Sapele conservatory doors, Gateshead
10th March 2016The Story of a Door
10th March 2016
"Almost every project that customers bring to us has a unique set of requirements, something that is difficult to find elsewhere and needs to be talked about, considered and designed into the product that we are making for them."
Security was a main consideration when designing this oak front door. It was to replace the existing standard door as part of the renovations for the barn conversion, the owners were keen to stay sympathetic to the existing style and age of the building and wanted a door that had a real presence about it. It also needed to be insulated and stand up to the harsh Northumberland weather.
Geoff spent time sketching draft ideas, working with the client to narrow down the overall design to a style that worked before working in the small details that made it their own. "They wanted to create a feature front door, something that felt a little different without being too in your face. We settled on a traditional style using cock beads in the tongue and grooving, a technique that was widely used in agricultural joinery and has now been adopted by the house building and cabinet making trade. We also included a swept head that added an internal curve on the top rail helping add a little more presence to the door".
Oak had been used throughout the barn conversion and so it was the logical choice for the door. Any organic material will expand and contract over the year due to moisture in the air and the right timber selection will be crucial to the door's longevity. Oak used for external doors and windows actually needs to have more moisture content than is generally commercially available, about 12-14%. Langley Furniture Works has a large selection of locally grown and seasoned timbers and it was this that was used for the tongue and groove panelling whilst highest grade European oak was used for the framing.
"We used a three point locking system more commonly associated with UPVC doors that was compatible with their insurance requirements. Insulation was fitted into the core of the door and draft-proofing beads were built into the rebate of the frame. We finished it with a very high-grade ultra violet protected oil that retained the natural rich colour of the oak whilst providing the best weather protection. As long as it is looked after and re-oiled every few years I would expect my great grandchildren to be able to knock on this door in 100 years time!"
From design to completion took two months, with only one day spent on site fitting, as the build, hanging and installation of hinges and locks was all done in the workshop.
