation to ignore a lot of the modern bureacracy (at the cost of a different sort of bureacracy) but I feel sure that many others just do what they like with their own homes anyway!

I couldn't possibly comment......

 

[biffvernon]

My oak front door has a crack down the middle. In summer it opens up as the wood shrinks, allowing extra ventilation. In the damp of winter the crack closes. I can't find reference to such automatic systems in the Buildings Regulations.

Question is, when the Green Deal rolls out should we apply for a loan to have it replaced with a new plastic one that is well insulated?

 

[Flyfisher]

Of course. But you should also splash out a bit extra for the microprocessor controlled auto-vent (tm) system that links to the internet via wifi to gather the latest met-office forecasts and regulates the width of a slit between two uPVC door panels to create optimal ventilation conditions whatever the season. Er, hang on a minute . . . .

Actually, we have a similarly functioning wooden door. In the summertime it opens very easily and thus provides very effective ventilation. During the colder, damper months, it swells slightly and is a pig to open - so we don't, thus reducing heat loss. And not a microprocessor in sight.

 

[Zebra]

For me, the non-negotiables are that they have a traditional appearance, ... and have to meet building regs U-value of 1.8.

That's a big ask. No traditionally made door has a U of 1.8

That's as I suspected, thanks for confirming that and saving me wasting my time looking for one! In any case if one did, you wouldn't be able to prove it, I'm sure. That's why I said traditional appearance! I shall no doubt have the only option of a modern timber door in something imitating a traditional style. Ho hum.

But not in African hardwood!