Hi everyone,

My name is Teri, I am new here, and I have an odd question to ask. Can anyone tell me for sure what hollow panel bi-fold closet doors (white) are made of? I have searched the internet and just about every website that I have went to, says something different. If anyone could help me, I would so appreciate it. I will explain in my next couple posts the project I am working on, and why this info is so important.

Thank you so much,

Teri

Teri, I have installed doors for the better part of 15 years, and though I can not give you the chemical breakdown of the doors if that is what you were looking for. What I can tell you about them is they are a solid wood frame construction with a "masonite" type of compressed wood skin. I don't know if you know what masonite is, if you go to the home center you will find 1/8" thick sheets of dark brown material, it is a compressed wood, you can get an idea of how the doors are skinned with this type of material. The frames or otherwise known as the rail and stiles and are usually a solid white wood. Inside the door itself, to fill the hollowed void between the skins is a corrugated cardboard pattern to take up the space and to add strength to the overall construction of the door. More then likely you have a primer coat already on the doors, usually white, this is a water based paint for your convenience, the doors can usually be coated in one layer of paint because of the primer coat.

If you can elaborate more on your use of the door, we could answer the question more accurately.

Keep in mind, the reason you might be getting varied answers is because each manufacturer uses a slightly modified version of this construction method and materials may vary.

Thanks so much for that answer. Here's what I needed it for. My best friend in the whole world, Sable…the dog I have had for 11.5 years, just past away. This has absolutely devastated me. I know to some people, pets are “just animalsâ€, but this dog meant the world to me. She saved my life!

I am burying her in a special place in my back yard. I didn’t want to just put her body in the hole and cover it, so I have looked at pet caskets on the net. They are really too expensive for me right now, so we are making her one. My fiancé has so much stuff in his garage (a pack rat..lol), so I asked him what we could use. He had those doors, and said we could cut those and make her one. The thing is, I wanted her in something like they bury people in; a casket inside a vault. Well, we don’t have a vault, so again I started looking on the net and have found that most of the pet caskets that are meant to last forever are made of rigid polyurethane. They don’t have to be vaulted, because of the polyurethane.. they say they are waterproof and air tight, inside & out.

I would love to have that stuff to make her one out of, but since it’s very expensive and has to be ordered, that’s out of the question. Now, we have a lot of liquid polyurethane in cans. Does you know about this stuff and would it work for the wood (doors) I would be using it on? Would it seal it completely? Would it make it waterproof and airtight? I know this is a little weird, but it’s so important to me. Please if anyone knows, let me know ASAP!!

Thanks for taking the time to read this,

Teri

this is the link to those caskets I am talking about http://www.petheavenexpress.com/pet_caskets#A1

Teri, I know how you feel, I am so sorry for your loss, a dog is a family member, and like a family member, you want to treat him or her with respect.

Look, the doors will break down within a year under ground, especially in the moist climate you live in. You could not apply enough poly to protect those doors. You would have better luck with 3/4" marine grade ply and even at that, it is going to break down and turn into compost after a while.

Now let me ask you this. I am a big fan of cremation. How do feel about this? We have a 9 year old retriever shepherd mix that we just love. We know that when she does pass on, we are going to have her cremated, ashes put in an urn, and i am going to build a wonderful small alter or dedicated shadow box for her so we can place her in our home, and when we pass the urn, we will be able to say hi every now and then.

Or, cremation and her ashes spread out over your property with a wonderful family ceremony, I don't know if your spiritual at all, sounds like you are, but I have always loved the phrase, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust". Are we mere mortals actually supposed to last forever in a an enclosure underground? Or should we be dedicated back to the earth hence we came, as the American Indian believes. Now in a biodegradable enclosure, your pet will eventually be rendered back to earth through the natural biology of composting, cremation simply speeds that up.

That is just my take Teri, I know this is a personal decision, but I thought I would just throw my two cents in. But to answer your main question, anything you build from the home shop, will not make it more then a couple years under ground, and I think that is pushing it.

One more thing Teri, I noticed the prices on the pet coffins were pretty reasonable, they appeared to be less then 200.00 for the most part, and the metal ones were up in the 500's. Can you tell me which coffins are out of your budget at this point in time? Pet cremations cost between 50 and 100 dollars. And you guys could build a really nice urn from wood. Usually the pet crematories offer a tin urn with the price. And at your leisure you can purchase a nice urn.

I wish I could be of more help.

Anything I would use will break down, huh? I was afraid of that. Well, now I don't know what to do. I don't have much time left to decide....Wow; this is so hard, so stressful, and so emotional on me. It's so unfair that she had to go.

And yes, I am a spiritual person....though sometimes I have to admit that I have questioned things!!

As far as cremating her, I had thought about it, until I talked to my friend that works at a crematory....there's absolutely no way now. He said that unless you get what's called a private cremation, they do a group cremation, which is several animals at once. Absolutely not...you don't know whose ashes you might get. And depending on the crematory, whether they are truly good people, even at private cremations the crematorium isn't cleaned before your pet goes in. AND unless you are there to watch from start to finish, sometimes you might not get the right ashes anyways, because a lot of times they get them mixed up before they are actually ready for pickup or delivered to you. And there's no way I could watch it...no way at all. So, that is out!

Now, back to square one.....what to bury her in.

Well, I thank you for the caring and honest reply, I really do. I hope that your beloved friend has many more years with you to come. Cherish each & every one of of them, as I am sure you do.

Thanks again,

Teri

Teri, I will see what I can come up with, and as far as the crematory, that is something I never though of! Thanks for the heads up. It never occurred to me that they could mix up the animals ashes. Thanks Teri.

Meanwhile, let me see what I can find, I will beat some brains tonight on my other wood forums and see if anyone comes up with anything.

The coffins are priced pretty decent, it's just that when the economy went south a few years ago, my fiancé was laid off and shortly thereafter, so was I. We haven't found steady full time jobs since, so it's been real hard for the past couple years. We used up all our savings just trying to get by, while looking for other jobs. So, I just don't have that kind of money at once to get one. If I did, you better believe I would pay it, because she deserves that much! She was such a good and loving friend. She was a Rottweiler/German Shepard, and she was the best!!

Thanks again, Teri

Oh, you are much too kind!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!

Teri

Terri,

I understand your loss. Our old gal Satchmo was a big part of our family and we buried her under her favorite tree. I still miss her 15 years later.

To your challenge how about something like a waterproof case. This one http://www.thewaterproofstore.com/witzlocker2.html is 27 bucks. Of course they increase in price as they get bigger. I hope you find a solution for Sable. She deserves it.

Greg

Right on man, Teri, did you get this? Some cinder blocks and your in business.

Greg, did you put her in a waterproof cover? I am just curious, as this is a personal thing for people, Teri is very concerned about Sable getting hit by the elements, for me, I like the idea of a pet, or even a family member after they pass on, to be rendered back unto the earth through natural means. Sorry to sound so morbid, but this is a reality that people have to deal with everyday, these are tough decisions. Teri how is it coming?

No, no waterproof cover. We wrapped her in her favorite blanket, shed a few more tears, and bid her to rest in peace. We have had two more dogs after her. Both strays that wandered up and decided to stay. Both now rest in the shade down by the creek. Neither cared much for the indoors. I could not confine them in death.

That is a wonderful philosophy, kind of how I feel. Not saying one way is better then the other, it is personal.

Greg Coleman said:Both now rest in the shade down by the creek. Neither cared much for the indoors. I could not confine them in death.

Steven,

That’s a real good idea; it would be kind of like the vault they put caskets down into at the cemetery. I will show your post to my fiancé when he gets home and see if he can do something like that. I appreciate your input on this, and I am so glad that I came across this forum; ya’ll have been so helpful. This has been so hard on me, but with people out there being so helpful, it makes it just a lil’ easier. Thanks again,

Teri

steven newman said:

One could make a nice box as a "form' and make a casting of concrete. Once the concrete has cured, line it with a 6 mil plastic "liner" using a bead of silcone to hold the liner in place. Place the pet's casket inside this concrete box. Your casket, of whatever wood you use, will last as long as the concrete. You can also add a sealer to the outside of the concrete box.

Greg,

That was actually kind of what my fiancé suggested this morning. He said maybe one of those big long Rubbermaid type tubs. He said he could seal it so it would be waterproof and air tight. I just wasn’t so sure that he could. I hadn’t seen those that you were talking about though…they look a lot better than the ones he had talked about. I will show him these suggestions, and see what he thinks. You all are being so helpful and in such a sensitive way, I just don’t know how to thank you all. Over the years I have spoke to people about Sable, and knowing that she was starting to age, how I dreaded the day when she was to pass, because I knew how it would affect me. (Actually, it’s worse than I even thought it would be). And a few of those that I spoke with, said they couldn’t believe I would carry on like that over a dog. I guess they have never had a pet before. Sable meant so much to me, and I to her. The entire 11.5 years we were together, she would follow me from room to room in the house. And the way she would look at me with those big beautiful eyes of hers…so trusting, and so full of love for me, would make my heart melt every time. She was such a good dog and so smart!! I miss her so much, every single second of the day. I have a deep empty ache in me, that I know won't go away until Sable & I meet up again. Sounds like you & your gal, Satchmo had a wonderful life together...how long was she a part of your family? I know you & your family miss her......

Again, thank you & everyone so much for being so helpful..it means more than you could ever know.

Teri

Greg Coleman said:

Terri,
I understand your loss. Our old gal Satchmo was a big part of our family and we buried her under her favorite tree. I still miss her 15 years later.

To your challenge how about something like a waterproof case. This one http://www.thewaterproofstore.com/witzlocker2.html is 27 bucks. Of course they increase in price as they get bigger. I hope you find a solution for Sable. She deserves it.

Greg

Let me start by saying I haven't tried this. You could build the casket out of marine plywood and coat it with epoxy. That is what they do for boats. The epoxy should protect the plywood for many years to come. If you were to put the concrete vault over it, I would imagine it would last for a really long time.

I am sorry for your loss and sorry to be late into this discussion.

I have a friend that built a wooden boat and coated everything on the outsied with epoxy and it still looks good today.

Best

John

Teri Chapman said:

Greg,
That was actually kind of what my fiancé suggested this morning. He said maybe one of those big long Rubbermaid type tubs. He said he could seal it so it would be waterproof and air tight. I just wasn’t so sure that he could. I hadn’t seen those that you were talking about though…they look a lot better than the ones he had talked about. I will show him these suggestions, and see what he thinks. You all are being so helpful and in such a sensitive way, I just don’t know how to thank you all. Over the years I have spoke to people about Sable, and knowing that she was starting to age, how I dreaded the day when she was to pass, because I knew how it would affect me. (Actually, it’s worse than I even thought it would be). And a few of those that I spoke with, said they couldn’t believe I would carry on like that over a dog. I guess they have never had a pet before. Sable meant so much to me, and I to her. The entire 11.5 years we were together, she would follow me from room to room in the house. And the way she would look at me with those big beautiful eyes of hers…so trusting, and so full of love for me, would make my heart melt every time. She was such a good dog and so smart!! I miss her so much, every single second of the day. I have a deep empty ache in me, that I know won't go away until Sable & I meet up again. Sounds like you & your gal, Satchmo had a wonderful life together...how long was she a part of your family? I know you & your family miss her......
Again, thank you & everyone so much for being so helpful..it means more than you could ever know.
Teri

Greg Coleman said:

UPDATE!!!!!!

Hello everyone,

I am so sorry that I haven’t got back to you sooner than this, but this whole ordeal has been real tough on me, so needless to say I have been quite depressed lately! All this, plus a couple other family issues going on right now has me pretty stressed out, so I haven't really been on the computer.

Anyways, we dug the hole and then poured concrete in it, like the one man suggested. Her casket turned out real nice…and we had a nice memorial for her. I also made her headstone…and right now I am working on some stepping stones to put beside it as well. As soon as I get it finished, I will post some pictures for you, if you would like. I want to thank you all for all your help and caring comments, it’s nice to know that there are still some people out there really do still care!!!!! Especially, with all the rottenness going on in the world right now!!

Thanks again,

Teri

Teri Chapman said:

Thanks so much for that answer. Here's what I needed it for. My best friend in the whole world, Sable…the dog I have had for 11.5 years, just past away. This has absolutely devastated me. I know to some people, pets are “just animalsâ€, but this dog meant the world to me. She saved my life!
I am burying her in a special place in my back yard. I didn’t want to just put her body in the hole and cover it, so I have looked at pet caskets on the net. They are really too expensive for me right now, so we are making her one. My fiancé has so much stuff in his garage (a pack rat..lol), so I asked him what we could use. He had those doors, and said we could cut those and make her one. The thing is, I wanted her in something like they bury people in; a casket inside a vault. Well, we don’t have a vault, so again I started looking on the net and have found that most of the pet caskets that are meant to last forever are made of rigid polyurethane. They don’t have to be vaulted, because of the polyurethane.. they say they are waterproof and air tight, inside & out.
I would love to have that stuff to make her one out of, but since it’s very expensive and has to be ordered, that’s out of the question. Now, we have a lot of liquid polyurethane in cans. Does you know about this stuff and would it work for the wood (doors) I would be using it on? Would it seal it completely? Would it make it waterproof and airtight? I know this is a little weird, but it’s so important to me. Please if anyone knows, let me know ASAP!!
Thanks for taking the time to read this,
Teri
this is the link to those caskets I am talking about http://www.petheavenexpress.com/pet_caskets#A1

Hi Teri

I am glad you got it worked out and were able to put Sable to rest. Hopefully we were of some help here, it isn't often we get a chance to contribute to such a worthy cause as a family member's burial.

Times can be rough, life happens, all we can do is just plow through, it seems like an eternity when we are going through these challenges. But when it is all over, we always look back and say to ourselves, that wasn't so bad, it'll all be ok.

God Bless ya Teri, and take care, keep coming back to us, we love hearing how your doing.

John Morris

Go with just straight pine.

Doors ( unless made from real wood) wouldn't be structurally design buildable.

coat it inside and out with the poly, it'll be around longer than you will.