Mortice + tenon external hardwood doors

[peca27]

Hi all

I've just had 2 mortice + tenon external hardwood doors fitted. I've got questions:

- How can you tell if a door is mortice + tenon, as opposed to dowelled? The guy who fitted them is saying that the joints can be seen on the ends of the door. If it was dowelled u wouldn't see that.

- Since he fitted the doors i have fitted a few extra security bolts etc + i can't believe how soft the 'hardwood' doors are when i'm screwing into them. I've already got hardwood windows + trust me, they are murder to screw into .......yet these doors are almost easier than softwood.

Any ideas much appreciated

 

[big-all]

you will see oblongs of end grain at the sides

hardwoods is pretty much any tree that drops its leaves including balsawood

 

[2scoops0406]

you will see oblongs of end grain at the sides

Only if it's a through mortice

 

[big-all]

you will see oblongs of end grain at the sides

Only if it's a through mortice

you should also see some odd grain off the wedges if the chippies any good

 

[peca27]

thanks for replies

- yep i can see the oblong at the end of the doors. So at least they're mortice + tenon.

- ok if anything is considered hardwood nowadays , + the fact that i seem to have 'soft' hardwood doors..........should i be concerned about longevity? Should i be putting on a few extra coats of varnish? (i've already put on 4no coates) And should i be talking to my joiner + giving him an earful ......i was charged £550 for supply + fit to 2no doors - was i ripped off?

 

[big-all]

if you didnt specify which hardwood youll have to rely on the chippies choice
a hard hardwood dosnt nessiserily last longer than a softer hardwood

oak for example is easy to work when green but once seasoned goes hard like iron

if he has a reputation he will select a sutable wood

indeed its a requirement of any good tradesman that the materials and workmanship is up to an exceptable standard and fit for purpose

ask what wood he chose

 

[peca27]

He told me that he got the doors from a local timber yard......nothing more than that.

Say, for example, u go pick up 2no off the shelf hardwood M+T doors from your local timber yard - do u think £550 is reasonalbe.

 

[splinter]

peca27
Just a little aside, it's not that any timber is considered to be a hardwood.
Hardwood and softwoods are classified by their cell structure balsa wood has the cell structure of a hardwood therefore it is classified so.

What was the question

4 coates of varnish ,plenty enough
If you're joiner MADE and fitted the doors I don't think £550 was unreasonable, and that is for doors made out of softwood or hardwood.If he bought them maybe the price could have been less