Used/vintage front doors

Submitted by IcyButters t3_yd5vf6 in pittsburgh

I have 100+ year old house with a much newer front door that absolutely does not match the style of the house. I've been trying to find used doors to replace it with but I'm having a hell of a time. I've checked Construction Junction a few times but they never seem to have anything. I just heard about Salvaged PGH but I don't see anything on their website/socials and I'm not inclined to drive all the way out to Mars just to check. Anyone have any other suggestions? Thanks!

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cooldude_4000 t1_itq56u0 wrote

Habitat for Humanity ReStore? There's an architectural salvage place in Canonsburg too if that's closer to you.

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IcyButters OP t1_itq9dm2 wrote

Have you been to either of these places?

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cooldude_4000 t1_itq9qst wrote

I've been to the ReStore, though the last time I was there they were in the process of moving to a larger space in the same plaza. I've driven past the one in Canonsburg before.

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IcyButters OP t1_itqavma wrote

Do you happen to recall if the ReStore had any doors? Sorry for grilling you lol, but I've spent too much of my time driving around to various places only for them to not have anything. A lot of the time even when you contact them they don't give you a good idea of what they have in stock.

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cooldude_4000 t1_itqc09g wrote

I really don't remember. Maybe? The back of the old store was kind of a mess; I never really looked around back there all too much. They're pretty hit-or-miss overall, I honestly think if you're looking for something specific (and older) and you don't want to keep popping in every week, you'll have better luck driving out to an architectural salvage place.

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universeofdesign t1_itr12jy wrote

I recall ReStore having doors but exclusively cheaper, newish ones. Much worse selection than CJ. Can't hurt to call though, and I think they post inventory on facebook.

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Watchyousuffer t1_itr1b8x wrote

restore will occasionally have old ones. they are cheap when they have them

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universeofdesign t1_itr3le2 wrote

True, I'm sure their inventory changes quickly, the last time I went there it felt like Black Friday at Walmart... got there 20 minutes before open and it was already packed. Went there for some tables and only got one because it wouldn't fit in someone else's car.

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IcyButters OP t1_its5zn6 wrote

Yeah, I don't have Facebook so I can't check their inventory. Thanks though.

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Watchyousuffer t1_itq8bcr wrote

what kind of door are you looking for? I've gotten some doors at CJ, some at habitat, and some off facebook marketplace.

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IcyButters OP t1_itq9edt wrote

Ideally a wooden craftsman-style door, but I'd be open to others. It's a 100 year old house and the door I have currently is what every grandma had in the 80s, so really just looking for something more appropriate.

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mamallamam t1_itqt7qi wrote

FWIW, HD has craftsman style doors. I also have a 100+ year old house and while we aren't using them for our front door, I did see Arts and Crafts style front doors.

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Watchyousuffer t1_itqaxkv wrote

it won't be too hard to find, just keep an eye out. there are a lot of them around here and people replace them with home depot junk too often. it shouldn't be too expensive and you can even get lucky finding them in the trash if you're in an area with a lot of similar age homes.

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IcyButters OP t1_itqdzu2 wrote

Honestly man, I have been looking and I have been keeping an eye out. It has, in fact, been very hard to find and it has not been my experience that there are a lot of them around here. I've literally not seen a single entry door other than like, warehouse surplus stuff. That's why I'm asking. This isn't me beginning my search, it's me about to throw in the towel. I am well aware of all the places people typically go because I've been there. They didn't have nothing. And they didn't have nothing in the vein of "I don't like these options so I'll check back later." It was literally nothing.

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Watchyousuffer t1_itqjet6 wrote

I get these myself occasionally and will DM you if I have one for sale. I do salvage but typically avoid doors like this because they take up a lot of space vs the value. I had a decent one go to trash in the past few months. I have a 20s house right now that has some exterior doors but I think only side doors.

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IcyButters OP t1_itqjkio wrote

Thanks!

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Watchyousuffer t1_itqkj4u wrote

what size do you need?

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IcyButters OP t1_itqlahf wrote

32x80

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Watchyousuffer t1_itqlo99 wrote

oh you are pretty narrow. I might have something for you. I should be able to check tomorrow

follow up: sorry, owner decided to get the side door restored since I last talked to him. I'll keep an eye out for more.

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colawars t1_itqfkj6 wrote

You might be better off posting in a more generalized sub like r/homeimprovement that might get the attention of locals. Also, I've seen a lot of doors at antique shops all around the area, even tiny shops.

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IcyButters OP t1_itqge2c wrote

Which shops and when did you see them? I'm asking this question because I've spent the last year or two driving around the city to various shops and I have quite literally not found a single option. Everyone is telling me "oh yeah they're all over the place" but no one can say where.

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colawars t1_itqil94 wrote

I wish I could give you a better answer then everyone else, but I haven't been in a shop since pre-COVID. Best of luck, though.

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IcyButters OP t1_itqj66g wrote

Yeah, I'm not trying to be a dick but it's just frustrating when you ask a question like this and the answer is universally, "Just stop having any hobbies and any other interests in life and spend all your free time canvassing the antique stores of the region." I've never had the slightest bit of luck with that strategy.

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colawars t1_itql0z1 wrote

It really do be like that when folks are flipping shitty houses with "sliding barn doors" on their shitty "en suite" and using them as a statement piece.

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IcyButters OP t1_itqldt8 wrote

Christ, tell me about it. When I was buying my house I saw so many just normal, mediocre houses that randomly had barn doors inside. It looks so bad.

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universeofdesign t1_itr2oqt wrote

The second you find one, everyone and their brother will start renovating and leaving these doors all over the curbs in your area. Probably ones you like more than the one you find.

At least that's my experience whenever I buy something I've been looking for forever...

I assume you've tried Craigslist and the usual online platforms?

In my neighborhood these old houses tend to get restored to save their original character so there are a lot of nice examples what you're looking for around here... but I doubt anyone is going to remove them these days. A few houses are being worked on now I'll look next time I take the dog out and see if they have any relevant doors... have you considered if it's possible for a furniture maker to modify and existing door for you? Might be a good compromise.

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IcyButters OP t1_its5yi8 wrote

When I've checked Craiglist I get 99% car results, for some reason. I looked again today and one of the doors is the exact 80s one I already have on my choice.

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The001Keymaster t1_itqkjwl wrote

The trick to resale places is to just pop in and see what they have a lot. Once a week or twice a month and have patience. You'll stop and find nothing then one time you'll find what you need. Since you have a door now, it's just a waiting game if you want used because you don't really have an immediate need.

I know that probably doesn't help a ton, but that's my strategy. I have a list on my phone of things I'm looking for. I pop in CJ and do a 10 minute sweep of the store occasionally. Eventually you'll catch it there.

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IcyButters OP t1_iu4tcv8 wrote

idk why PGHENGR is being such a piece of shit about this. No one should find it hard to understand that spending my spare time constantly driving around to various thrift stores is not a viable option. It's not how most people would choose to spend their time, if they even have it. Not to mention the fact that I've already done enough of this and I'm tired of it. AND the fact that it's 2022 and it's trivially easy to post your inventory online and not force people to drive all over the fucking county.

This is why I've bought so much stuff over the years from Pittsburgh Furniture Company in Lawrenceville. They post everything online, they keep it relatively up to date, and they're super responsive via email.

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PGHENGR t1_itszhdr wrote

OP doesn’t want strategy. OP wants the door location handed to him on a silver platter. He’s very busy and simply doesn’t not have the time.

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InternalAd9247 t1_itqpho8 wrote

You might try Artifacts across the river from Rivers Casino, Hot Haute or Mahla and Co. both of which are in the strip district, or Antique Mall on Ohio River Blvd in the Bellevue area

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Moogottrrgr t1_itqu1p6 wrote

There's this place in Canonsburg: https://coolsalvage.com/

But as someone who has been doing what you're doing for years now and still haven't found a match for my giant front door, I'm going to bite the bullet and have a custom one made at Allied Millwork www.alliedmillwork.com. My browser says there's a problem with their site, but I've used it before so if it doesn't work, try back in a day or so. I have windows from there and know lots of people who have gotten doors in the past.

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Moogottrrgr t1_itqvhsb wrote

This is the granddaddy of architectural salvage, if you feel like driving to Scranton (I have dreamed, but haven't tried it.) https://ogtstore.com/

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PGHENGR t1_itszbde wrote

He doesn’t want to drive to Mars so Scranton is probably out haha

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Moogottrrgr t1_itukrhf wrote

Ha ha, good point. But the Scranton place will let him know ahead of time if they have what he's looking for.

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IcyButters OP t1_iu4th8v wrote

I don't want to drive somewhere if it's going to waste my time. I will happily drive very far if it means driving home with a door. Why are you being such a petulant pissbaby about this? Are you a retiree with time to burn? Grow the fuck up and stop being a crybaby cunt just because I have a life other than burning gas for no fucking reason.

fucking awful humans on this sub

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PGHENGR t1_iu4ts3y wrote

Because people are literally taking their time to answer you and you incessantly shoot them down. That’s why.

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unhandled_int t1_itqwevx wrote

Allied Millwork in the Strip makes fabulous doors; definitely recommended!

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IcyButters OP t1_iu4ttst wrote

Do you mind if I ask how much that cost you? The main reason I'm looking to do this is because new doors are bafflingly expensive and it would be trivially easy to refinish an older, cheaper one. It's not really necessary for me to spend a bunch of money on a custom door.

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Moogottrrgr t1_iu5l7gt wrote

Yeah, I'm on year 22 of looking for a door I can just refinish and hang. Good luck!
I haven't gotten a quote yet - it was the plan for this winter, but Allied will give you a quote online. Someone I know who did it and was offended by me asking the price said it was "less than $5,000" in answer to me asking if it was "like $5,000 or $10,000?"

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Wouldwoodchuck t1_itql6eq wrote

Call them, they are helpful at should be able to tell you if they have a door of the size you need. At least it is just down to ascetics at that point and your drive is your prerogative

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pburgh2517 t1_itr52vi wrote

Check out Salvage Society…you can find them on Instagram under their owners page Brass.Bed.Manor

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PlantsDogsAntiques t1_itr58i2 wrote

Doors can be hard, as far as finding something that exactly lines up with your size. You might be better off finding a carpenter to make you something really nice that matches your home.

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jollygreendrops t1_itrpjcq wrote

Have you tried Facebook marketplace? There are always used doors on there. 32x80 is a hard find though, you might have buy larger and have it cut down.

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IcyButters OP t1_iu4twag wrote

32x80 and 36x80 are the most common standard door sizes.

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jollygreendrops t1_iu513rv wrote

You're right. I was thinking that the width was small but it's not. Anyways, FBMP is where to go. I keep FB with zero friends just for marketplace.

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pghreddit t1_itr4f4a wrote

Construction junction

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