If you are planning to build solid doors for your home, it is important to know how to ledge and brace them. To begin with, you will need to make the holes for the top ledge and bottom ledge. Once you have drilled the holes, you should insert 48 screws into the ledges. Once the screws are in place, apply a pea-sized blob of PVA glue into the holes to plug them.
Set out
Ledge and brace solid doors are a popular choice for a traditional home, but they can also be used for modern homes. Ledged doors require braces on either side of the opening, and they are made from the same timber as the ledges. Normally, the braces are cut 100 mm longer than the door’s diagonal measurement.
Cutting
When building a ledge and brace solid door, the first step is to measure and cut the boards for the doors. Ideally, the boards should be one-third the width of the door. The tongue and grooves of the boards should be cut flush. A nylon hammer can be used to level the boards with the ledges. Once the boards are level, cut rebates into the top rail and both stiles.
Hinges
Solid doors with a ledge on the inside need hinges on the inside. These hinges must be located on the inside to prevent an unsightly gap between the braces, surrounds and stops. They can be mounted on the inside with ledge and brace oak doors a conventional butt hinge or hand-forged front hinge.
Coating
Before you begin painting, it is important to thoroughly clean and dry the ledge and brace solid doors. You should also open windows to allow the doors to dry thoroughly. The next step is to apply a base coat of paint. This will provide a solid base for the top coat to adhere to and smooth out any minor imperfections. If necessary, use a high build primer to cover minor cracks and splits.
Maintenance
One of the most important things to remember when maintaining a ledge and brace solid door is to keep it well-maintained. It is important to avoid damaging the door by not applying enough finishing and prevent rotting by fixing screws in the right place. Also, it is imperative to avoid nailing too long. If the nails are too long, they can break points.
Red oak
Red oak ledge and brace solid doors are available in a range of styles. They are suitable for both interior and exterior use. The plain sawn style has a beautiful grain pattern and is stain-resistant. Rift and quarter sawn styles are also available and can be used in craftsman or mission style architecture. You can also select a door with flat or raised panels and a distressed or regular finish.
Framed
Framed ledge and brace solid doors are a common choice for large, heavy doors. They are adapted to fit into different gate designs and are suitable for many applications. These doors can be made out of pressure-treated softwood, which is a suitable material for many applications. You will need three different sizes of timber: full thickness for the top rail and both stiles; thinner stock for the lower rails. You will also need suitable planking for the covering. You may choose the traditional T&G or “matching” planking style for this type of door.
Traditionally made from character grade oak
Ledge and brace solid doors are traditionally made from character grade oak and are available in a range of different styles and colours. These doors are handmade and have a unique look. They are available in a range of different sizes and timber grades, and they can even feature a bead and butt style profile.