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Care, Handling, Job Finishing and Installation Instructions
General: It is the nature of wood to expand and contract with changes in moisture content. Generally, steps that minimize changes in moisture content will minimize door problems.
- Upon receipt of shipment of doors, inspect each door for visible defects. Doors should not be left in shipping container, but should be stored flat on a level surface in a dry, well ventilated building. Use an opaque cover to keep clean, but allow air circulation. Do not store in direct sunlight. If stored for long periods, doors must be sealed with a non-water based sealer or primer.
- Handle with clean gloves and do not drag doors across one another or across other surfaces.
- Doors should not be exposed to excessive heat, excessive dryness, excessive humidity, or sudden changes therein. Relative humidity should be kept between 30% and 60%. They should be conditioned to average prevailing relative humidity of the locality before hanging.
- The utility or structural strength of the door must not be impaired in the fitting of the door, the application of the hardware, or cutting and altering the door for lights, louvers, panels or any other special details. Doors to receive mortise locks must have 1” solid wood remaining.
- Before finishing, remove handing marks or effects of exposure to moisture with a thorough, final sanding over all surfaces of the door using 120 and 150 grit sandpaper and clean before applying sealer and finish. Some species of wood (oak particularly) may react unfavorably with certain finishes. Where possible, the surface should be tested for such unfavorable reactions. Do not use steel wool on oak doors.
- Immediately after cutting and fitting, but before hanging, the entire door, INCLUDING TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES and areas routed for concealed closures and other hardware, must receive a minimum application of sealer or primer and two coats of a good grade of paint, varnish or lacquer. The total finishing system should have good moisture excluding properties. Avoid dark stains or dark colored paints on door surfaces exposed directly to sunlight. First coat of a thinned clear sanding sealer, followed by light block sanding, will minimize subsequent handling marks and promote uniformity of stain coats. Exterior finishes must be used on exterior doors.
- Water based paints are generally ineffective at excluding moisture. Water based sealer or prime coats should not be used. Water based top coats should only be used after an adequate moisture seal is established.
- Normally, when hanging exterior glazed doors, the removable stop should be on the outside. Keep paint, stain, varnish, tape or other substances off the etched portion of etched glass.
- Most finishes on exterior doors deteriorate relatively quickly. In order for exterior doors to continue receiving the protection required, inspect the condition of exterior finishes at least once a year and refinish as often as needed to maintain the protective integrity of the finish.
- All fire doors must be installed according to NFPA standard #80.
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