Firstly, the door is in an awkward position, behind a brick nib outside and a fairly narrow hallway inside, with a low threshold, all of which make weatherproofing challenging. Secondly, the lock was set deep into a narrow stile to accommodate the rebate and handle. The depth of the lock set had compromised the strength of the door, causing problems with opening and closing.

We strategically beefed up some of the components to accommodate the lock, handle and rebates and took advantage of the increased thickness to fit the latest super-efficient double-glazed units with Georgian glazing bars. We built the door in Accoya; firstly, for its stability and warp-resistance, secondly for its rot resistance. We didn’t want a repeat of what had happened to the original door.

Lastly, we finished the door with a 10 year life paint to ensure it gives many years of trouble free service.

If a timber door isn’t protected from the elements by a porch or roof overhang, it’s very common for the timber to move and the door to stick or become drafty. That’s why we made this door in Accoya (acetylated pine). Accoya is sustainably grown and treated in an environmentally friendly way. When used for exterior joinery products like windows and doors, it’s proven to be remarkably stable as well as being guaranteed not to rot for 50 years.

The wood has much better thermal values than the old uPVC plastic, complementing the thermal performance of the glazing. Finally, a hardwood sill gives a wear resistant threshold to this elegant and subtly high-tech door.