Can you carve my own design?

Yes; motifs are drawn for your door, from acanthus and rosettes to a family crest or a pattern from the house.

Does carving weaken the door?

Not when the panel is thick enough and the carving is designed with the frame, as ours are.

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Hand-Carved vs CNC-Carved Doors: How to Tell the Difference

Hand carving is cut into the solid panel with chisels and gouges, so it has crisp facets, undercuts and small variations. CNC carving is routed from a digital file, so it is uniform; appliqués are moulded pieces glued onto a flat panel.

St. Pete Custom Doors builds and installs hand-carved and custom wood doors in St. Petersburg, FL. Short answer: Hand carving is cut into the solid panel with chisels and gouges, so it has crisp facets, undercuts and small variations. CNC carving is routed from a digital file, so it is uniform; appliqués are moulded pieces glued onto a flat panel.

How to Spot Each

Hand-carved: tool facets, deep undercuts, motifs that differ slightly side to side.
CNC-routed: identical repeats, rounded bottoms from a router bit, shallow undercuts.
Appliqué: a seam where the ornament meets the panel; the panel behind is flat.

Which One Is Right

CNC suits exact repeats on a budget; appliqués suit interiors. For a front door that is meant to be the piece of the house, carving into the solid panel lasts longest outside because there is no glue line to open up. See hand-carved doors.

FAQ

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