A Couple of More Doors For Ya
This is vaguely self-promotional but it’s also quite interesting so we’re rolling with it. (It’s also the only response we got from anyone to our request for photos of readers’ favorite doors!) Nathan from South Slope Woodworks (a longtime advertiser on the Forum) got a job fabricate two sets of doors for a 12.5-foot-wide brownstone…
This is vaguely self-promotional but it’s also quite interesting so we’re rolling with it. (It’s also the only response we got from anyone to our request for photos of readers’ favorite doors!) Nathan from South Slope Woodworks (a longtime advertiser on the Forum) got a job fabricate two sets of doors for a 12.5-foot-wide brownstone on Waverly Avenue in Clinton Hill. With only the old tax lot photo to work off, they built the doors out of 150-year-old reclaimed long leaf yellow pine that had been salvaged from a demolition in Tribeca. Because the parlor floor ceiling is only 8-feet high, the doors are truly mini-versions of your typical brownstone door. Neato!
southslope…never made the connection…just left you a voicemail at the shop. Interested in pursuing a set of new doors or at least a more period replacement of the newer 36″ single door since it was installed nicely with fluted pilaster casings.
DIBS
About the wood:
The reclaimed wood used is LONG LEAF YELLOW pine. It is significantly different from eastern white or sugar pine (which most associate with pine). It has a baseline janka hardness of 870(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janka_Wood_Hardness_Rating). It is old growth wood and entirely quartersawn, increasing the hardness to 1350 which puts it ahead of red oak for hardness, and WAY ahead of eastern white pine at 380. Long leaf yellow pine also has a lot of stuff in it to resist the elements and gives it a nice smell when it is being milled. We use this wood for most of our exterior millwork.
As someone whose house is defaced with 1960’s era security doors, with all of the curb appeal of a maximum security ward entrance, I love to hear it is possible to have original doors replicated locally. I’m sure it’s at least 2 arms and a leg, but one can dream. I’d prefer salvage, but it’s hard to find the right size, and those certainly aren’t inexpensive either.
I forgot to send in some pix of cool Brooklyn doors, but will do that this weekend.
OMG, that’s amazing! They did a fantastic job. How much did it cost? Is it wise to use pine, though — aren’t they going to get all banged up really quickly? Maybe should have gone with old oak?
As someone who has done my fair share of stoop door shopping, these look really great.
A month or so ago someone posted links to places that sold reclaimed doors. Can anyone provide these??
Thanks
Doors are so important to the aesthetics and overall first impression anyone gets from a house. Our neighbor replaced his cheap, mass produced door with one that replicated the originals and it immediately made the house more complete. I am sure that change alone increased the value of his house exponentially.
Great job South Slope Woodworks — you are a resource I will remember.
COOL!
Love that old photo as well!
Always nice to see that that kind of craftsmanship still exists.
DIBS, don’t muck it up by talking about such mundane matters 🙂