Historic Door Repair — Somerville, MA

A 90-year-old hardwood entry door — rotted sill replaced, original hardware restored, stripped and refinished, fully weatherproofed for New England winters.

Somerville, MA Door Repair Historic Property Completed

Before

After

About This Project

This Somerville homeowner had a 90-year-old hardwood entry door that had seen better days — the sill had rotted through, the original mortise hardware was seized solid, and years of paint buildup had completely hidden the wood grain beneath. Replacement wasn't on the table; the goal was to save the door and restore it to its original character.

We replaced the rotted sill and repaired the lower jamb, stripped the door down to bare wood, patched damaged panel areas, and fully restored the original mortise hardware. A penetrating oil finish and spar varnish topcoat were applied throughout. New weatherstripping on all four sides and a door sweep complete the seal — the door closes tight and will stand up to Boston winters.

Work Completed

Rotted sill removed and replaced — lower jamb repaired
Full chemical and mechanical paint strip to bare wood
Damaged panel sections filled and faired
Original mortise lock set cleaned, lubricated, and restored
Hinges re-mortised and re-hung with stainless screws
Penetrating oil finish + spar varnish topcoat applied
Full weatherstrip replacement — head, jambs, and sweep
Door re-aligned in frame, smooth operation confirmed

Project Details

Location	Somerville, MA
Service	Door Repair
Door Type	Historic hardwood entry
Scope	Sill, refinish, hardware, seal
Property	Residential — c.1930
Status	Completed