PLEASE anyone have any idea's on how to repair my front door?

[Old-gal24]

The top layer of timber is splitting of my front door which is very weathered at the bottom of the door.  I have asked a few places here and I get much the same result.  Oh just buy a new front door. 

My reply is NOT IN MY BUDGET and what a waste of door.

I'm thinking I will have to strip the back the top layer of what I think is ply and try and replace it and plain it back till its level and seal and repaint.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated..

[Old-gal24]

Thank you for your reply @Jaymo  you certainly have had a great many years of experience and obviously dealt with this sort of thing before.  Sadly, everything sounded negative.  NO positives?  It would have and will be a great learning tool-project.

Meanwhile I did manage to purchase a second hand door.in GREAT condition, but I plan on sanding it back, sealing it WELL, then painting it with the correct paints needed to protect it from the elements..  

cheers

This old gal24

[Old-gal24]

Sorry for my tardy reply.  Sick daughter and self, still trying to catch up.

Thank you for your advice.  Don't really like the look of checker-plate on my front door.  Even though I do have it on the front of my little 35 year old caravan, but doesn't look out of place there.

Have decided to do up a door I purchased second hand, that will match in with what I have already there as it's part of a matching set. *(glass inserts)

I had toyed with the idea of taking off the top layer to the best of my ability to the bottom of the decorative area and then putting new timber/ply what ever I could find that would do it the best job and go from there.

Thank you for your suggestion.

Old gal