Doors dilemma

[green bean]

Wonder if anyone could advise... We're wanting to replace our vile, modern, misfitted, stained orangey pine doors. We're probably looking to replace with reclaimed victorian pine (four panel) doors, however we're also wondering whether our requirements might change should we bite the bullet and do a loft conversion a few years down the line. I'm not keen on fire doors (they would have to be new doors plus am concerned about little fingers getting trapped - and who shuts all the doors anyway so what's the point of a fire door?). Have heard that building regs will also accept smoke alarm being installed in every room.

Apologies for ramble - my key questions are:

Where would you recommend buying reconditioned pine doors (Doorz in Sydenham. Anywhere else.)?

Would you recommend buying new pitch pine doors (look similar to reconditioned) (suppliers)?

Would you recommend buying fire doors (suppliers) or installing smoke alarms in every room?

Finally, who would you employ to fit the doors (a carpenter or could you DIY)?

Thanks!

[LadyNorwood]

We were told we had to have fire doors - but finally got building regs to accept very thick pine doors (each specially made as each door was slightly different in our Victorian semi) with self-closing hinges (found brass ones online, not the hideous Perco? closers) which satisfied them... Ask building regs what thickness of pine/oak door they would accept....

[green bean]

OMG! Thanks for your response. Are you in Southwark? I best get on to building control... Or ditch thoughts of that loft conversion... Also remembered that some kind of fire retardant paint is also sometimes accepted - this apparently is quite costly and no idea what the finish is like.

[damzel]

We were able to leave our non fire door to our lounge in place as we had an alarm installed in the lounge. This was 2 years ago in southwark. The fire doors we did have fitted are not self closing - I agree, self closing doors are very dangerous for little fingers!

[ClareC]

We had to have fire doors as in they are much thicker, they didn't have to be self closing though.

The rule about fire doors excludes kitchen and bathrooms too - or at least it did, Southwark, @2008

[LadyNorwood]

damzel Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> We were able to leave our non fire door to our

> lounge in place as we had an alarm installed in

> the lounge. This was 2 years ago in southwark.

> The fire doors we did have fitted are not self

> closing - I agree, self closing doors are very

> dangerous for little fingers!

Self-closing hinges have different time closing settings - they don't slam shut - not dangerous at all!!