So, finally, you have the house of your dreams. You can scarcely contain your excitement. You have peeled back the wallpaper and reclaimed wood layers, redone the plumbing and electrical wiring, and replaced all the windows. The paint is fresh on every wall. It is going to be great. The only problem is that three antique doors either 1920s’ doors, 1930’s doors, or 1960’s doors. in the entryway are no longer cutting it with their old-fashioned style and scratch finish. Sure, they are historical relics from when these parts were first built in the 1930s, but they feel out of place among all that modern design. Different methods are used to restore internal 1930s doors, which are below:
1. Internal 1930s Doors
Old doors like Internal 1930s doors are charming. We love how they add character to an otherwise industrial-modern, recently-remodeled space. On the other hand, sometimes old doors can be a hassle. The hardware is outdated, the locks do not work well anymore, and they do not look good on our new kitchen cabinets. It would be great to replace those old doors with sleeker and more modern ones.
But, we love that sense of history, and this is an authentic piece of our home’s heritage from when it was first built in the 1930s. Do not you want to preserve that?
The strings of this old-fashioned door pull are a classic. You have seen them on vintage doors, and you love the pattern. But they do not match your kitchen cabinets—you want something more modern. Newer locks would be cool, too. So you can keep it all locked up tight without having to look for keys any longer. However, if you are going to incorporate modern selections into our design, these antique doors just don’t cut them anymore.
You do not have to sacrifice either our sleek new kitchen cabinets or the charm of old doors to preserve this piece of our home’s history. It would help if you learned how to restore internal 1930s doors. There are several ways to give these vintage doors a makeover, and one way is by stripping them down and refinishing them.
2. Stripping Doors
Start by removing all of the old hardware attached to your door with a screwdriver. Typically, many of the screws are hidden behind decorative pieces of wood and casing, so you need to get your screwdriver in there to remove them.
Once you have removed all of the hardware, you can move on to stripping off paint layers from your old door. You will need a brass wire brush to fish out your old paint. If you do not have one of these, you can use a regular flat-head screwdriver instead. Wipe down any dirt or dust from your door with a damp cloth to ensure it is squeaky clean before proceeding.
Scrape off all of the loose paint with a brass wire brush, revealing any areas that may be more difficult than others. You might want to use some mineral spirits on your brush to help loosen up the stubborn layers of paint. This type of hardware is usually easy to strip because most of the paint has already been chipped around its edges and removed by hand. You want to loosen the paint to chip away more easily.
3. Re-Hanging Doors
It is probably one of the easiest ways to restore internal 1930s doors. After your old door has been stripped down, you will need to re-hang it. Make sure the door is hung so that it is opening in the room. It may be an artistic decision since it depends on how you will use your door.
After the paint has been stripped from your old door, make sure that the surface of the wood is completely smooth. Then spray two coats of stain over this surface to protect our wood from future layers of paint and maintain its natural color.
4. Architraves
Make sure that you are completely satisfied with your entire paint job before moving on, or you may need to strip it all off and start over again.
To finish the makeover, you have to incorporate an architrave into your design to match the railed edges of your new cabinets. It is a perfect way for keeping doors and handles flush with your cabinets, and it gives a very elegant finished appearance. The great thing about architraves is that you can buy them at any hardware store. You need to purchase something that looks like an architrave and drill holes into it.
After you have finished stripping your old door, sanding it down, staining it, and painting over it, then you can apply your architrave to the front of the door. It will help you restore internal 1930s doors or hanging doors.
If you do not have an architrave handy, you can use a piece of crown molding instead. Be sure to cut out enough pieces so that they fit around each support beam on your door and attach them accordingly.
5. Door Handles and knobs
If you decided not to include door handles or knobs in your design, you opted for two simple keyhole slots in each door. The keys will be the only attachment that physically holds the doors together.
After attaching your hardware plate inside the cabinet, you want to drill a hole for each keyhole slot through the cabinet door. Ensure that these holes are located directly above the hardware plate so that your keys will fit through it easily. This step is a little bit more difficult to perform because you have to make sure that the holes are positioned correctly and that the location of the hardware plate will not interfere with the keyholes.
You can use pieces of a brass curtain rod in place of your architraves if you do not want to spend any extra money on them; they look just as nice too. By following all these steps, you will restore internal 1930s doors or hanging doors in your house.
Doors Delivered is the one stop shop for everything related to internal doors. Our company supplies dozens of different models for all kinds of interiors, but we also provide installation services. Check out our range of products of oak doors, white doors, internal glazed doors, walnut doors, pine doors to find the right door for your home.
FAQs
How do you restore a 1930s door?
You need to strip the old door, then sand it even. This is the most complicated step in the process. Stain and reseal it, then paint it in the color you want. Paint is not mandatory, though. Architrave can be applied on the front side for a more natural look.
Can you refinish a door without removing it?
You can refinish a door without removing it if it is still in decent condition. If you need to sand the whole thing and clean it before applying a new full finish from scratch, you will do a better job if you simply remove it first. Remove the hinges and hardware as well.
Can you repaint a door without sanding?
You can, but it will not last. You should lightly sand the door, even if it is in decent condition. It will make the surface a bit rougher. The paint will adhere with no issues at all. Without sanding, it will crack and peel in no time.