Wooden door

Christine Smith <consartpap [at] earthlink__net  writes

 This query is posted on behalf of someone who does not read the
 List.  He owns a home in a small, very old town in Abruzzo, Italy.
 The entrance to the house is a two-leaf paneled wood door, which
 townspeople believe to be about 300 years old.  The identity of the
 unfinished wood is unknown, but believed to be hardwood.  The door
 leaves swing on old iron hinges, and there is no other hardware
 (i.e. no lock or handles).  Although the door is very weathered and
 some stiles and rails have eroded as people gripped them like
 handles, the wood appears to be sound.

 What recommendations do readers of the DistList have for cleaning
 the door of dirt? ...

The survival of my own two-leaf front door that is not nearly so old
depends on on how it is handled by adults, kids, dogs, etc., and the
extent of exposure to water. Precipitation here is about 33 inches
(84 cm) per year, but a reasonably significant roof protects the
door from the elements. I do try to educate door users but it is
really the roof that protects the door from water (rot, decay, and
all that it implies). Can a roof be maintained, extended or improved
over the very old door in question? Ferrous hinges benefit from
occasional lubrication with oil that does not come from a spray can
that would spill onto and stain the wood.

Hugh Glover
Furniture Conservator
Williamstown, MA, USA


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:50
                 Distributed: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-21-50-005
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