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  • How to Fix Cracked Wooden Doors

    When working on a DIY project, sometimes the quickest way isn’t always the best way.

    Today I’m going to share how to fix the cracks in your wooden doors the right way. Follow along with me:

    Filling Cracks in Wood Doors

      refinishing orange county

    One thing that often comes up is how to fill cracks in wood – especially exterior wood. Wood expands and contracts. It’s a natural phenomenon and that’s what causes the breakdown of exterior finishes because the coating becomes brittle and weak over time by the sun and it’s UV rays. As you can see in this door, an open joint is exposed.

    Add Glue to the Open Joint

    refinish doors

    The first step to fixing the open joint is to add glue to the area, making sure it does not seep out around the edges. Put tape down to minimize glue getting into the grain.

    Repair with the Dutchman Method

    The perpendicular angles are usually the most common cracks on doors and the best way to repair this is to use what the old school finish carpenters called a “Dutchan”. A Dutchman is actually a sliver of wood that is glued into the crack itself.

     

    After applying glue, follow these steps to complete the Dutchman repair:

     

    doors fix
    how to fix woodtrim excess wood
    The wood will expand and contract like the surrounding woods and the finish is less likely to fail at that place again. The issue of cracks usually is dealt with by just putting some putty in it and sanding and coating over it. Most of the time with smaller cracks, that’s never an issue; but cracks that are the result from two pieces of wood glued together at right angles and are wider than 1/16″ or so are more problematic because the wood is expanding and contracting contrary to one another rather than with each other. Putty or body filler doesn’t have this flexibility. This process is best for cracks in the panels too but more difficult to do because of the random nature of a crack itself.

    After the glue dries, sand flush.

    Final Result – Like New Door

    stained sealed

    If done properly, the wood will blend in with the other wood and not be an obvious repair. Hope you enjoyed this quick how-to. If you’re interested in getting more advice or a quick consultation over the phone, please call me at (949) 939-2340.

     

  • Medieval Inspired Custom Table

    I was looking through some old photos over the weekend that brought me renewed inspiration. I thought I’d share with you today to hopefully inspire your own design ideas for your home.

    Back in 2008, I had a customer in Laguna Beach I was doing a lot of work for. He wanted a table for his living room but didn’t have a style in mind. He gave me all creative control and with his approval, I designed a unique piece for him. My friend Reid Endly did the construction along with my input. Here’s what we came up with:

    custom table drawings
    Blue print custom table design

    I wanted to design a table for my customer that had one-of-a-kind features. I like pieces that have a story behind them, so I created this table to look like a hatch from an old ship. To add even more character, I crafted an X pattern that intersected the four table legs. I also wanted to incorporate different materials like metal in the design.

    Medieval custom table
    Initial construction of custom table

    Here you see the top of the walnut table. I designed it with hammered metal strips to create a “medieval” style.

    custom wood table
    Refinishing Process

    After my buddy Reid completed the construction of the table, it was up to me to bring it to life. To create a custom, aged, walnut color, I bleached the wood, dyed, stained and distressed it. A complex process yielding a great result!

    Industrial wood table
    Table Legs
    top of table
    Metal Accents
    finished Medieval table
    Finished wood table

    The finished table looks stunning paired with my customer’s white couches. I once heard an interior designer say that the key to creating impactful ambiance in the home is to make sure a unique conversation piece is in every room. Drawing the eye inward, this table is a beautiful focal point of the room and sure to be a fun conversation piece for years to come.

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  • White Wash Doors Get New Look in Anaheim Hills

    White Wash Doors in Anaheim Hills are Transformed

    Location – Anaheim Hills
    How did they find me? Online at Pro Restorers
    This was a special project – one that I typically do not do, but made an exception for.
    My clients in Anaheim Hills needed some help with their front doors. The doors were originally white washed and someone tried to refinish them a few years ago. The doors were basically sanded a layer off but didn’t get them completely clean. So they just glazed the whole door and virtually tried to cover up imperfections. In doing that, they sacrificed the beauty of the wood. It offered very little protection to the sun and rain. The following photos are the result:
    IMG_0004
    old doors
    Chemical stripper applied. You don’t want to get this on your skin!
    stripped chemical applied
    Left side is completely stripped and the right side is still in its old state.
    refinish door
    Both stripped clean…
    IMG_0010IMG_0011
    After sanding, I applied a custom stain color:
    IMG_0013 IMG_0014
    The great thing about my services is that I offer custom staining. My clients chose a shade that would match their interior perfectly. There’s also the option to chose a custom color for something new – anything from dark to natural (even purple if you’re feeling spicy!)
    custom stain
    First coat to seal the door and reveal the color. This is a long process that requires special technique. It must dry over night because it is a two part catalyzed oil-base finish. (Oil base is arguably better quality than water base.) After this, the doors will get sanded smooth and color adjusted as necessary.
    IMG_0016
    Glamour shot!
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    final doors

  • Before and After: Front Doors in Newport Beach

    Ahh, Newport Beach. A beautiful haven where beach-front properties bask in the sun and the ocean awaits locals and tourists alike.

    Newport Beach

    Although the sun is welcomed by nearly everyone in Southern California, it has managed to fare on the burdensome side for my clients in Newport Beach (and their HOA.)

    restore door beforeAfter several warnings from the Homeowner’s Association in Pelican Hill Newport Beach, my clients were eager to restore their badly weathered and faded entry doors. Living near the beach with extreme sun exposure and salt air had really taken it’s toll.

    After some research, they decided to call Doors by Invision. I was able to give them an estimate and we set up an appointment right away. I was thrilled to help them achieve the look of brand new entry doors.
    restore door after    With some hard work, some TLC, and quality craftsmanship, I was able to restore their doors with a two part polyurethane. (This process is very detailed, so I definitely recommend calling a professional to make sure the job is done right!) This durable coverage ensures that the front doors will hold up to the sun and all weather for years to come.

    What do you think of these newly refinished doors in Newport Beach?

    If you live in Orange County and want to restore the life and warmth back to your wood doors, please call Doors by Invision today at (949) 939-2340. Check out my Yelp page to see what other people are saying about the quality of work I provide.

  • Here’s a little information about me……

    Established in 1970
    I started refinishing furniture back in the early 70’s. After having the furniture refinishing shop for a number of years, I began to specialize in applying what I knew to refinishing kitchens, which I did throughout most of the 80’s. In the 90’s I began to take on more diverse new projects like built in entertainment units and custom pieces of furniture with complex finishes like “piano” finishes, crackle, faux stone, marble and the like. For a while I worked extensively in Beverly Hills and that area until I couldn’t stand the drive from Irvine anymore and determined there is just too much work near me, why drive? I’ve pretty much always worked alone (too much of a perfectionist) and I just work on one job at a time. I enjoy communicating with my clients to achieve the results they are going to be thrilled with and will be happy to recommend my work to others (I’ve never advertised before).

    Today there is such a huge need for quality work applied to entry doors. So many people have either neglected their doors or have tried “band aid” methods that just haven’t held up. Stained exterior doors are the one thing on your home that needs to be kept up. Unlike paint, the materials in stains and finishes cannot be left without care for many years without serious degradation.
    I have specialized in front doors these last few years because there is such a huge need and I’ve seen so many folks who have been discouraged with who and what’s available out there.
    My goal has been to take all my experience in finishing and apply it to these doors in order to restore them even more beautiful than original.

    One final note. I get nothing but spam posts so if you want to contact me or comment on anything on this site please send me an email or call. Thanks

    Ed