Door Restoration in Lambeth – A Comprehensive Job
Original features are at the very heart of a heritage property. Unfortunately, many property owners rush to replace period features when age starts to take its toll. At Fortis & Hooke, we think there is a better way.
As one of the oldest and most central boroughs in London, Lambeth is home to a plethora of historic buildings and some truly remarkable architecture. With that in mind, residents of the space are keen to keep their own properties in line with their illustrious surroundings. That was exactly the thinking behind one of our latest projects – a complete door restoration in the heart of the UK capital.
The client first contacted Fortis & Hooke about the original door to their 19th century home. Although retaining its traditional charm, the door had become fatigued and careworn throughout the decades, meaning it was in desperate need of some tender loving care. Using our much feted Longaevitas technique, we performed a comprehensive restoration job to the door and its surrounding infrastructure, reinstating its former splendour.
INITIAL INSPECTION
The Fortis & Hooke team were initially summoned to London’s beating heart to inspect the condition of the door in question early in 2019. The customer specified that they would like the full gamut of our Longaevitas package, including stripping away the old paintwork, strengthening the wood’s structural integrity, applying draught-proof properties and treating it to a brand-new coat of paint.
Upon reconsideration, the client decided that they would not require draught-proofing after all, but the project did involve plenty of cosmetic alterations. These included installing a new door knob and knocker, new numbers, night latches and letter plates, and reconfiguring the nose door step. Working alongside a specialist glass firm, Fortis & Hooke were able to provide all of these services in one comprehensive package.
REMOVAL AND RESTORATION
As is customary with projects of this kind, the first step of the project involved carefully removing the door from its hinges and taking it back to our workshop to allow us to devote the due time and attention that a professional restoration job would entail. In the interim, a wooden replacement was installed in its place to minimise disruption to the client’s everyday routine.
Then it was a case of contracting the services of a glass specialist to remove the original stained-glass window panels and ensure no damaged was inflicted on them. Now free to work unencumbered, we stripped away the existing paintwork by hand and boosted the timber’s structural strength. After rearranging the cosmetic items outlined above and painting the door anew, we reinstalled it onsite for a perfect outcome.
LONGAEVITAS TO THE RESCUE AGAIN
The fruit of our labours is a door that maintains all of the historical attraction of the original building with a thoroughly modern feel. The interior of the door was painted in a neutral tone of white to integrate seamlessly with the existing décor, while the outer façade (including the adjacent framework) was painted in a dark blue-grey colour to add gravitas to its overall aesthetic.
Thanks to the renovated letters, numbers, knockers and other door features, the property has now added some contemporary pizzazz to its rustic charm. The client is thoroughly delighted with the result and their home is once again befitting of the prestigious neighbourhood it inhabits.