DQ Decorating - Door restoration

Old doors and fireplaces: 

I find nothing more therapeutic than the restoration of old doors and fireplaces that have been neglected or find themselves in need of life-saving repairs. I can restore wood back life by using my experience and restoration techniques. I offer a thorough, detailed restoration service for your doors and wooden & metal fireplaces. 

If doors are to be restored they should ideally be hand stripped, so that any areas of the door with open grain sections do not absorb caustic treatments, as commonly used. Although caustic dips are a "quick fix," they are not always the right option for old wood (oak for example). In the case of water-based as well as acrylic-based products, hand stripping is the best option. Treatment by hand is hignly remomended for very delicate ornate period doors or those made from a wood that doesn’t respond well to dipping. 

Reasons why hand renovation is advised.

• Not all woods respond well to dipping. Pine strips really well. Oak, beech, elm and walnut can also be dipped but can come out a different shade to their original
• Check whether your doors have plywood or veneer panels. Most companies advise avoiding dipping as it can cause these materials to warp and in the case of veneers, the glue holding the layers together to dissolve
• Dipping rarely removes stains as these penetrate the wood
• Dipping cannot remove water-based paints — these will need to be hand-stripped
• Although some companies will dip doors with glazed panels, there is a risk of damage. If the glass is original, it is better to remove it before sending the doors off
• Doors are often left with a ‘furry’ finish after dipping and will need sanding before they can be finished. Many dipping companies offer this service at extra cost.