Door project completed 12 months on

[9fingers]

Last year I stayed with friends in France as I do each year and do a few DIY projects from them in return.
Their back door had slammed in the wind and looked like this

They did not like the dated style but the door was basically sound. They did however like the horizontal raised panel at the bottom. I was 'commissioned' to see what I could do to recover the door. Part of the requirement was an opening window at the top to allow ventilation whilst keeping control on their dog.

Back at home a couple of months ago I started making a matching panel on oak.
Components laid out

Joint detail

Dry fit prior to panel raising

panels raised and glued up

I arrived in France this week to complete the job.

The old glazing did not put up much of a fight.

and having made rods for the dimensions last year, everything fitted well much to my relief

That horrible reflection is me :shock:

The worst part of the job was incorporating an existing window - French style with those horrible pin hinges that have only one chance at drilling the hole in exactly the right place.
The whole door now has to be stained and varnished but that is for my friend to do.

On to the next jobs now

Repair the vacuum cleaner
Install a new tank for the heating oil
Build a partition wall in the workshop

And .... Have a break!

Bob

 

[newt]

Nice work Bob, I do like raised panels, done some all by hand recently very satisfying. What wood was the door made from.

 

[9fingers]

Thanks Pete,
It was a reasonably easy job only made stressful by not being able to check measurements from 700 miles away.

I originally thought the door was oak but heavily stained because I took off some glazing bead and that was oak.
When it came time to fit the panel, I sanded off all the stain only to find the door was some sort of mahogany looking wood much faded by the sun and only those parts covered by the trim looked at all red.

So now we have a mahogany clone & oak mix. It will all get stained back to a dark finish to match the frame.

Bob

 

[houtslager]

a neat and tidy job, well done that man.

hs

 

[dedee]

Bob,

nice, I like the idea of the window opening at the top too.

I am also in France would you like to come and stay? I've plenty of jobs like that too.:wink:
Yep those pin hinges are dreadful. I am in the process of sourcing a new front door and am wondering whether I can fit onto the existing frame side hinge. It seems normal here to buy the door and frame at the same time with all the hinges, locks etc pre-fitted.

Cheers
Andy

 

[9fingers]

Bob,

nice, I like the idea of the window opening at the top too.

I am also in France would you like to come and stay? I've plenty of jobs like that too.:wink:
Yep those pin hinges are dreadful. I am in the process of sourcing a new front door and am wondering whether I can fit onto the existing frame side hinge. It seems normal here to buy the door and frame at the same time with all the hinges, locks etc pre-fitted.

Cheers
Andy

Hi Andy
The original request was for a full stable door by cutting the existing door in half but this was soon squashed as not do-able as a remote build kit form job. The only workshop here is dedicated to restoration of 2CVs and no woodworking machinery at all.
A window was surplus to requirements and hence the unusual combination. We still have to find some form of stay and a stop to prevent the door being opened whilst the window is fully open. I say 'we' but not really my problem!

Yes it does seem that doors and frames are sold together (same in the US I believe). It is rare for the French to do maintenance to the degree of changing a door in the lifetime of the building. It seems relatively rare for a house to have an new exterior coat of paint during its lifetime from what I can see. In rural areas many building seem to be allowed to deteriorate until they are little more than a pile of stones and then sold to the English and Dutch to rebuild :lol:

I see you have only just made it over the channel. I'm currently staying in 82150 so quite some distance away. We are returning to UK via Dunkirk so not passing your way. Maybe a visit some other time?

Cheers

Bob

 

[dedee]

Bob, enjoy your holiday. I bet it is still warm and dry where you are.

The only reason the missus wants the door replaced is it is north facing in a very dark corridor. She wants some natural light.

Cheers

Andy