Door Care & Coverage
Limited Warranty
Proper storage, finishing, and installation are essential to protecting your hardwood doors. Follow these guidelines to maintain your warranty coverage.
Storage & Handling
- 1 Avoid extreme conditions. Unsealed doors must not be subject to abnormal heat, dryness, humidity, or sudden atmosphere changes.
- 2 Deliver at the right time. Deliver to the building site only after plaster or cement is fully dry.
- 3 Seal if stored on-site. If doors are stored at the job site for more than one week, the entire door — including all edges and cutouts for hardware — must be sealed.
- 4 Handle with care. Handle with clean gloves and do not drag across other surfaces.
- 5 Store flat. Store flat on a level surface in a dry, well-ventilated building. Cover to keep clean, but allow air circulation.
Fitting & Hardware Installation
- 1 Preserve structural integrity. The structural integrity of the door must not be impaired when fitting. There must be no alteration of lights, louvers, panels, or any other special details.
- 2 Use the correct number of hinges. See the hinge requirements table below.
- 3 Set hinges flush. Hinges must be set flush with the edge surface and in a straight line to prevent distortion.
- 4 Allow clearance for swelling. Allow approximately 3/16″ clearance for swelling of the door and frame.
| Door Thickness | Door Height | Hinges Required |
|---|---|---|
| 1‑3/4″ thick | Up to 90″ high | 3 ball bearing hinges |
| 1‑3/4″ thick | 90″ through 120″ high | 4 ball bearing hinges |
| 1‑1/2″, 1‑7/16″, 1‑3/8″ thick | Up to 84″ high | 3 ball bearing hinges |
Staining
- 1 Stain before sealing. Wood stains are usually applied before sealer coats to ensure proper penetration of stain.
- 2 Don't rely on stain as a sealer. Most solvent-based stains have some sealing qualities; however, this type of stain should not be relied upon for achieving adequate sealing.
- 3 Wipe stain after application. Most stains are wiped after application. The length of time the stain is allowed to penetrate before wiping will determine the depth of color.
- 4 Expect color shifts. Most stains lighten in color before drying. Some will darken slightly upon application of clear sealer and varnish.
Note on Oak: Certain species of wood — particularly Oak — contain chemicals that react unfavorably with certain finishes. Where possible, test the surface for unfavorable reactions before applying your chosen finish.
Finishing Requirements
- 1 Prepare the surface. Before finishing, the door must be clean. Remove handling marks, loose wood fibers, and raised grain by sanding lightly with fine sandpaper.
- 2 Finish immediately after fitting. Finishing must proceed immediately after fitting, cutting for weather-strip, threshold, and hardware.
- 3 Seal all surfaces — including edges. 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.
- 4 Interior doors: 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.
- 5 Pre-hung doors: 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.
Painted doors: Sand lightly with fine sandpaper to remove small wood fibers, 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 high-quality exterior-grade paint. Apply finish to all edges and cutouts. For pre-hung doors, remove hinges so primer and paint can be applied under hinges. Any newly cut edges must be primed and repainted.
Ongoing Maintenance
- 1 Inspect regularly. Most finishes on exterior doors deteriorate relatively quickly. Inspect doors periodically for finish deterioration.
- 2 Annual maintenance recommended. Maintenance is recommended annually to preserve the finish and protect the wood from moisture and UV exposure.
Questions about your door's finish? Call us at 740-286-4535 — we're happy to advise on the best products and schedule for your specific door and climate.
Questions About Your Doors?
We're happy to answer questions about finishing, maintenance, or warranty coverage. Give us a call or send a message.
Contact Us Call 740-286-4535