front door - mortise & tenon vs dowel

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Hi

Looking to buy a new (wooden) front door. Carpenter told me to get M&T construction but I can only find 'dowel' construction in styles approved by the missus.

Would appreciate advice/views on whether dowel is on a par with M&T for this style of front door (pic attached). Bearing in mind the point of the exercise is to get a new door that is constructed securely (all else being equal).

Will be fitting BS mortice deadlock and BS night latch.

Many thanks

Paul
 

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dowels will never be equal to m&t which are far stronger
in general a well made m&t door will last 3 times longer but cost maybe 2 or 3 times more
now a doweled door will last years if well treated and constantly maintained as they work on a larger glue area with dowels for added structure and strength
where as m&t can get wet frequently and as the glue isnt the main structural strength it will hold fast
 
is it for a house, exposed to the weather? Or a flat, indoors?

I think the one in your pic will be veneered on some kind of made-up core.
 
Hi

It's for a house, exposed, with slight protection from rain thanks to a one-foot overhang. Gets the afternoon sun.

All the doors I have seen online in the preferred style seem to be veneer over a made up core, which is not exactly inspiring.

I saw a Howden door (also veneer) which looked a bit more promising than the rest, but even their construction specs do not clearly say M&T...
 
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There are plenty of M&T on t'internet, but none in the style I'm looking for. The style I'm looking for all seem to be dowel and veneer, which sound like they're not really going to be up to the job of a front door exposed to the elements.

If I could get a M&T in the style of the attachment in my first post, that would be perfect. I've googled a lot and only found one, but I think that's a mistake on the website, as all other websites selling that same door describe it as dowel constructions. Other ones I've seen in the style I'm after are either 'composite' (which I am not sure about) or wood but mad expensive.

A different option could be to buy a 6 panel M&T and then face it with a board routed to the preferred style. Then paint the lot to suit (not necessary to see the wood).:?:
 
Many larger scale manufacturers seem to have gone over go dowels on cost grounds, but they never last as long as good wedged tenon M&T door which as B-A says will hold together even if the glue joint fails completely. For M&T it is becoming more and more a case of finding an independent joinery shop
 
A bit of a sad state of affairs. The two independent joiners I contacted were way expensive, and wanting to sell me a door made from accoya.

I thought getting a new, quality, front door would be straight forward, but apparently not!
 
A bit of a sad state of affairs. The two independent joiners I contacted were way expensive, and wanting to sell me a door made from accoya.

I thought getting a new, quality, front door would be straight forward, but apparently not!

with respect its very easy you just dont want to pay a mans wages to do the job:rolleyes:
how much did they quote for the door you require ?? £450-500??
 
No, I am all for that. Especially for real practical skills like these. (y)

To give you an idea, two joiners quoted 2k+ supply (including locking hardware, granted) which I think is excessive, and which your 450-500 seems to support.
 
looks like they dont want the work or dont have the facility or skills in house

try the woodworking department off your local collage ??
 
A nice old reclaimed door will be better made than anything in the DIY sheds...
 

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