How to upcycle 1906 bathroom stall doors.

Would like to create a dining table or desk. How difficult would it be to (successfully) use resin to level off the panels for a smooth, even finish? Other suggestions welcome. Thanks.

  16 answers
  • I would leave the door as it is. Give it a good cleaning and if you want a flat surface, have a piece of glass cut to fit over the entire door. It's beautiful!

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Dec 11, 2020

    Beautiful!

    Remove the hardware. Clean with a mild cleaner like Orange Glo, it will bring out the patina of the wood and gently clean it. If heavier dirt is present you could use a product like Murphy's Oil Soap, follow the bottle directions, and fill in the holes with matching wood filler

    Resin is possible, but a lot more work to get a perfectly level surface.

    Ann's suggestion is a good 1.

    Looks like you have 3 doors, what are you plans for the other 2?

  • Janice Janice on Dec 11, 2020

    Hi Maureen, you could use the doors to make the "legs" or the "ends" of a table or desk by cutting them to the appropriate measurements. For the top of either a table or desk, I'd simply clean the wood well and have a glass cut to cover the top. You could add momento or artwork that fit into the panel areas for some interest if you like. Another thought is to remove the hardware, clean well and use the doors as interesting wall art or make the doors into a movable screen or room divider by adding piano hinges to join them.

  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Dec 11, 2020

    Hi there! It took me a bit to find it but I just knew I had seen an old door turned into a desk online that they did an epoxy resin pour over. I found it! https://renebeagle.com/2015/01/30/old-door-to-desk-tutorial/ I think its a great idea and keeps the old door completely while still giving a flat surface to work on. BTW what a find! That door are GORGEOUS!

  • You could definitely turn the door into a door or desk. You can use the resin to level everything up. Make sure any holes that go all the way through are filled first and do a practice run with the resin to get the feel for that process as it's a bit involved.

  • Michelle Michelle on Dec 11, 2020

    Dont strip or refinish unless really scratched up! Remove the hardware. I would use a good cleaner bio green clean is a really good all purpose cleaner. I used it on many old wood finishes. It took all the waxy,greasy gunk off and the wood looked liked it was polished! Then I would have a glass piece cover the whole thing or just in the recessed areas. It is too pretty to use resin . Maybe cut the sides to use as legs. What a find that you have!

  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Dec 11, 2020

    I would put a glass top over the door after cutting to size - if desired.

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Dec 11, 2020

    here is a video to help you out


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyVhG-7XQio

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Dec 11, 2020

    Have a glass or plexiglass cut to lay on top would be my suggestion. I think it would be much prettier than filling them in.

  • Maureen Sullivan Maureen Sullivan on Dec 11, 2020

    A little more information about this door.


    It was salvaged from the historic Leontine Lincoln School built in 1906 in Fall River Massachusetts. It was the first school to implement sight-line learning under direction of the National Coalition of the Blind, based in Massachusetts, that included Helen Keller.

  • Mogie Mogie on Dec 11, 2020

    19 Creative DIY Project Ideas of How to Reuse Old Doors

    https://www.homelovr.com/old-door-ideas/


    The Best 35 No-Money Ideas To Repurpose Old Doors

    https://www.woohome.com/diy-2/the-best-35-no-money-ideas-to-repurpose-old-doors

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Dec 11, 2020

    Hello. I might suggest resin might cheapen the beauty of your door. I have used it on my art projects and its a high gloss mirror like surface in a distracting way.

  • Janice Janice on Dec 14, 2020

    Just put a piece of glass over it. To level it out would be monumental and you'd need to be a professional. Clean it (because it had been used in a bathroom) and cover it.

  • Cindy Cindy on Dec 16, 2020

    Hi Maureen. What a beautiful door you have there. I agree with above comments. Use a piece of glass to lay over your door. Give it a good cleaning first. I would use Murphy's Oil Soap. The soap will clean the wood and the oil will condition it. Good luck Maureen. p.s. My husband grew up in Fall River. He went to St. Jean the Baptist and then to Bishop Connoley HS. He always tells people that Fall River is best known for Lizzie Borden and Emeril Lagasse. lol.

  • Em Em on Dec 19, 2020

    If you have two make a shelf. Add boards (shelves) and use two of the for the sides. Would be beautiful with the fancy tops.