Renovating doors

Doors play a central role in our living environment, not only functionally, but also as an essential part of the interior design. A well-considered renovation of Doors can significantly change the appearance of a room and contribute to the harmony of the overall living concept. Here we expand on the renovation options presented with helpful details and additional information.

We use doors many times a day to enter or close a room. We usually don't even notice the door as such - unless the fitting is wobbly, it is jammed or doesn't close properly. We often only realize that doors are much more than just a transition between two rooms when we come across a door that is either particularly beautiful or clearly doesn't match the ambience.

The ambience of a home stands and falls with the doors - a dark interior door in a light room can look like a foreign body. A country-style door can make a recently modernized apartment look old-fashioned, even if all the new furniture is ultra-modern. If the doors, door fittings and door handles are in harmony with the rest of the furnishings, the good feeling of living will come naturally. If not - it's time to renovate the doors. Here we present options for renovating doors and explain how to do it:

If the budget is limited or old wooden doors may have an emotional value, you can change existing doors.

Renovate doors simply and inexpensively: Repainting doors

With a little varnish or paint, time and dedication, the children's room door becomes a colourful decoration and the dark drab living room door becomes a white design element.

Advantage: You can paint the two sides of the door in different colours so that the two rooms get their own character on each side.

Small change, big effect: modernise doors with light cut-outs

A light cut-out is a glass insert in a wooden room door. Placing light cut-outs in existing doors is a good option if you want to retain the original character of your home but brighten it up visually. Clear glass lets in the most light and can even create the illusion of two connected rooms. Textured glass and frosted glass maintain a good balance between light penetration and privacy.

Tip: In addition to the choice of glass, you can customize the light cut-outs by varying their shape and size. Consider whether rectangular, round or perhaps even organically shaped cut-outs will enhance your living ambience. It is also possible to work with glazing bars to give the glass additional structure.

However, a truly comprehensive change can usually only be achieved with new doors and/or fittings:

Effective detail: Changing the door fitting

Door handles, door handles & co. are real little magicians: with the right door fitting, you can transform an old room door into a new style element: from old-fashioned to modern with stainless steel, from opulent to minimalist with an angular rosette, from functional to cozy with a handle in cashmere grey. A Griffwerk handle set in cashmere grey or graphite black is not only visually attractive, but is also characterized by its particularly pleasant feel.

Tip: When choosing a new door fitting, you should not only consider the design, but also the functionality. Some fittings offer additional security features, such as increased burglar resistance. There are also variants that are specially designed for people with limited hand mobility to ensure accessibility.

Change of style: Replace wooden doors

A renovated house in hygge style, minimalist style or other modern styles cannot really develop its ambience if a dark door in a completely different style is always in view. Changing the doors to a matching style, lighter color and a type of wood that harmonizes with the furniture changes the ambience of the entire home so that everything is harmonious again.

Tip: When replacing wooden doors, you should consider the material as well as the style. Solid wood doors are durable and offer excellent sound insulation, while veneered doors are less expensive and can still offer an appealing look. Look for a high-quality finish to prevent warping and other typical problems.

Let there be light: Installing glass doors

Glass doors flood your rooms with light - and thus significantly increase the quality of your living space. By switching from wooden to glass doors, all rooms appear brighter and larger. This creates an open, free living feeling. You also save on heating costs: a closed glass door keeps the heat in the room and allows light to flood in freely. Griffwerk offers glass doors in green glass and pure white quality or stylish gray glass. You can have all variants designed according to your taste with our or your own designs.

Tip: It is important to use safety glass for glass doors, especially for floor-to-ceiling models. Laminated safety glass (LSG) or toughened safety glass (ESG) offer increased protection against injury in the event of breakage.

The space miracle: Installing sliding doors

Sliding doors create space even in the smallest of apartments. As the door is guided flat along the wall, there is no need for a pivoting area and you gain space, especially in small rooms. Sliding door systems are also design elements, as they give the home a modern, bright and minimalist look.

Sliding glass doors combine the advantages of glass doors and sliding doors and are therefore particularly good at creating a friendly, bright, warm and modern living atmosphere.

Tip: When installing sliding doors, you should take into account the space required for the track and the wall surface along which the door slides. There are systems that allow installation in the wall so that the door disappears completely when open, saving even more space.

Renovate doors: New door step by step

Replacing a hinged door

The simplest method is to buy a new door leaf and fit it. In most cases, however, the frame also needs to be replaced so that it matches the new door. How to replace the door and frame in 7 steps:

Step1: Unhinge the old door with a door lifter.

Step2: Attach wooden wedges between the frame and the wall to protect the wall and then loosen the old frame with a pry bar. Then loosen the frame lintel with a hammer. This will damage the plaster, so you will then need to restore the wall to its original state using filler and paint.

Step 3: Measure the width and height of the wall opening and determine which side the door should open to. You can use this information to buy the right door and frame.

Step4: Position the frame and fit it into the wall opening. Now you should test fit the door leaf to see if it fits before fixing the frame with frame foam.

Step5: Fit the decorative trim.

Step6: Fit the lower door hinges in the holes provided in the frame and screw the upper ones into the door leaf.

Step7: You can now hang the door.

Installing a sliding door
With a sliding door, there is no frame. This means that steps 1 and 2 through to plastering and possibly painting are exactly the same as when replacing a hinged door - unless you decide to leave the existing door frame. In this case, the running track is simply mounted above it.
Then it gets easier:
Screw the running track to the wall above the wall opening and mount the floor guide - if available - on the floor.
Then attach the corresponding brackets to the sliding door, after which you can hang it in place.

Tip: When changing the frame, it can be helpful to use a spirit level to ensure that the frame is precisely aligned before it is fixed in place. This is crucial for opening and closing the door without any problems. When selecting filler and paint for finishing, choose materials that match the wall texture to ensure a uniform finish.

How can I renovate old doors?

  1. Cleaning: Begin the renovation by thoroughly cleaning the old door. Remove dirt, dust and any residue of color or paint.

  2. Make repairs: Inspect the door for damage such as cracks, broken pieces or loose joints. Repair these defects by filling cracks, replacing broken pieces and fixing loose joints.

  3. Prepare surface: Sand the surface of the door to remove old paint residue or varnish. This will make the surface smoother and allow for better adhesion of the new color or paint.

  4. Color selection: Decide if you want to accentuate the natural wood grain or add color to the door. Choose a color that matches the style of the room and your personal preferences.

  5. Apply color or paint: Apply the selected color or paint evenly to the door. Use a paint brush or paint roller, making sure to make clean, smooth strokes. Allow the color to dry and apply another coat if necessary.

  6. Additional Embellishments: If desired, you can add additional details to the renovated door. This may include new door handles, trim or embellishments that enhance the door's character.

  7. Surface protection: To finish, apply a protective coating such as clear lacquer or wood sealer to the renovated door. This will protect the surface from wear and tear and maintain its fresh look longer.

Remember that specific steps and materials may vary depending on the type and condition of the old door. It is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions for the materials used and seek professional help or advice if needed.