Longevity

How long will my new entryway last?

Unlike most of the other woodwork in your home, your entryway is on the exterior, subject to sunlight and extreme weather conditions. If it is not maintained, its longevity will be determined by its environment. If the entryway is South-facing with no protective roof overhang, its life expectancy will only be a few years determined by the local climate.

If the entryway is North-facing with a porch roof, it should last several years longer. The key to longevity for anything to withstand the ravages of time is simply maintenance.

We’ve been asked on occasion if steel or fiberglass doors will last longer than wood doors. Steel doors were introduced in the late 1960’s. Fiberglass doors were introduced in 1983. Since neither has been around that long, their longevity is speculation. Steel and fiberglass doors have limited design capabilities and their repair techniques are not those of typical woodwork repairs. Originally, these doors had a core structure made of wood. The metal or fiberglass portion is a “skin” that is applied over the wood. While these skins have evolved over the years, they are limited in design. That’s why so many of these doors appear to be just variations of the same door design.

Since these skins are merely a veneer surface, they are particularly subject to impact damage. Metal doors can only be painted. Dents and scratches in the metal can be repaired using similar materials and techniques to those used in the auto body repair business. Fiberglass skins can be repaired using an entirely different skill subset. Wood maintenance however, has been available for millennia.

The oldest known wood door was discovered in Switzerland in 2010. Archaeologists estimate it to be 5,000 years old. I’m not saying it still functioned as a door, but it was recognizable as a door! The oldest wood door in Great Britain that is still in use today is on Westminster Abbey. It is nearly 1,000 years old. Our doors will last indefinitely as long as they are maintained.

The photos above and below were provided by customer Chris Bertelson. They are located on a church in Ethiopia and are over 700 years old.

Ancient history is fine, but what about your doors? Are they built to last?

Unlike most doors built today, the majority of our doors are assembled with epoxy-filled mortise-and-tenon joints. They have never failed, even when faced by neglect or abuse.

We have built over 1000 doors in our history. Unfortunately as you can see from the stories that follow, some clients have allowed the finish to deteriorate. For most of our customers however, our entryways have graced their homes for many years. We are proud to have become a small part of their lives and an integral part of their family home.

The Carwile inquiry:

A few years ago, we received a phone call from the Carwile’s. They were at a “Barn Sale” in New Mexico featuring reclaimed architectural components. They wanted some information regarding a door they found there.

While the exterior of the door is our Taos design (re-created in several variations over the years), the interior design was identified through our records and clearly indicated that the door had been created for a home in Albuquerque in 1987. Recently, the home had been demolished and the door reclaimed.

From the photos, it appeared that the door had never been refinished and the original colors of the oak and Spanish cedar had been sun-bleached over time. At some point, the lockset had been poorly patched and replaced.

With its 35-year-old history, this door could easily be restored with an aged patina. More effort, and the door’s original color could also be re-established. It was definitely a bargain!

The Stropko conundrum:

In 2021 we were contacted by Mr. Stropko of Garden Grove, California. His parents had recently passed away and he was upgrading their home to place it on the market. He asked if the door could be saved, and at what procedures that might entail.

While we could not find the record, we suspect the door was purchased between 1983 and 1987. Unfortunately, the rain gutter on the home was damaged directly in front of the entry door. With each rainfall, water splashed onto the door, which then baked dry in the sun. Even with such abuse, the entryway remained intact and could indeed be saved.

Photos showed the interior side of the door was like new. While the exterior of the door appeared severely weather-worn, it was not structurally damaged. The degree of refinishing or restoration was in the customer’s hands. Ironically, we’ve had customers pay extra to get an aged finish similar to this one that came from simple neglect.

The Burgess Entryway:

It is extremely rare for a customer to contact us out-of-the-blue, but it is very heart-warming.

D244 Installed

Over thirty years ago, in our quest for dealers to sell our doors, we approached San Leandro Doors in the Bay Area of California. The owner purchased a stock Del Mar design as a showroom door. As happens all-too-much, the display was sold (verifying its desirability) but it was not replaced. Customers won’t ask for it if they don’t know that it exists. So we lose our dealer simply because they choose a one-time profit over renewing their displays.

Bounce ahead thirty plus years. Out-of-the-blue, we receive a photo and a note of thanks from Bob Burgess, the customer who purchased the Del Mar display door. Still in use. Still uniquely beautiful. Thank you, Bob!

The Small World of Arroyo Grande:

In 1966, Doug briefly dated but eternally fell in love with Linda Bonelli. A lifelong friend, Linda’s life journey had taken her from her hometown of La Mirada, Calfornia to San Jose, Fresno, and ultimately Arroyo Grande. In the same period, Doug’s life had taken him from La Mirada to Buffalo, NY, Irvine, CA, and ultimately Durango, CO.

While e-mailing with Doug in 2021, Linda said that she saw an entryway on her morning walks that looked like something Doug might have built. So she snapped a photo with her phone and sent it to him.