An exterior door is the first thing visitors see. It shapes their impression before they step inside. A well-made Spanish or Mexican exterior door in solid wood and hand-forged iron tells a story about what lies beyond. A mass-produced door in veneer and composite tells a different story.
For over 33 years, we have hand-carved Spanish and Mexican doors from solid wood. This is what separates a door worth building around from one that is just an opening.
Solid Wood and Hand Carving
A Spanish exterior door starts with the wood. Mesquite, alder, or old-growth pine, depending on the design. The wood is selected for grain and character, not uniformity. Knots and color variation are part of the design.
Hand carving is the next step. A craftsperson with chisels and gouges cuts designs into the panels. Colonial patterns, rustic geometric work, or custom designs that reflect the client’s vision. Every cut is intentional. Every surface is finished by hand.
Composite doors look carved. They have a printed or molded surface that mimics carving. You can tell the difference the moment you touch it. Real carving has depth. Real wood has weight.
Hardware and Ironwork
A door is only as strong as its hardware. Mass-produced doors use brass-plated zinc hinges and cheap locks. They look right for a while. After a few years of weather and use, they corrode and fail.
Our doors use hand-forged wrought iron hardware. Hinges, handles, clavos, and locks are all forged by hand or custom-made to complement the door design. The iron is substantial. It carries the weight of the door and the weather without complaint.
Hand-forged clavos are decorative nails made from wrought iron. They are pounded individually and set into the door panels. On a painted door, they catch the light. On a natural wood door, they anchor the carving visually.
Finish and Weather Resistance
An exterior door faces weather. Sun bleaches it. Rain soaks it. Wind and temperature swings stress the wood. A proper finish has to protect without hiding the material.
Our finishes are hand-applied and hand-rubbed. Oil-based stains penetrate the wood and age gracefully. Polyurethane topcoats protect without creating a plastic sheen. The door darkens over time, which is aging, not deterioration.
A painted door uses traditional methods. Primer, paint, and clear coat applied by hand. The finish is thick enough to protect but not so thick that it cracks and peels in a few years. We use paints rated for exterior use and reapply finish on a schedule that makes sense for Southern California climate.
Composite doors promise no maintenance. They deliver a door that looks the same for a decade, then degrades. Real wood doors need attention. That attention is what keeps them beautiful and functional for generations.
Size, Swing, and Installation
A custom exterior door starts with the opening. We measure twice. The door frame has to be built to fit the opening precisely. The hinges have to be installed so the door swings smoothly without binding.
Single doors, double doors, arched tops, transom windows above the door, sidelights. Every configuration is possible in hand-carved solid wood. The door can be stained or painted. Hardware can be simple or ornate. The finish can be matte, satin, or gloss.
Installation requires someone who knows what they are doing. A heavy solid wood door needs a proper frame and hinges that can support the weight. The threshold has to be sealed so water does not enter. Weather stripping has to be installed correctly so the door closes tight without binding.
Cost and Value
A hand-carved Spanish exterior door costs more than a composite door from a big-box store. A solid mesquite door with hand-forged hardware and custom carving is an investment.
The value accrues over time. A composite door works for ten years, then gets replaced. A hand-carved door from DeMejico works for generations. Owners repaint it, refinish it, and it becomes better with age. The door settles into the home. It becomes part of the story.
We have customers whose doors are thirty years old. They have been repainted, weathered, and used hard. They look better now than when they were installed. That is what solid wood and hand craft deliver.
Sourcing and Design
Browse our door catalog to see what we have in stock. Each door is unique. Dimensions and carving vary. Custom doors are also possible. We work with architects, builders, and homeowners to create doors that fit the space and the vision.
Come to our Valencia showroom to see the doors and the hardware in person. Run your hand over the carving. Feel the weight of the wood. Open and close a door and hear how it moves. That experience tells you what solid wood and hand craft feel like.