New Front Door

[wobs]

We are currently getting quotes for a new front door for our 1900s terrace money pit, with a view to recreating what was there, as it will match next door's door. In the big scheme of things, its nothing fancy, but will have a stained glass window, a single panel in the bottom, and some decoration in the middle. It should have any direct rain, unless it comes in

The plan is to paint the inside with gloss, and the outside with linseed paint.

What hardwood would you recommend?

 

[ricky146a]

If you are going to paint the door (as in colour - not varnish) then I would go with white oak. Avoid red oak (not very common in UK anyway) as it is not stable enough for our climate.
If you are considering a varnish finish then teak or Honduran mahogany would be good but very expensive for the matched pieces you would require.
Both teak and mahogany are widely used on yachts for very good reasons. They take the hot, cold, wet, dry cycles very well but do require annual maintenance.

White Ash is another slightly cheaper option but is not as easy to work with as oak and not really as stable on the grain and requires professional machines for a good finish.

 

[88v8]

Someone on here had a new front door made recently, who was it? errrrm.....

Personally, I wouldn't use hardwood, as a lot of hardwoods don't take kindly to being painted.

Preferably, I'd use pitchpine, or larch. The trick is finding it.

Ivor

 

[JoceAndChris]

Douglas Fir.

 

[Flyfisher]

Preferably, I'd use pitchpine, or larch. The trick is finding it.

I've got a couple of very large bits of Larch you can have for nothing. You'll have to collect them though. Oh, and you'll need a chainsaw . . . . :wink:

 

[billybuntus]

Accoya gets my vote. A very stable material.

You can use medite Tricoya for any panels in the door. Get's a 50 years above ground and 25 year below ground guarantee.

 

[wobs]

Further to the door project (which is getting made in accoya), I am looking at ironmongery.

Beyond a 5-lever lock, and a yale type lock, I'm open to suggestions. Is there any worth in getting a more expensive 5 lever?

Although a door knob would be more inkeeping with the period, SWMBO wants lever handles for practicality, especially when we have kids and bags of shopping to get through the door.

Are there any decent night latches you would recommend. I am concious that if it takes a firm pull to close it, the repeated slamming may damage the cornicing in the hallway (something I think happened in my last house).

Also, given a standard 5-lever lock mechanism/latch, would it require a sprung handle?

 

[88v8]

Lever handles on an outside front door look totally naff.
IMHO.

Any decent Chubb or Legge 5-lever lock will be fine. The strength is in the way it's fitted, it needs to be a tight fit on the door and frame, not just hacked in and then depending on a couple of short screws.

The Yale is its own latch. A centre knob to pull the door shut.

If you are thinking to have a combined lock and handle, then a Yale is just more hassle as you have to manipulate the Yale and the knob at the same time.
A dumb 5-lever and a Yale, then you can fit whatever knob suits to the centre or side of the door.

Ivor