Framing for Old Doors
Instead of new doors, I am going to use salvaged old doors, but none of them come with the framing. Any special recommendation on the framing? What I should be aware when I interview the contractors? I know this can be important in an old house, where not everything is perfectly aligned.
Instead of new doors, I am going to use salvaged old doors, but none of them come with the framing. Any special recommendation on the framing? What I should be aware when I interview the contractors? I know this can be important in an old house, where not everything is perfectly aligned.
My back door off the kitchen was in very bad shape–warped, gaps, water damage, tons of old peeling paint. After trying to talk me into a new door, my contractors were able to get it back to nearly square with the miracles of carpentry (some glue, clamps, and wood filler form what I can tell), so even old doors in very bad shape can be revived. Of course that’s not the same as being the cheapest option, but it can be the best-looking option. I never would have found a new door that exactly matched the interior kitchen doors and would have had to have something custom made to look exactly right in the space.
If you mean just the wood trim around the doors rather than the opening itself, that part is easy.
If you are still going to try to use salvaged doors, I would like to let you know that I am going to be posting some salvaged period door hardware on my other website soon: http://www.thetinkersyard.com
Mostly mortise locks with porcelin knobs and rossettes. also brass and glass knobs.
Steve
http://www.thetinkersyard.com
New doors warp also. All construction materials are affected by seasons and all expand and contract. The worst warpage I’ve ever seen was on a year old door.
I infer by framing you mean the jambs and casework. Those are fairly easy to install, however if your actual wall framing is very warped then opening and closing the doors could be an issue. (Happens a lot with stuck pocket doors.) Your contractor should know how to measure how parallel or out of parallel all the planes are that affect the movement of a door. There are a lot of them.
Doors are also right handed and left handed (and reversed). I re-hung two sets of French doors in Ft. Greene after someone hung them backwards.
If the contractor is stumped by these issues, they probably aren’t a door expert.
http://www.masterbuildernyc.com
masterbuildernyc@gmail.com
Second above, unless you are doing a gut reno, why do you want to change the frames? If I were buying old doors, I would try to make them fit the existing frames or I would give them a pass. To change the frames is going to be a little tricky unless you are doing a gut reno: if the doors are bigger, you may not have a big enough rough opening; if they are bigger, you will not have enough length of existing casement around the door (though the baseboard can always be cut back); if they are smaller you have to move the casement in which case you may expose unfinished plaster and your baseboard becomes too short.
Other than my above concerns, door frames are very easy to make on-site the old way.
you are welcome to give me a call even if it is only to ask me questions. Answers are free.
Steve
http://www.thetinkerswagon.com
(please overlook the “salvage yard” heading in the google search results. Google mixed the heading with my other site’s info.)
I gather you like the look of older doors? Framing a door is very basic. However old doors can be more time consuming than installing new doors. Often old doors are warped making them difficult to close right. Hardware can be tricky too. You will not save money by using old doors compared to buying new ones. But many clients I have had, say that the look of old doors is worth the extra time and expense. RickLaddBrooklyn.com