Updating 70'sDark Brown Doors/ Frames

[LargeProsecco]

I've bought a flat which needs updating - what I hate the most is the dark doors & frames. I think the skirtings will need to be replaced too, as they are not properly attached to the walls.

Pics attached for info.

Whilst I'd love to replace the doors & frames, it's not economically practical at the moment.

So I was thinking of sanding down & painting, possibly replacing the glass.

Any hints, tips or experience in doing this?

We've still got loads of these doors (they will be replaced, but doors you don't care about are great during a refurbishment as barriers to the crap escaping into other areas too much). They weigh absolutely naff all if they're similar 1970s waffle ones to ours, so take them off to paint, then you can do an adequate job of the frames without a door in the way and get a reasonable job done of the doors themselves. If you go for a common door type, you can replace one at a time without worrying that you can't get more. The frames on one or two of ours have settled and the doors aren't a great fit so we will replace rather than faffing about with cheap rubbish old doors, but it is a big expense in one go.

Also meant to say go to your local wood suppliers and get a (thrilling) skirting brochure. There are so many different profiles and deciding if you're matching or changing and what profile will work is time well spent.

Thanks @comeundone - I reckon they are the same 70's doors! The flat has not really been modernised in 50 years.

There are 7 doors to be painted 😩

Is it just a case of sanding down, then priming/undercoating?

I had the same doors in my last place. My dad and I painted them but didn't use primer, which was a mistake - the stain bled through on a couple, so they needed another coat. I couldn't afford to replace them but once painted they were tolerable. I had nine to do So yes, sand down and then use primer before painting. Good luck!

Thanks - I think I'll do it in stages, as it's quite an overwhelming thought.

Almost tempted to buy/hire a sander rather than do it by hand......

Compare the prices to hire a sander, with say buying one from screwfix/lidl/aldi or borrowing one from a friend. Unless you are doing the whole lot in 1 weekend, buying might work out cheaper than hiring one for weeks. Also tally up the cost for sanding, primer, paint and your time. New doors from B&Q start at £34, and possibly cheaper if you can get a deal somewhere.

Thanks, @Hairyfriend - that's helpful.

I'm going to replace all the flooring at some point, and don't have the skills to hang doors myself so would need to pay someone to do it.

Which is why I was thinking of painting as a temporary fix. But I can see how hiring/buying a sander might be a false economy. And decent primer is not cheap either, as I have discovery!

I might measure up the doors & see how much they are in B&Q.

We repainted recently due to a leak. This included ceilings, walls and doors. I was surprised at the cost of paint! We were looking at Crown or Dulux professional range, but someone recommended Manor Coatings. Apparently as good as the other brands, but cheaper as not advertised. We are pleased with the results. I've read that velspar can stink of urine, so one to avoid!

Apparently satin is common for doors now, but we went for gloss. We previously had a satin which left visible, grubby hand prints and was very difficult to clean. The gloss may not be 'in fashion' but I don't care as its so much easier to just wipe over.

It was the Dulux professional range I used for primer: £12 for a tiny 250ml tin. It covered the fireplace & was very good, but I'm thinking the door area is substantially bigger.

@LargeProsecco

It was the Dulux professional range I used for primer: £12 for a tiny 250ml tin. It covered the fireplace & was very good, but I'm thinking the door area is substantially bigger.

Plus you are doing 7 doors!!!!

I would sand down prime and then attach some panelling (can just glue it on) and then paint the whole lot in matt satinwood includi g at frames and change the handles to ones you like.

I bet you wouldn't even feel the need to change the doors after all of you did that.

e.g like this

If they are brown stained doors, then you'll need to use something like Zinsser BIN stain block otherwise it'll just bleed through your new paint, even after sanding.

Am going against the grain, but I think a house of a specific period looks best if original fixtures are kept, within reason.

OK to make big changes if the rest of the building is really plain and neutral, but in my - maybe unpopular - opinion it doesn't look good when old stuff remains mixed with very obviously different-time-period new fixtures. Also, the proportions of rooms change over the years, as well as colours. It's important - again, just as I see it - to have any new fittings working in balance with the old proportions.

Again, this is unpopular and just my opinion and I really, really don't wish to offend, but what I very much don't like t see is well-made 1930s and 1950s houses complete gutted, with internal walls removed and all original living spaces destroyed to meet some modern 'open plan living' trend. Even worse when they are all painted pale grey and fitted with kitchens that look like operating theatres.

When house hunting I can remember one particular horror - a nice plain, simple, very sturdy 1970s house with big spacious rooms and big light windows ruined by what seemed like miles of brilliant white gloss paint everywhere, and fiddly, flimsy mock Victorian mouldings. skirting boards and mock Victorian panelled white gloss doors.

I agree on not putting inappropriate period detail into a house @scottishnames, and on open planning being very Marmite, however it the "features" are beaten up 1970s doors in dark brown that suck light from the room (I have similar to OP, 10+ of them plus matching wardrobe doors so I feel her pain, we're living with during slow reno works, as replacing or painting before we're close to done would be wasteful), there's no merit in keeping the "period" crap. Older doesn't always mean better quality materials. We'll put in decent quality plain modern doors in due course here. I loathe fussy doors and door furniture, so for us the decisions are hard/££ because plainer stuff is not on trend. Keeping waffle board doors is not a viable option for us.

What ever you do don’t use gloss. It yellows. Use a satin or matt and just paint them white.

Thanks, I've decided to get quotes for replacing the doors & will likely sand the frames & paint white.

If the doors are too expensive to replace (unlikely to be standard modern sizes) then I can always do them too.

There's no real "period features" to destroy eg cornices, fireplaces etc - it looks quite modern - apart from the hideous doors.

Look at zinsser products which you can use to cover dark varnished wood without sanding. I am currently using zinsser bullsye 123 which is water based on my skirting boards. Wash skirting with sugar soap. apply zinnsser - I have used 2 coats then undercoat and satinwood top coat.
The bullseye dries really fast and is recoatable after an hour.
Other people prefer zinnsser bin which is oil based.
It all seems to be going well so far.
I have read that for bannisters you do need to make especially sure they are really clean and any greasy residue washed off - but the sugar soap should sort that.

The first quote for replacing the doors is around £1400

Looks like it will be painting for me....

Can you sand them, bleach them, and stain them in a lighter wood colour?

I really like the panelling idea - @pastabest can you kindly tell me where you got those panels from?
You've completely transformed the door - it's lovely.

Fire enough, comeundone and prosecco; an awful lot will depend on the quality of what's there, which obviously I can't tell. Although - of course - 'very plain' if neat and not damaged can also be of its period.
But I do agree with you that plain wood or just plain and simple, as of today, is vastly better than mock twiddles.

I never take doors off to paint them. I just crack on

@FawnDrench

I really like the panelling idea - *@pastabest* can you kindly tell me where you got those panels from? You've completely transformed the door - it's lovely.

not my pictures sorry I just nicked them from google images but you can buy door 'moulding kits' from DIY stores or if you are capable of using a ruler/ set square etc you can do it yourself for a fraction of the price just buying lengths of moulding or tongue and groove etc and cutting them yourself

I'd agree with sanding, adding moulding and painting. 70s doors are not beautiful, iconic or, generally, well built.

Off the shelf mouldings from B&Q etc are easy to cut and fit. Use some decorators caulk to cover any gaps before painting to give a decent finish.

Replacing the handles is something to think about too, and can make a world of difference.