Is it Possible to Replace the Exterior Doors of a Grade II Listed Building?
Grade II Listed homes are treasured by their owners who will be concerned with maintaining the fabric of the building, as well as the vital individual elements that make the building worthy of listing. Here we look at the main considerations regarding doors when refurbishing …
As many of our renovation and refurbishment projects are Grade II Listed, this is a question that crops up quite frequently. We always highlight to our clients and homeowners that the concept of listing a building is to preserve and retain the historical features that make it worthy of the listing. More general information regarding the ‘list’ can be found here, on the National Heritage List for England. As we have mentioned previously, any major works on a Listed Building, such as major alterations, kitchen extensions or the addition of a conservatory or any potential changes to the exterior or suchlike, will need to be covered by Listed Building Consent through the Local Planning Authority, as well as the regular planning permissions and building regulations.
Exterior doors - particularly the main front entrance door - usually make a significant contribution to the overall look and style of a Listed Building. Consequently, it is important that repairs, repainting and any replacement door fittings and furniture are not only in keeping with the original style but use authentic materials. As such, a painted hardwood front door on Grade II Listed home will never be able to be replaced with a composite door, even if it is a composite or PVC model with the appearance of a timber door. The overall aim is to repair and maintain, if at all possible. Our teams have the experience and contacts to be able to commission craftspeople who are capable of repairing stained and leaded glass, tracking down antique door furniture or even having bespoke pieces made if some components are beyond rescue. There is also the possibility that an ‘unauthentic’ door or window has been installed at some point without the relevant permissions and our client wishes to renovate and replace with historically accurate designs. So there are numerous things to consider when embarking on such a task … we have to balance out the official guidelines which will be subject to checks and inspections whilst retaining the required exterior appearance.
General door repairs, such as replacing a rain-damaged sill, repairing weather-caused splits or applying a new coat of paint and so on are allowed within the general parameters of building maintenance. This applies to doors such as back doors and garden doors, not just front doors. Sometimes, due to a long period of neglect, damp or other damage, extensive repairs may be needed. For example, panelled exterior doors can have entire panels or frames replaced by a carpenter-joiner who specialises in such work. Our experts will do their utmost to ensure that the work carried out will be to the highest standards expected by Grade II Listed homeowners.
If we are making or commissioning a new exterior door for a Grade II listed property, it would be designed to replicate the original proportions, following the patterns of beading, trim, hinges, locks, letterbox, pull and knocker. If the door is glazed, the new one will follow the design of the glazing, although if the original glass is salvageable, we will do our utmost to retain it, as vintage glass has it’s own very special and unique quality. Homeowners of Grade II Listed properties may well have original drawings, plans, illustrations or even old photographs available, especially if the building has very specific historical interest. All this information can, of course, be used for reference for the refurbishment. If the house isn’t listed, but considered a good example of a particular period or style, our designers can take inspiration by following the designs and proportions of similar neighbouring properties.
