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Old Doors Makeover:
How to Add Panels to Plain Doors
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Make old doors look like new by building wood panels for
them.
Modern doors come with panels that add style and elegance.
But if you live in an older home, you’re probably stuck with
slabs of plywood posing as your doors. Replacing these
cheap-looking imposters can be costly and complicated. Not
only must you measure the exact size of the opening, but
also the precise location of the hinges, knob and lock. Get
anyone of these wrong, and the custom door you order will
not fit.
There is another way around the problem. Don’t throw your
perfectly functional monstrosities away. Give them a
face-lift instead.
The idea is to create panels that you will glue to your
door. You can go with six panels, as in modern doors, but
this will be costly and make little difference in the end.
In fact, just creating two panels is all it takes to make
your door look modern and beautiful.
Creating the Panels:
How big you want your panels to be is up to you. Just draw
two identical squares on your old door, one on top of each
other, to represent where you would like the panels to be.
It’s good to start with the panel that will run alongside
the door knob, as this will remind you to leave enough space
for that hardware.
Next, measure one of the squares you drew (no need to
measure both since they are identical). Make sure to measure
both the length and width. Write down the measurements, then
add 3 inches to each. The additional 3 inches are crucial,
as they will be used to shape the corners of your panel. If
you’re worried about making a mistake, give yourself a few
extra inches to be on the safe side.
Your panel will be made of 1.5 inch molding. When you go to
choose your molding at your local home improvement store
(such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, or any lumber store in your
area) remember that each door requires a total of four
squares, two for the front and two for the back, so the cost
can add up. Therefore, try to find the cheapest molding you
can. (Don’t worry about the color, as you will be painting
the molding and door at the end of the project.)
Each panel will be made of four strips that will join at the
corners to form a square, like an empty picture frame. If
you have a saw at home that can cut at an angle, then simply
cut your molding to your measurements at 45 degree angles.
Remember to switch between right and left as you go. If you
don’t have access to such a saw, have a store employee cut
the molding for you. Many stores offer such a service for
free. In addition, many stores provide a table with a
handsaw and a frame for sawing at an angle. The blade of the
saw moves back and forth in the frame, keeping you at a 45
degree angle. This way you’ll be able to saw the molding
yourself.
Affixing Your Panels to the Door:
Once your molding is cut, take the four pieces that make up
each panel and glue them at the corners to form an empty
picture frame. Each door will need four such square panels.
Once the panels are dry, take your old door off its hinges
and lay it on the floor over a plastic sheet or some other
protective covering. With a glue gun spread glue on the back
of the first panel and attach it to the door where you drew
a square, then do the same with the second panel, gluing it
under the first. Wait until both are firmly affixed before
turning the door over and repeating the process on the back.
After the panels are firmly affixed on both sides of the
door, move your door to a well ventilated space and paint it
together with the panels, so they blend into each other.
Once the door is dry, simply hang it back on its old
hardware and enjoy the new, stylish look. And if you’re
short on money, try refurbishing only the side of the door
that faces outward. You can always complete the other side
later.
Comments? Questions?
Drop me a
line.
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