Swapping Solid History

Flipper Fails: Swapping Solid History for Hollow Doors
Why Cutting Costs on Character Doesn’t Pay

Flipper Fails is a blog series that exposes the shortcuts and surface-level fixes often found in flipped homes—and how to spot them before you buy. Because what looks good on the surface doesn’t always hold up under inspection.

Historic homes come with craftsmanship you just don’t see anymore—thick plaster walls, original trim, and solid wood doors that have stood the test of time. But too often, flippers eager to modernize on the cheap make a costly design mistake: replacing those original, heavy wood doors with hollow-core, big-box-store specials.

A Shortcut That Shows

Yes, a fresh coat of paint and a trendy faucet can wow on a walkthrough. But open one of those new interior doors and suddenly the illusion falls apart—literally. Hollow-core doors feel flimsy, sound hollow (because they are), and lack the substance buyers expect in a well-built home, especially one with historic bones.

What’s the Real Cost?

Hollow-core doors:

• Offer poor sound insulation between rooms
• Damage easily with regular use
• Lack the charm, weight, and quality feel of solid wood
• Diminish the perceived value of the home

In short, they cheapen the entire experience—and in a historic home, that’s not just a design fail, it’s a character crime.

Better Choices, Better Results

If you’re considering purchased a flipped vintage or historic home, consider this: preserving or upgrading to solid wood doors shows respect for the property and its potential buyer. It tells the story of a renovation done right, not rushed.

Advice for Buyers

When touring a flipped home, don’t stop at countertops and lighting. Close a door. Knock on it. Feel the weight. If it sounds like a cardboard box, ask what else was downgraded behind the scenes.