"No" wrote in message ...
"Joseph O'Brien" wrote in message
ups.com...
Some neighbors of mine have an old door that has been left out in their
yard for a few years. The door is solid hardwood, and appears to be
quite old (it comes from a house that was built in the 1880s). Despite
having endured rain and snow, it appears to be in good shape. I cannot
see any signs of mold, rot, or splitting. The joints are tight and the
corners are square.

Rather than watch a perfectly good door go to waste, I would like to
use it as an exterior door into my basement. However, I want to make
sure I prepare it properly. My plan was to sand, prime, and paint it.
Can anyone recommend further measures to do make sure it remains in
good condition?

Thanks,
Joseph


Joseph,

If that door is as old as you think, and if it's survived outside on the
ground for a long period, you might want to see if you can determine what
the wood is before you go painting it. You may have a door made of an
extinct or rarely used species of wood, such as elm or yellow birch. Not a
lot of woods last so long, expecially under adverse conditions, so you may
have something special there.

Is it painted under the hinges, or where the hinges used to be? If not,
sand down to where it's clear wood, then try putting a bit of eggwhite on
the bare spot to bring out the grain and take some pictures. I know there's
a website that has comparison pictures of wood grains and colors, I just
can't find it right now. You can ask around for a local antiques restorer
for guidance, but that door might end up as a valued replacement for your
front door rather than the basement one.

Keith