After some 200 years of “hard knocks” and spotty maintenance in the harsh climate of coastal Maine, our Federal-period home’s frame-and-panel doors exhibited a range of problems—from gaps and loose joints to outright rot. Repairing them without compromising their integrity required patience and an understanding of their mortise-and-tenon joinery.
One of the pleasures of owning and renovating an old house is uncovering long-hidden artifacts that make its history come alive. Luckily written sources for old-house research are plentiful online.