Wife wants (currently painted) front door to be mahogany on the outside. Painted on the inside.
I have some great ribbon mahogany veneer in stock. Has anyone ever had any success applying veneer to an exterior insulated metal door? If so, what type of adhesive? what’s involved with metal surface prep?
The existing door is a 36″ wide full light door, the widest “stile” is only 6″ wide (“rails” are 5″ and 8″). Center of door is 3/4″ insulated glass. The door is protected from the weather by a covered entryway and never gets any direct sun. It is, however, exposed to our upstate New York wild swings in temperature.
Without getting into the various co-efficient of expansion of metal vs wood, the narrow width seems like it might be feasible.
My internet search seems to imply I’m wasting my time, but I just thought I would ask. I’ll probably wind up making a new door out of solid poplar and then veneering the outside. Any other comments or suggestions are, as usual, always welcome, however, getting rid of wife is not an option – solid 8/4 mahogany is cheaper.
Thanks
Ed
Replies
I think that the dis-similar expansion of wood/glue/metal will give you no end of grief. How about finding a GOOD decorative painter who can 'grain' the door for you? You may want to fill in any dings with a bit of auto-body filler and prime the door before any graining is applied. This way, you can choose the wood and grain pattern you want and your wife can complain to the painter if it is not the color, pattern, effect SHE wants.
SawdustSteve
They make 1/8" door skins for just that purpose. I am not sure if they make mahogany but I have skinned metal doors with birch skins glued on with contact cement. I agree with Steve about gluing veneer right on the steel, not sure about the dissimilar materials.
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