Victorian Timber Doors in Penzance

Specifying a door for Penzance

Penzance sits on the coast, so doors here deal with salt-laden air as well as rain. Salt is hygroscopic — it holds moisture against the surface long after the weather has passed — which is why standard softwood and standard ironmongery both fail early within about a mile of open water.

Housing in and around Penzance is largely Victorian terraced and villa stock, which suits four-panel doors with a bolection moulding and an etched or obscured upper light. We match the mouldings and panel proportions to what is already on the street rather than fitting a generic pattern.

Exposure

Highly exposed — TR postcode area

Timber

Accoya or a dense hardwood such as sapele

Weather detail

a storm-rated weatherbar, deep drip mould and a rebated hardwood cill

Ironmongery

Grade A4 marine stainless steel

Recoating

Every three to five years on the weather elevation

Planning note. Penzance has designated conservation areas and a number of listed frontages. Conservation status can remove permitted development rights on front elevations, and an Article 4 direction can tighten that further. Replacing like-for-like in timber is rarely a problem; changing the material or the glazing pattern usually is. We produce the elevations, sections and written specification a planning or listed building consent application needs. Check with Cornwall planning before ordering.