Safínea: replacing the interior doors and leaving moisture problems behind
The timber doors in this home had gradually swollen over time, and some had become difficult to open and close. The aim was to replace them all with a solution that worked properly day to day while still fitting naturally into the look of the home.
When your doors start becoming an everyday nuisance
Moisture had gradually affected the timber doors throughout the home. Over time, some had swollen to the point where they no longer opened and closed as they should.
It is one of those problems that may seem minor at first, but you notice it every time you walk into or out of a room: doors that catch, need a push to close or simply stop fitting properly.
So rather than replacing the doors simply because they had deteriorated, we wanted a solution that would prevent the same problem from coming back a few years later.
Aluminium doors with a warm finish that feels at home in the space
We replaced the existing doors with aluminium interior doors in a white oak finish.
The aim was to keep the warmth of a timber-look door while using aluminium so that moisture would no longer cause the same problems.
Aluminium does not react to moisture in the same way as timber, so the doors will not swell, warp or start catching because of humidity.
The existing timber subframes were still in good condition, so there was no reason to remove them. We fitted the new aluminium frames over them, avoiding unnecessary building work.
Although the doors are aluminium, the finish has a warm, natural appearance that works well with the colours and materials already used throughout the home.
We weren't looking for doors that would simply last a little longer. We wanted to stop the problem altogether.
The new doors and frames are made from aluminium, which does not swell when exposed to moisture. As the existing timber subframes were still in good condition, we kept them in place and fitted the new aluminium frames directly over them.
White oak to keep the interior light, warm and welcoming
An aluminium door does not have to look metallic or feel cold. The right finish allows it to sit naturally within a home.
For this project we chose white oak, a light finish that works particularly well with the rest of the interior and helps keep the whole home feeling bright and welcoming.
One finish throughout the home
Using the same colour throughout the different rooms gives the whole interior a more consistent and considered feel.
No need to remove the subframes
The existing timber subframes were in good condition, so we kept them and fitted the new aluminium frames over the top.
Aluminium that doesn't look like aluminium
The wood-effect finish keeps the doors feeling warm and natural while retaining the practical benefits of aluminium.
Three glazed panels to make better use of natural light
Not every door in the house needed to be exactly the same. In one area, we chose a design with three wide glazed panels.
This allows more light to travel between the spaces and makes them feel a little more connected, while keeping the same colour and finish as the rest of the doors.
The idea is simple: keep a consistent look throughout the home, while choosing the right door for each individual space.
What matters most is that the doors work properly every day
When you see a door in a photograph, it is easy to focus mainly on the colour or the design. Once it is fitted, however, what really matters is that it opens smoothly, closes properly and feels right in everyday use.
The visual change is clear in this project, but the biggest difference is in daily use: the doors work as they should again, without swelling because of moisture.
View aluminium interior doors
The finished Safínea project
The video gives a much better sense of how the white oak finish looks throughout the home and how the different doors sit within each space.
The homeowner shows her family the finished result
We recorded this video once the installation was complete. The homeowner walks her family through the new doors, showing them the finishes and some of the details she particularly likes.
We like this video because the moment is completely natural: it isn't staged — it's simply someone enjoying the finished result and wanting to show her family around.
When the work is finished and you can't wait to show your family the result, that's a pretty good sign the change was worth it.
Safínea Project · TarragonaA closer look at the doors
Different views of the doors, their finishes and how they sit within the different rooms throughout the home.
A change you notice both visually and in everyday use
The new doors have solved the moisture-related problems while also giving a large part of the home's interior a fresh new look.
If your doors are swelling or no longer closing properly, we can take a look
Tell us what's happening in your home. We can assess whether the doors and frames are all that need replacing or whether the existing subframes also need attention, depending on their condition.