Entry door rehab
Our BedStuy brownstone has very nice original double entry doors, very heavy and solid with sturdy, lacey grillwork and beveled glass. The inner side is clearly oak but the outside surface is metal, and I think it’s brass or copper because where the paint is peeling there is oxidation, and won’t hold a magnet. Same…
Our BedStuy brownstone has very nice original double entry doors, very heavy and solid with sturdy, lacey grillwork and beveled glass. The inner side is clearly oak but the outside surface is metal, and I think it’s brass or copper because where the paint is peeling there is oxidation, and won’t hold a magnet. Same for the grillwork. None of our neighbors in the row have these doors, although several do have what seem to be original doors.
The facadework is proceeding nicely, so the entry doors should get spiffed up too. They’ll need a PeelAway job, but after that, what? Polished brass doors? A bit ostentatious. Yet painting over it all seems dumb. I’ve been watching for this sort of thing on other houses, but it’s almost always painted shiny black.
Ideas? Thoughts?
Thanks.
I have found that contractors familiar with history of these old buildings have a wealth of info (most of it pretty accurate I think) and they may be able to provide a suggestion. I understand that many of the elements of these houses were actually purchased from catalogs. Can you believe that? Marble mantles, newal posts etc. If your doors were not from one of those catalogs, that would explain why you can’t find an example to suggest a direction. In that case, why not find an artisan you respect and seel their customized approach?