Preserving the Function and Craft of Historic Doors
Doors are among the most expressive architectural elements in an old building. They frame a home’s façade, define interior spaces, and communicate craftsmanship through joinery, proportion, and detail. Historic doors were built to operate smoothly, seal properly, and provide security—yet time, paint buildup, settlement, and poor retrofits often diminish their performance.
Heritage Restoration repairs, restores, and reproduces doors using methods that respect original construction while improving function and durability.
Our Approach
We begin by evaluating the door, frame, hardware, and surrounding structure to understand how the system was originally designed and how it performs today. Issues such as sagging hinges, worn thresholds, sticking jambs, or compromised alignment can usually be resolved through careful adjustment and targeted repairs.
Where needed, we use traditional joinery—including true mortise-and-tenon construction—to restore strength and integrity. Our goal is always to retain original material whenever possible and rebuild elements only when necessary.
Surveys & Documentation
We assess each door and frame, documenting condition, function, weather exposure, and required treatments. This helps Owners prioritize work based on need, budget, and long-term goals.
Tune-Ups & Adjustments
Small interventions can greatly improve daily use. Tune-ups may include removing excess paint, easing edges, adjusting hinges or stops, replacing missing components, and improving hardware fit.
Restoration
For more significant deterioration, we repair or replace damaged rails, stiles, panels, and moldings; reset or rebuild mortise-and-tenon joints; install appropriate weatherstripping; and restore smooth operation. Surfaces can be stripped, refinished, and prepared for painting or staining.
Reproduction Doors
When original doors are missing or beyond repair, we create accurate reproductions using historic profiles, period joinery, and high-quality materials. Reproduction options include exterior entry doors, interior passage doors, paneled doors, screen doors, storm doors, and specialty architectural units.
Hardware Repair & Integration
We repair and refit locks, knobs, hinges, and other historic hardware. When modern hardware is required, we integrate it sensitively to maintain the door’s traditional appearance.
Onsite Repairs & Finishing
Our team performs onsite repairs such as resetting frames, repairing sills and thresholds, fixing rot, and preparing surfaces for finishes. We can coordinate lead-safe refinishing when necessary.
Why Restore Instead of Replace?
Historic doors are built from dense, stable wood and assembled with joinery designed to be repaired—not discarded. Restoration offers clear advantages:
Superior materials compared to modern replacements
Better long-term value due to repairability and lifespan
Improved performance with proper weatherstripping and adjustments
Architectural continuity, preserving original design and craftsmanship
Lead-safe outcomes when surfaces are stabilized and door operation is corrected
A restored door can function as well as, or better than, a new one—while keeping the character that defines a historic home.
True Mortise-and-Tenon Craftsmanship
Our millwork team uses authentic mortise-and-tenon joinery for both restoration and reproduction. This traditional method creates strong, durable connections that resist movement and support long-term performance—especially important in New England’s challenging climate. These joints are essential for large exterior doors, paneled systems, and high-traffic interior openings.
Keeping Doors Beautiful and Functional
Whether your project involves a single entry door, an interior suite, or a complete restoration of a building’s door systems, Heritage Restoration provides the expertise to ensure reliable function, durability, and architectural integrity. We work meticulously to blend preservation with modern expectations of comfort and security.
