RESOURCES

1. Do not walk on any door units. Some contain glass.
2. Avoid dragging doors across one another and keep doors clean.
3. Store doors flat on a level surface in a dry, well ventilated building. Keep doors at least 4” off floor.
4. Doors should be conditioned to average prevailing relative humidity of the locality before hanging.
5. Doors should not be subjected to extreme or rapid changes in heat or humidity.
6. If the doors are to be stored on the job site, all ends and edges must be sealed with an effective quality oil-based sealer in order to prevent undue moisture absorption.

1. Paint dealers have a broad selection of color chips on hand to demonstrate the look you can achieve when staining fine woods such as Mahogany.
2. If you choose to paint instead of stain, you can apply either oil-base or latex resin-base paints over an oil-base primer. However, take care in following the finishing instructions provided. Also, be sure to evaluate the conditions your new door must endure, such as direct exposure to severe climates, before deciding on the specific finish to use. Painting door BLACK will VOID warranty.

1. Inspection and Storage

1. Upon delivery, inspect your door for damage or defects in manufacturing.  If problems exist, DO NOT hang your door.  Imperfections in grain or color are natural properties of wood and are not considered defects.
2. Allow a minimum of 24 hours for the door to adopt general humidity prior to hanging.
3. If necessary to store your door for a prolonged period, lay flat in a dry protected area not exposed to direct sunlight.

2. Finishing Preparation

1. Doors must be sealed within 7 days of installation.   
2. All surfaces must be sealed – ALL SIX SIDES, ESPECIALLY UNDER THE SWEEP.
3. Prior to finishing, all surfaces must be sanded with 150 grit sandpaper.  Do not sand across the grain.  After sanding, clean door with a tack cloth and inspect with sight and feel for any rough spot or surface residue.  Sand again if necessary with 220 grit to smoothen surface more. 
4. Stains and wood grains may vary.  Differing grains and colors give wood doors their natural and individual look.  If you desire a more continuous color (toning down but not eliminating differences) apply a wood sealer prior to finishing.   Your stain supplier can recommend a sealer which is compatible with your finish.
5. Finish all 6 sides of your door.  Top and bottom edges (underneath sweep) must be finished or warranty is void.

A. Opting To STAIN Your Door

1. Stain your door with any high quality stain.  Stain all 6 sides.  We suggest you first apply to a small section on the edge of the door to assure your approval of stain color.  For best results, allow this stain to dry/cure for 24 hours.
2. After drying, lightly sand door with 000 steel wool or 220 grit sandpaper to remove any raised grain.  Clean up dust with a tack cloth – surface should be smooth again.
3. Sealer coat should be formulated for exterior finish – we recommend spar varnish or spar (exterior) urethane.  Do not use polyurethane.  Polyurethane is an interior finish and will break down and peel off with exposure to sunlight and elements.  Again, for best results, allow topcoat to dry/cure for 24 hours.
4. Repeat Step 2 above. We urge you:  5 coats of sealer on the exterior / 3 coats on interior.   Following this recommendation will bring out the true beauty of your door while improving the life of your door.
5. Final finish coat should follow Step 3 above – do not sand your final finish coat.

B. Opting To PAINT Your Door

1. Use a high quality primer for first coat.  Allow primer to dry/cure for 24 hours.
2. Lightly sand or steel wool to smooth out any raised grain.
3. Top coat your door with a high quality exterior paint.  Your paint supplier can recommend the best finish for your area assuring the finish coat and primer is compatible.
4. Again, follow step 2 above.
5. Final finish coat to be applied with attention to brush strokes and direction.

Stain and Clear Finish

A solvent-borne finish system is recommended for interior doors and may be lacquer-based system. If a brush application is to be used, it is recommended that a pre-sealer be used prior to staining. For best performance, a minimum of two clear topcoats should be used over stains.

Paint Finish

Doors should be sealed with a good quality oil-base primer followed by two topcoats of solvent-base or latex enamel.

Your new wood door has been handcrafted to last for years to come. But, like any fine piece of furniture, its finish will require some simple, periodic maintenance to keep it looking great and provide proper protection against the elements. Regular finish maintenance is also a requirement of the warranty. Complete routine inspections are suggested every 6 months.

Here are some signs to watch for. They indicate that it is time for some simple, easy to perform maintenance:

1. Hairline cracks in the topcoat of finish.
2. Changes in the color of the finish.
3. Changes in the texture of the finish, such as flaking or scaling.
4. Dullness or chalkiness in the finish.

If you live in a severe climate or your entry receives a lot of direct sunlight from a southern or western exposure, you will want to examine your door’s finish more frequently.