A PERIOD FARMHOUSE BACK DOOR TRANSFORMED
Pelham Joinery recently installed a new back door in a period farmhouse in West Halton, a quiet village in North Lincolnshire with strong rural roots. Like many older properties, the farmhouse had accumulated its fair share of compromises over the years, and nowhere was this more apparent than at the back door.
The existing door had become a problem rather than a feature. Dark, single-glazed and suffering from persistent mould growth caused by condensation running down the glass and settling into the joints, it let in little light and even less warmth. The owners wanted something that would work harder, perform well, look the part and feel worthy of the home it served.
THE CHALLENGE
The back door of a period farmhouse is a workhorse as much as it is an entrance. Used daily, exposed to the elements and expected to last. This one needed to address several issues at once:
- Replacing a poorly performing single-glazed door that was contributing to damp and mould
- Improving natural light into what had become a dim and uninviting space
- Maintaining the privacy expected of a working back entrance
- Upgrading security without compromising on character
- Providing robust weatherproofing suited to an exposed rural setting
Before - the door was not weatherproof and made the entrance dark
OUR SOLUTION
We manufactured a new back door in Utile hardwood – a dense, durable timber well suited to exterior joinery, with excellent resistance to the kind of moisture that had caused such problems with the original door. The new door features significantly larger double-glazed panes, bringing in far more natural light than its predecessor, with a frosted finish that preserves privacy without sacrificing that brightness.
Security was carefully considered throughout. Top and bottom locking bolts were fitted alongside a letterbox, giving the door both the function and the peace of mind expected of a main entrance.
The ironmongery was sourced from Willow and Stone in a satin nickel finish, a choice that adds quiet elegance without feeling out of place in a rural setting. The standout piece is a dachshund door knocker, full of personality and very much at home on a farmhouse door.
The door was painted in Farrow & Ball’s Ver de Terre, a soft, earthy sage green that sits naturally in the rural landscape and a stained cill that complements the warmth of the timber.
To complete the installation, a small lead-topped porch was added above the door. This practical addition provides essential protection from the rain, keeping the door and anyone using it sheltered from the worst of the weather.
THE RESULT
The transformation of the property shows what a single well-crafted door can do for a period home. What was once a damp, dark and draughty back entrance is now a characterful, hardworking door that performs exactly as it should.
The combination of Utile hardwood, double glazing, robust locking and quality ironmongery gives the owners confidence in both the security and longevity of their new door. The Ver de Terre paintwork and lead porch give it a considered, finished look that sits comfortably within the farmhouse’s period setting – a back door that finally does justice to the home it belongs to.
The homeowner commented, “I couldn’t be happier with our new back door. The new door is not only practical, but adds a real creative statement. The whole process was so easy. The Pelham Joinery team understood what we needed and came up with some solutions and options we wouldn’t have thought of.”
