Restoring a traditional timber door in Cornwall: Before & After

The entrance to a home is hugely important. It’s the first and last impression; the part we touch when we enter and leave. So when a door show signs of  rust, and starts to break apart it can affect the whole mood of the house. We were recently called by a family member of the team to restore the entrance door to their home. Living in Land’s End, the home is fully exposed to the full force of Cornish weather from the battering winds, to the salty spray of the sea.

Before

Around eight years ago they had commissioned a new door from another company but, looking at its state, you can see how this one wasn’t built to last. The door had started to break apart, the paint had chipped and all the ironmongery had started to rust. While aesthetics was a concern, the safety of the home was also a major issue. In such a condition, the door was weak and the home was vulnerable to break ins.

Crafting the doors

First things first, we took a look at the door and the frames. While the door needed to be completely replaced, the existing door frames were in a good condition. We kept the original frames but refurbished them so they looked brand new. Arkadiusz then crafted a whole new door in the workshop made from Accoya. Accoya is a fantastic wood for external joinery projects. It’s incredibly stable and resistant to harsh weather conditions. Plus it comes with a 50 year guarantee.

After

We finished the door in a classic Hague Blue finish with stainless steel ironmongery from Coastal. The company from St Austell, designs high quality specialised ironmongery for properties exposed to harsh weather condition. Ideal for properties like this one. The previous door utilised a ‘stable’ style, but we designed and crafted its replacement in a more modern style to suit the rest of the property and included traditional elements like the panelling.

Unlike it’s predecessor, this one has been built to withstand the harsh coastal conditions. If you’re looking for a new door, find out more about our services.