This matter was deferred from the May 15, 2019 Built Heritage Experts Panel Meeting. The discussion and recommendations from the Panel will be used to inform a Decision Note on door and garage doors styles.
In numerous Built Heritage Experts Panel (BHEP) meetings, the topic of door and garage door styles has been raised. Staff currently use The Heritage Look: Renovating Your Home as a guide in determining appropriate door styles, however there are a variety of door and garage door styles available today that were not available in 1978 when the guide was first prepared by the St. John’s Heritage Foundation. Therefore, staff are requesting the Panel’s assistance in determining appropriate door and garage door styles for the three St. John’s Heritage Areas.
Staff are currently drafting a Heritage Bylaw which will regulate the design of buildings in the St. John’s Heritage Areas. Following adoption of the Heritage Bylaw, staff will prepare a series of information sheets for residents and applicants in the Heritage Area to clearly identify acceptable door and garage door styles.
The Panel reviewed the examples prepared in the presentation. All door styles were found in the different Heritage Areas. The intent of the presentation was to seek the Committee's direction on the door styles presented.
The Panel noted the following:
- Heritage Area 1: design should include more detailing around the doors.
- Panel recommends against varnishing wooden doors due to their likelihood to chip..
- The Panel would prefer more customization of doors as opposed to off the shelf standard models, particularly in Heritage Area 1. It was noted that stock doors can be purchased and modified.
- For those doors with glass, plain glass is preferred to frosted.
- In relation to storm doors, the Panel recommends full glass design to enable display of the interior door.
The presentation outlined various styles of doors and the following was noted by the Panel:
- 6 panel doors are acceptable as long as the guidelines are followed in relation to the application of trim work.
- 5/6 panel doors are the less common style and would no longer be available. In such cases, restoration would be recommended. Consideration would need to be made to matching the side panels.
- Oval doors could be replicated by some manufacturers and the under shelf (ledge) could be manufactured. 1/3 lower panel must be maintained.
- Glass oval inset doors will be allowed with the requirement that there must be 1/3 panel on bottom of door.
- The Panel would recommend against multiple vertical paneled doors with glass inset and one paneled doors.
- Half glass door variations are more traditional. The detail under the glass is easy to replicate.
- The Panel recommended against standard modern divided glass doors with applied grills as they are not traditional looking doors.
- True divided glass doors would be allowed (individual panes).
- 3/4 glass doors that are the modern version of heritage doors with what looks like leaded glass will be allowed.
- Max 2/3 glass doors will be allowed with recommendation for plain glass.
- Craftsman style doors are not recommended. There should be a requirement of having a minimum of 1/2 glass.
- Doors with top half moon (sunburst) window are not recommended.
The presentation reviewed various styles of garage doors and the following was noted:
- Multi panel garage doors were discussed by the Panel. Recommendations were made by the Panel that glass will be allowed in the upper panels without grilles.
- If there are hinge details (carriage style) the Panel recommends that the color is the same as the door.
- True flat panel garage doors will be allowed but with the recommendation it blends with the house.
The Heritage and Urban Planner, will bring forward a decision note outlining the directions discussed today at a future Built Heritage Experts Panel.