Custom doors beautifully hand-crafted by Bill Pyke

Fine woodworking Nova Scotia

This custom mahogany door with sidelight replaces a door with two sidelights. By cutting back one of the side features, Nova Scotia builder Bill Pyke was able to build a 56" door. As well, the re-build included removing a wrought iron railing; building a cedar and pine deck with custom railings and posts over concrete steps, a second deck above the carport with railings and 3/8 inch tempered glass. "It worked out pretty well," Bill says of the Metro Halifax project. (Bill Pyke photo)

These doors were constructed for Bridgewater United Church to replace standard production doors. Bill Pyke used Mahogany with the inset design of the cross made of Cherry for contrast. The glass is dark bronze to match the tone and depth of the doors. All the hardware is brass including the panic bars required by fire code. Doors do not have to be ugly to meet current safety standards!

Three recent Bill Pyke projects in Halifax Region, from left: This is the centre of the four-door, main entryway to St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Halifax. Bill refinished the frame, built its two new oak doors and another pair, one on each side. As well, he is refinishing or replacing the other six exterior doors. This is a follow-up project - see Bill's original St. Thomas Aquinas works by clicking mahogany rose windows.
The second photo, taken in Bedford, shows the first set of two doors - the interior set opens into the foyer. The exterior set uses clear glass, the interior pinhead glass. "It works well as an entranceway," says Bill.
The third, mahogany door is in Dartmouth. By opening the sidelight and the door the entryway measures 56 inches! Bill Pyke photos

Robin Pyke photo

Bill Pyke's specialties include beautiful custom doors.

Photo left: This main entry, pine door by Bill Pyke features stained glass supplied by the homeowner from his 200-year-old family home in England. Bill also built other solid doors for the Lunenburg house.

This custom mahogany door with sidelight replaces a door with two sidelights. By cutting back one of the side features, Bill was able to build a 44" door.

This collection is of a fabulous white oak entry system built by Bill Pyke. The colour red presents significant challenges to outdoor finishes. Bill meets the challenge with his triple formula process. "It's good without fading for at least 10 years," he says. "And that's on the south side of the house where there's lots of sun."

From left, handsome matching doors and the cherry wood entrance to Halifax Chiropractic Clinic.

From left, a handsome curly red birch entryway, stained and lacquered with polyurethane. The door jam is pine with a white oak sill (white oak for strength and durability). The second door and jam was made out of cherry cut from the home owner's house lot. The three-inch thick door weighs in at 250 pounds and has a natural oil finish.

These three Bill Pyke custom doors were built 25 years ago, using, from left: pine, redwood and mahogany.

Bill Pyke is flanked by 10 pine doors eight feet tall. All have exterior storm doors. With door windows, Bill always uses tempered glass or at the very least, six ml glass. This project definitely called for tempered glass. The dimensions of the doors and the location of the house demand dependable strength. "Kingsburg invented wind," says Bill with a smile.