Edwardian wood front door & tile path

[foodiefil]

Hi there,

Does anyone have any experience of replacing an edwardian front door and replacing paving stones with those attractive tiles I've seen on pinterest?

Wondering about cost etc.

Like this:

www.pinterest.co.uk/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=edwardian%20front%20door&eq=edwardian%20front&etslf=14502&term_meta[]=edwardian%7Cautocomplete%7C0&term_meta[]=front%7Cautocomplete%7C0&term_meta[]=door%7Cautocomplete%7C0

Getting a wooden door like that would be expensive. London door company do them but they are pricey. You can get the tiles from somewhere like Topps tiles and install them yourself if you wanted to save a bit of money www.toppstiles.co.uk/bathroom-tiles/victorian-mosaics#selection.size=28.8cm%20x%2028.8cm%20Square&selection.product_colour=Victorian%20Mosaics%20Black%2FWhite%20Chequer
But if your existing paving is concreted down then you are going to need a jackhammer or similar to get it up.

Thanks @PattyPan how much do you reckon? For the door, approx cowers

It would depend on the design like whether you want glass in it, need a top/sidelight etc but it would be several thousand

you'll notice the original panelled doors are recessed into porches to protect them from the weather, this easily gives a 100+ year life.

You may find an original from a salvage, demoloition, reclamation or even some vandal who pulls out an original door to throw in a plastic travesty. A competent joiner can build, repair or remake a panelled door with ease. holes from locks and letterslots can be patched and will not show after painting (the door should not be stained or varnished). Look at the top and bottom edges. These are usually neglected when painting, but are most exposed to damp, and liable to suffer rot and woodworm.

The original doorframe should be recessed into the brickwork. if missing, you can fit a modern frame which is made differently, or have your local joiner build one in place for you. It is simpler and cheaper than making a door.

I agree with looking for a reclaimed door, but watch out for warping (take a level or long straight edge with you). Also you’ll need to find one the right dimensions or slightly larger (doors can be cut down a little).

Putting in reproduction Victorian tiles is expensive too I’m afraid. Topps Tiles have a reasonable looking range but it’s about £200/sq m and you’ll need a good tiler to get it looking right by cutting borders etc.

Thanks @PigletJohn

We have what we think is the original door in place now, it's a big heavy door. but it's had to be sanded at the bottom - when we moved in 5 years ago - to make it fit better and now there's a significant gap at the bottom of the door. It's a terraced house and the house is creaking/leaning to one side and there are big trees on the street with big roots.

try to find a joiner who can re-square your door and perhaps add a hardwood strip to the bottom.

the M&T joints might need remaking. This is the correct way to square a trapezpoid door (not by sawing or planing).

If you have the original door some would object to replacing it with an expensive replica.

@PigletJohn yeah it's been planed so the bottom is def wonky. it was never taken out and repaired.

what would a hardwood strip look like on the bottom?

if it was correctly fitted, and the door was painted, it would just look like a door.

You can also fit a hardwood weather bar and a water bar beneath, if there is rain penetration.

Some old houses of my acquaintance have a brass kickplate along the bottom, usually very tarnished. I am too young to know if this was fitted from new, or added to conceal damage. You will need your housemaid to polish it weekly, unless you can find a PVD one.

edit: yes you can

it is stainless steel with a non-tarnishing plating. Amazingly good for outdoor brightwork.

You might get tiles from a salvage place. We have a gap under our door due tosandstone step wearing down in the middle. If we put something on the bottom of the door it wouldn't open as the neebit would jam on the tiles which haven't worn down.

For a concrete foundation, tiles and tiling ~6m2, I was told it would be £3,900 + VAT.

@Weebleweeble

You might get tiles from a salvage place. We have a gap under our door due tosandstone step wearing down in the middle. If we put something on the bottom of the door it wouldn't open as the neebit would jam on the tiles which haven't worn down.

rising butt hinges.

Yes,thanks, could try that.

Those front doors on Pintrest are beautiful! I wish mine looked like that.

I have an Edwardian house, the original door is long gone, I suspect it wasn't as fancy as the Pinterest ones. The porch door has a massive gap at the bottom and a badly fitted Macclesfield sill - it's a device to stop the gap at the bottom of the door. It is fitted too low down, it would work if it wasn't. It's very cold in the winter.

Example of Macclesfield sill:
store.northwesthardware.co.uk/inward-opening-sill.html

Someone on here recommended ebay for cheaper Victorian/Edwardian tiles, they have some great ones. You would have to check they were appropriate for outside use.

This company have reproduction doors. It's just the price for the door, the glass would be more, I'm guessing that complex glasswork isn't cheap. You would need to cost in getting a fitter too and any work on the door frame etc.

Example:
insitumanchester.com/shop/doors-and-entryways/traditional-style-exterior/exterior-05/

They deliver nationwide, not sure about delivery charges, their max charge is £150 and they have bigger items than doors.

Do you have a photo of your door at the moment? Is it worth keeping the original?

I tiled our front path with tiles like that. It was about £1000 for the tiles, but they all came precut to the correct size and so were relatively easy to lay. Sorry but it was quite a few years ago so i can't remember who the tiles were from.

It was from somewhere like this company www.londonmosaic.com/catalogue-victorian-and-modern-tile-design.htm#!tag=all&page=1&list=a2z

Some of the houses I’ve viewed had the original doors just like those on Pinterest. The stained glass is very delicate (I had to tell one agent it was bowed and about to break). I had to take the above door panel out of one house, I kept it thinking I’d sandwich it between glass but never did.

We have had the front door replaced we are a Victorian House and they replaced the frame the door and the glass above the door in Wood with all the door furniture it was circa £7k hope this helps