I think I'm forming an attachment to a door!!!

[Tootsiroll]

I have no idea how old my doors are, the house is 130 years old and while I don't think the doors are original they are certainly old.

I was all set to buy new ones but my partner suggested we could try and refurbish the originals. I wasn't convinced but the weather's been nasty all year so I have plenty of time.

I took the living room door off it's hinges (It was surprisingly heavy) and gave it a good clean and a going over with the orbit sander. I was using wood filler to fill in some of the gaps etc and I began to appreciate the work that went into making it. It's obvious it wasn't made to go in a stately home, everything about it is a bit wonky but it does give it a bit of charm and it is solid.

There's a series of small holes that go around the outer edge at regular intervals on both sides which confused me. My boyfriend said it's probably where they had sheets of hardboard nailed to each side to give them a "modern" clean look that was popular in the 1960's. You can even see where the original latch use to be and where it's been patched over. This door has been through a lot over the years!!

I think I'm forming an attachment to a bloody door!!! The thought of throwing away something that's been around for so long, that some long dead man made with his bare hands using real skills is making me feel a bit sad.

It's back on it's hinges now, It's been painted, it has new silver door knobs to replace the old brass ones. But it looks like what it is, an old door with a new coat of paint.

I'm torn between keeping and doing the same with all the other doors or buying the new ones I originally intended. My partner even said we can give them a Viking funeral in the back garden.

What do you guys think, original charm or modern perfection?

Keep them, but don't paint them. Treat them as they woukd have been originally.

I remember the joy of finding original panel doors under hardboard in my first house. I sanded and waxed them- they were lovely!

I’d definitely keep them. Our house has all the original 1920s doors throughout and the original hardware on the upstairs doors. The handle’s recently broken on this door and I’m struggling to find a suitable replacement.

My cats reckon the whole door is the Catflap if you leave it open ........

I guess for me it would be a combination of :

How secure it is and whether you live in an area where security is likely to be tested. A new front door should be much more secure if it has additional bolts.

How thermally efficient it is and whether heat leak through it is making the house cold.

What it looks like and whether it is possible to get a new one keeping the same style.

Well they are in charge I suppose
Everything is theirs 🐈

Our much loved front door is 130 years old too. I have great plans to replace the stained glass and renovate it.

No! Where is it? (Only part that looks possible is at the top, but m not convinced.)

Our house has its very old doors, one is huge and was probably the original back door from the kitchen.
We had them all professionally dipped to get all the years of paint off them, then wire wool and wax I seem to recall. They still look great.

It is at the top on the left
👏👏

Do your cats have shelves around the walls or have you rehung the doors upside down?

500 year old door
The hole for cats was sealed over sometime in the 1700s and door turned upside down

but my cats are into gymnastics 😁

Our garage door had a gap in the corner , I watched our MaleCat go cantering down the garden and dive through the space "Well that's not the first time you've done that Matey"
A fox got in once and we blocked the gap (after escorting the fox out) as I didn't want the cat or fox being trapped .