Architectural Woodworking

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

Exterior door materials....

5/1/15       
Jeff D

Ok so I've been thinking about replacing the front door of my house for several years now and I think I've put it off long enough. I've built plenty of interior doors, but this will be my first exterior. The door is semi-exposed to the weather. Meaning there is a 4' overhang to protect from rain etc. but no screen door and gets full sun in the morning. I'm thinking either Spanish cedar or SA mahogany to make the laminated stiles. My question is what is a good material for the skins? The door is going to be painted so normally on interior work I'd use soft maple, not sure if this is the right choice for exterior though? I could use the same material as the core, but obviously more work to fill the grain for a nice paint job. So what are you guys using for painted doors? And keep in mind since I'm doing this one for myself I'm not looking for the cheapest material, but a good quality material that will last.

Thanks
JeffD

5/1/15       #2: Exterior door materials.... ...
David R Sochar Member

We use a lot of Sugar Pine for painted exterior doors. A bit more stable than the Ponderosa we see, and still wide and long. We do not fuss with laminating stiles, but have never had a problem with a Pine exterior door warping or getting squirrely. If a Pine door is painted dark and gets full sun, sap can bleed out. It won't drip, but will leave little bumps all over. It is not supposed to do this if dried properly, but it still does it. It is not a problem for me, but may be for a customer. You may get good Eastern White Pine where you are, and it is supposed to be a good door wood.

We used to use Cypress for exterior painted, but it would develop seasoning cracks after install, and I don't like to get those kinds of calls. One door warped big time, but we caught it before we shipped. One stile was all reaction wood, but didn't react until it was in the door.

I do not like Maple for exterior. As for laminating, I'll do it if I need to for thickness or good faces, but I don't do it for 'stability'.

5/1/15       #3: Exterior door materials.... ...
JeffD

Thanks Dave, was hoping you'd chime in! I'm so used to working hardwoods I hadn't put too much thought into using a softwood like pine. Probably what the original door is made out of though and it's lasted this long. Either pine or maybe Fir, lot of that around this way as well.

JeffD

5/1/15       #4: Exterior door materials.... ...
Leo G

I use Spanish Cedar for most of my exterior doors. Buy it in the rough, let it sit for a few weeks and pick out the naturally straight pcs for the stiles.

5/3/15       #5: Exterior door materials.... ...
Adam

Pine doors(eastern, ponderosa, sugar) in New England rot.

Leo is in CT, I was in CT, BH Davis is in CT. We do not use pine outside.By the time you slather(technical term) 1 coat of primer and 2 top coats of house paint. You will see no grain in SA mah or spanish cedar.

Those pines are rated for interior millwork.. Old growth Eastern White Pine was on par with cedar in terms of rot resistance. But they cut that all down 100 years ago.

5/3/15       #6: Exterior door materials.... ...
matt calnen

I agree with Adam. I live in northern Michigan and make lots of high end exterior doors. While I have, and still do make a few doors out of solid stock for my clients that like period appropriate millwork, I always recommend to do a butcher block style core with 1/8" skins laminated on both faces. Every thing is epoxied, and after the door is complete, I thin epoxy down with acetone and give it a wash coat before primer and paint to act as both a preservitive and a skin hardener. In my climate, we have harsh winters and hot humid summers. I also only use genuine mahogany for both skins and core stock as it is relatively hard. I think most people would agree that it is a waste of time to put a nice paint job on softwood as it dents so easy. Furthermore, once the paint layer is compromised, water is able to get into the door but not out, causing rot, warpage, further paint failure, etc. If $ is no object, this is the way to build an exterior paint grade door.

5/4/15       #7: Exterior door materials.... ...
David R Sochar Member

We see a lot of our pattern grade Honduras get painted, and it is always my first choice. Rift W Oak is becoming my second choice, but is heavy and requires laminating stiles, or skinning them (1/8") for thickness and appearance. Pine cores would help overcome the weight.

A Pine door is light and easy. As for exposure, we don't recommend (or warrant) any door in an exposed situation. We still epoxy the bottom of the door, double coating the stile end grain after it is fit and hung. Same with panels, before assembly. The panels are tightly fit and there is zero gap tolerance on the cope and stick joinery. All copes are fully glued, the entire length. I like 2 or 3 panels for a 36" wide door, to keep down the movement. I don't warrant a single panel width in that situation unless it is stable core built.

If it has some protection, and is properly painted, it will outlast us all. True, the material is not what it once was, but it is still good for mid range painted protected work, in my opinion. We have had no problems except one from the sap pips, and I reminded her that we talked about that prior to her making the selection.

5/5/15       #8: Exterior door materials.... ...
Harold Pomeroy

I have been making exterior doors for 30 years. Enough time has gone by for me to see things I built last, or turn to compost.

Traditional door materials and designs were supposed to be painted with lead paint.

Modern plastic (Acrylic, etc.) paint doesn't work as well. Instead of relying on a toxic metal coating (lead), we now have to use more rot resistant materials, maintain the finish better, and protect the doors from sun, mold, fungus, temperature differential between inner and outer surfaces, and water.

Gutters, porch roofs, higher and pitched thresholds, annual paint touch up, and the use of mahogany are all required to keep a door looking the way customers expect a door to look.

5/7/15       #9: Exterior door materials.... ...
Chad

We tend to use either Sapele Mahogany, Vertical Grain Fir, or Eastern White Pine for our exterior grade doors. What is chosen usually depends on the architect, what the customer wants to spend, or if it is a commercial or residential project. We prefer Sapele - the grain is nice, easy to machine and it holds up well to the elements.

We are currently building some paint grade doors and using Extira on the raised panels.

5/28/15       #10: Exterior door materials.... ...
David Waldmann  Member

Website: vermonthardwoods.com

"Rift W Oak is becoming my second choice, but ... requires ... skinning them (1/8") for thickness and appearance."

How thick a door are you talking about? As I'm typing this I saw the truck drive in that's delivering me some 10/4.


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)