Historic Door Repair — Cambridge, MA

About This Project

This Cambridge homeowner had a 100-year-old hardwood entry door that had been neglected for decades — the frame was rotted at the base, the mortise lock set was seized, and decades of paint had obscured the original wood grain. The goal was full restoration rather than replacement, preserving the character of the historic entryway.

We rebuilt the rotted section of the jamb, stripped the door to bare wood, repaired two damaged panels, restored the original mortise hardware, and applied a penetrating oil finish with a protective topcoat. New weatherstripping and a threshold seal were installed throughout. The door now operates smoothly and is properly sealed against Boston winters.

Work Completed

• Rotted jamb section removed and rebuilt with treated wood
• Full paint strip to bare wood — chemical and mechanical
• Two damaged panels repaired and filled
• Original mortise lock set disassembled, cleaned, and restored
• Hinge mortises rebuilt and re-hung with stainless screws
• Penetrating oil finish + spar varnish topcoat applied
• Full weatherstrip replacement — sides, top, and sweep
• Threshold seal installed and door re-aligned in frame