Walk through most of Melbourne’s established inner suburbs and the homes that hold their character longest tend to have one thing in common: their original joinery is largely intact. The doors sit squarely in their frames, the moulding profiles are sharp and consistent, and the hardware has the particular weight that solid construction produces. Replace that joinery with something contemporary and the character leaves with it. The question of whether to restore or replace a period timber door is not always straightforward, and making the wrong call in either direction is expensive.
When the Original Door Is Worth Saving?
The pre-war Melburnian houses were constructed out of high-density wood, which made joinery an intrinsic property that cannot be found in the contemporary wood of the same quality for normal prices. All of the materials used in the construction of the door were solid, thus giving the door a considerable weight and sound which contribute to the feeling of the room rather than its appearance. If the door has a good structure, without any joints or damage to the wood, then it definitely can be restored. The restoration includes the removal of the layers of paint, repairs of any damage, and fitting of the frame because of the seasonal expansion of the door; where the door cannot be saved, custom timber doors Melbourne joiners can replicate the original profile.
The Profile Matching Challenge
It is in replacing a single door in the context of the interior in question that the difficulty lies. Period buildings were constructed using specific moulding profiles in the door panels, architrave and skirtings, which were based on pattern books of the time and on the manufacturing conventions then prevalent. Victorian ogee mouldings, Edwardian ovolo, and flat-panel colonial configurations are not found in current catalogues. Placing a new door with a new profile alongside existing doors whose profile is completely different makes an immediate impact on anyone taking notice of this detail. Custom manufacture allows for the precise match to be achieved, which is what differentiates the authentic-looking door from a close enough approximation.
Getting the Timber Finish Right in Melbourne’s Climate
The decision about whether to paint or stain or oil the doors is not always simply aesthetic. Painting hides grain variations, covers any small imperfections, produces a durable finish in frequently used locations, and is generally easier to touch up. Staining or oiling displays all the characteristics of the timber itself, but is more selective in terms of the type of timber chosen as knots, grain direction, and colour variation become apparent rather than hidden. In Melbourne, where there are marked changes in humidity throughout the year, the area of the door where it is most vulnerable to finishing problems is the end grain of the top and bottom edge.
Hardware That Belongs on a Heritage Door
Modern lever handles in brushed stainless steel or matte black are versatile enough to fit into various interiors. In a Federation or Edwardian front door, they become a discordant element that compromises the design of the door right away. There are companies that produce period-appropriate ironmongery such as brass or bronze lever handles, rim locks, and porcelain or glass door knobs. Heavy timber doors will also need hinges designed for the weight of the panels, since residential butt hinges are designed for hollow-core doors.
Custom Timber for New Builds and Extensions
There is a distinct design issue to be resolved in case of new construction adjoining a period building. It is necessary to find a way for the new construction and the original part to have a joint joinery language.
