Brigid
We had a fire in our vestibule this January and we are finally having our door replaced. The designs are in the process of being approved by Landmarks (we are on a Park block). The members of our coop are trying to decide if we should paint the doors or have them varnished. Surprisingly, Landmarks…
We had a fire in our vestibule this January and we are finally having our door replaced. The designs are in the process of being approved by Landmarks (we are on a Park block). The members of our coop are trying to decide if we should paint the doors or have them varnished. Surprisingly, Landmarks allow both options. Does anyone know if these doors were originally painted or varnished when the building went up in the early 1900s? Any help would be appreciated.
Sorry to hear about the fire and damage. May I ask what you are doing with the old doors? I’m working on a very low budget renovation and would love to have them if your throwing them away. beegeee1188 (at) yahoo (dot)com thanks!
Take a look at the species of wood on the face of the door(not the core, if it is a stave core). If it is walnut or white oak it was likely varnished. This is what vintage millwork catalogs and drawings refer to as “oil-ready”. If it is pine and has any knots, it was most likely painted since quality wood has always been available for stain-grade work.
A painted door will last longer than a stained (clear-finished) door. Organic materials like wood are prone to photo-degradation without protection. Marine varnish has UV absorbers in it (interior clear finishes like lacquer do not) still light penetrates the finish and affects the wood cells.
Landmarks will want to see the adjacent properties, if they have original doors in good repair.
Expect to pay 25% more for a stained door than a painted door of the same species.