Arch-top doorways recur in several styles of domestic architecture. The pediment over a Georgian- era door might be triangular or arched; the fanlight arched or a demilune shape over a Federal door. The door itself is often round- top or arched in Italian
choose one with as few holes and other damage as possible. Keep in mind that the position of the mortises for hinges could change when the door is installed, too.
NEW
BUY A second option that’s still affordable is to buy a new, builderquality wood door that fits the style you need. Many door manufacturers do an excellent job of reproducing the look, details, and even craftsmanship found on simpler early- and mid-20th century doors, which were usually “builder grade” themselves. Plus, the new door can be constructed with 21st-century features, including engineered cores that minimize warping, and invisible water barriers.
A new door is likely to be constructed differently. Instead of mortise-and-tenon joints, for example, the door may be assembled with dowel construction, where dowels join stiles and rails together, or cope and stick, where mating profiles are cut into the inside edges of the stiles and rails and glued together. Details may be impressed or applied rather than cut into the surface of the door; panels may be cut into the door’s surface, rather than cut separately and allowed to float between the stiles and rails. Better doors are made of solid wood and feature precisely cut relief elements in real wood.
replication
The entry door is so important on some houses that only custom replication will do. Find a restoration carpenter or doors/millwork company with experience building doors in the style and era you seek. The craftsperson should be able to build a door with the correct proportions and details. The builder will most likely use traditional construction methods, supplemented with a money-saving use of power tools.
Whichever path you pursue, choose a door or entry configuration that suits the house in style and proportion, exuberance or restraint. The right door adds to the welcome you feel when you come home.