Wooden front door

[Thingsthatgo]

We are slowly doing up our house, mostly DIY on a tight budget. Luckily my DH is pretty handy.
Our front door is very ugly plastic, and I would love a wooden front door but we cannot afford to buy one of those lovely fancy bespoke ones. I really don't want composite.
My first choice would be to find a secondhand wooden door, but they are few and far between. I'm not looking at the veneered ones in wickes. Are they awful? They are very affordable. Will they look terrible and warp badly?
Please tell me they are fabulous and are straightforward to fit. I would be so happy to get rid of my ugly front door.

We got a wooden door in the end, from a reclamation yard. It is around 30 years old but the place patch it up as part of the price and it looks brand new. We painted it in Zinsser paint colour matched to Farrow and Ball pelt, and it is absolutely beautiful. It makes me smile every time I come home.
I appreciate that composite door are less upkeep, but I just haven't seen a single one that I like, and I have looked at a lot of doors!

My Front Door Sticks in Autumn
2 replies

Jayne198 · 25/09/2024 19:29
A heavy solid mahogany front door came with my flat.
Over the last three years or so it started sticking in the frame. Each year I got a bit more shaved of the edge, but when the damp humid autumn weather arrives it starts sticking again.
Its not painted on the edge where it has been shaved. Would this encourage it to absorb moisture and so swell?
Now if I painted the edge and so sealing it, would that help with this issue? Or would this not make any real difference?
Rehanging this heavy door if it needs it, seems such a major undertaking and I don't know how to find someone who would be competent to do it. Any suggestions most welcome please.

We searched for a looong time. We found one that matched the style on our street at a reclamation yard but for them to repair and fit it worked out costing nearly as much as a new one. In the end we bit the bullitt and bought a new one from www.doorsoflondon.com who were very reasonably priced considereing they are solid oak. Really happy with our decision, door looks fab!