What to do with this old door that has marked the kids heights ...

Joan Osten
by Joan Osten
We are in the middle of a massive reno. I'm not having a problem parting with most things, but the inside of the old door to the broom closet has the kids (& grandparents, along with great grandparents (many of whom are now deceased) heights, pretty much since they were born. The door has been replaced with a new style, and all others gone to the local Habitat for Humanity Restore. I just can't part with the old door. Wish I could take the inside face off, and attach it to the new door, for grandchildren, etc. any ideas of how to preserve this door?
  7 answers
  • Marge Marge on Apr 19, 2015
    When you say that you want to preserve it, do you want to use it somewhere? If you don't want the markings to be messed up, you could spray a clear acrylic on it. I use this on wood or ceramic that I have painted. Then you could hang the door for display or put it against a wall on a porch. I had pencil markings on a wall that I copied line for line on a piece of paper with the heights on it. Then I painted the wall.
    • Joan Osten Joan Osten on Apr 19, 2015
      Thank you, Marge. I do intend to spray them, and I will display somewhere. Never thought about copying them. Perhaps tracing paper and then onto the new door, as well, to continue the tradition.
  • Pgl Pgl on Apr 19, 2015
    What a wonderful piece to have I would put it back, paint the exterior of the door to match the walls and then paint the words ' Family history " you can never replace it and it sounds like you never want to.
  • Dreama Gray Dreama Gray on Apr 19, 2015
    I would find a place to place it against the wall and then paint it, taking care not to not mess up the marks of your children's growth, then either modpoge on or place in small frames. Then I would put the pictures of the children at the age they were at each mark. Good luck!
  • Denise Denise on Apr 19, 2015
    First paint or stencil flowers, seal door for weather, make a stand so the door sits upright, add a planting shelf or two, plant beautiful flowers, finally place in the garden.
  • Linda Linda on Apr 20, 2015
    If all of the markings are on the edge (s) of the door. cut the edge of the door to about 4-6 inches, seal with clear lacquer on it and place it in your bedroom around the door frame.
  • Marge Marge on Apr 20, 2015
    Joan, I just put a paper next to the markings and added a row on the paper. I wish I had taken a photo of them. What I also did, was measure the distance from the floor to each of the markings. That way I have their heights and dates on the paper for future reference.
    • Joan Osten Joan Osten on Apr 20, 2015
      Marge, I feel as if I'm talking to my 'neighbor', even tho' the house in question is just outside of Calgary, AB, Canada, and not my Scottsdale home. I'm going to take a photo, and then take tracing paper on to the door from the floor to the top. I will trace all markings, names, and dates, and save it til the new door is in place. Then I will transfer them, exactly as they originally were, onto the new door, to carry on with grandchildren, etc. after that is all done, I will preserve the original door, in some way. I'm loving everyone's comments, and all the great ideas! Thanks.
  • Marge Marge on Apr 20, 2015
    I'm glad my ideas help. Hometalk.com has been filled with tons of ideas from so many talented people. I am very inspired!