- Unsealed doors must not be subject to abnormal heat, dryness or humidity, or sudden atmosphere changes. Deliver to building site after plaster or cement is dry. If doors are stored at job site for more than one week, the entire door including all edges and cutouts for hardware must be sealed. Usually wood stains are applied before sealer coats to ensure proper penetration of stain. Most solvent based stains have some sealing qualities; however, this type of stain should not be relied upon for achieving adequate sealing.
- Handle with clean gloves and do not drag across other surfaces.
- Store flat on a level surface in a dry, well ventilated building. Cover to keep clean, but allow air circulation.
- The structural integrity of the door must not be impaired when fitting the door. There must be no alteration or lights, louvers, panels or any other special details. Care must be taken in the application of the hardware.
- Use three ball bearing hinges on 1-3/4″ thick doors through 90″ high and four hinges over 90″ through 120″ high. For 1-1/2″, 1-7/16″ and 1-3/8″ thick doors use three ball bearing hinges through 84″H. hinges must be set flush with edge surface. Be sure hinges are set in a straight line to prevent distortion. Allow approximately 3/16″ clearance for swelling of door and frame.
- Before finishing, door must be clean. Remove handling marks, loose wood fibers and raised grain by sanding lightly with fine sand paper.
- Certain species of wood, particularly Oak, contain chemicals which react unfavorably with certain finishes. Where possible, the surface should be tested for unfavorable reactions.
- Finishing must proceed immediately after fitting, cutting for weather-strip, threshold and hardware. Most stains are wiped after application. The length of time is allowed to penetrate before wiping cloth will determine the depth of color. Most stains lighten in color before drying, Some will darken slightly upon application of clear sealer and varnish. Before hanging any interior or exterior door, the entire door including all edges and cutouts for hardware must be thoroughly sealed with two coats of good quality sealer. Lightly steel wool or sand after each coat. For interior doors, then apply at least two coats of high quality exterior grade polyurethane or spar finish. Sand lightly between coats and apply finish to all surfaces, edges and cutouts for hardware. For pre-hung doors, you must remove hinges so that sealer and finish can be applied under hinges. If doors have been sealed and finished prior to job site fitting, any newly cut edges must be sealed and refinished.
- For painted doors, sand lightly with fine sand paper to remove any small wood fibers, etc- then prime the entire door including all edges and cutouts for hardware with a high quality oil based primer followed by at least two coats of a high quality exterior grade paint being sure to apply finish to all edges and cutouts for hardware. For pre-hung doors, you must remove hinges so that primer and paint can be applied under hinges. If doors have been primed and painted prior to job site fitting, any newly cut edges must be primed and repainted.
- Most finishes on exterior doors deteriorative relatively quickly. Inspect the doors periodically for finish deterioration. Maintenance is recommended annually.