Mahogany door bottom...needs?

[Don Morris]

When I took my Mahogany door off and put it on horses to refinish with the exterior Epifanes finish, I noticed the bottom of the door at the joint had the deterioration seen in the photos. Not sure if I need to do anything, or leave well enough alone. The door is 15 years old and had been stained, and spray treated with a "spar" finish from what we remember. Opinions please.

[Dave Lash]

From your pictures it dosn't look like there is any rot, but since you are refinishing the door, make sure to finish the top and bottom edge of the door. You could use the finish you are planing to use on the door surface, or use a penetrating epoxy repair such as System Three Rot Fix to seal the bottom edge of the door.

http://www.systemthree.com/p_rot_fix_2.asp

I would also replace the weather strip with a door sweep that covers the bottom edge of the door and would seal against the threshold.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xjv/R-100353444/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xjv/R-100185554/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xjv/R-100353485/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Good luck with your project

[Frank Drew]

I second Dave's advice to get some epoxy into those cracks at the bottom of your door; unless I'm misreading the photos, what you've got isn't, strictly speaking, a mahogany door, but rather an engineered door with a laminated core (fir, maybe?) and mahogany skins (veneers) on the outside, and it appears to be slightly self-destructing along the bottom edge, which is where moisture has the best chance to get into the wood. Before rehanging the door, be sure to seal the top and bottom edges well.

[Peter Quinn]

Ditto the previous remarks about the epoxy. I would seal the splits in the laminated core with some thin epoxy, like west systems or system three. I'd probably go with a regular epoxy rather than a sealer/primer. You may have to stand the door upside down and get on a ladder to get the wet epoxy to stay in those cracks. Then I'd seal the bottom well and finish it with the epifanes.

I doubt you have any real problems there but much like a cavity in a tooth, I'd rather see it filled and sealed than be allowed to grow and fester.