Handling and Finishing Instructions

Handling

• Do not subject doors to extreme heat, dryness or humidity. Wood will warp when exposed to these factors.
• Store wooden doors inside, on a flat, level surface in a dry, well-ventilated building and always keep them covered. Following these instructions will prevent shape and color distortion of your custom millwork.
• Allow doors to reach room temperature and stabilize 24 hours before installing. This allows for the humidity levels within the wood to acclimate with the new surroundings.
• Remove film from French doors with caution. The tempered glass is sensitive and could scratch by using sharp objects or abrasive cleaners.

Exterior doors have additional requirements. The protection and related exposure of your exterior door is a major factor in the maintenance required to increase the longevity of your door. To maximize the protection of your door, several factors need to be considered. Door type, exposure, color choice, and use of a storm door all impact the durability of the door. The following are guidelines for maintenance and installation of your door.

Storm Doors

Storm doors provide additional protection for exterior doors in many environments. They primarily shelter the door from rain and wind, and doors with low-E glass will provide protection from UV rays. In hot climates and southern or western exposure applications, a storm door may not be a good choice. A storm door allows for heat to build up between the two doors and cause substantial damage like warping, color fading, cracking, and wood joint separation. A storm door used over a dark colored exterior door can accelerate heat build-up even more. Vented storm doors should be selected in these situations to relieve the excess heat build-up.

Overhang

An overhang is required for the protection of your wood exterior door. Overhangs will protect the door’s finish and reduce the need for refinishing. Overhangs also help keep the weather out of a home. The correct overhang for a Woodport Doors LLC exterior door is the depth (D) of the overhang is equal to half the height (H), therefore D=1/2 x H. The height is the measurement from the bottom of the door to the overhang. For example, if the height from the bottom of the door to the overhang equals 10 feet, then the overhang should extend out 5 feet. Doors installed meeting these requirements still require finish maintenance and may need to be refinished every two to five years.

Color Choice

Regardless of the species of exterior wood door purchased, color choice may affect how quickly the door weathers and overall longevity. Darker colors will absorb more heat than lighter colors. A general guideline is that if you cannot hold your hand on the door face for more than 30 seconds, the door is too hot. These extreme temperatures can cause damage to the door, including deteriorating the finish and color fading. In addition, the extreme temperature changes can also cause the door to warp, crack, or stick due to expansion and contraction. Any exterior Woodport Doors LLC door painted BLACK will void the door warranty.

Understanding Humidity

Wood absorbs and loses moisture to balance its moisture content to the humidity and temperature of the air. This causes wood to expand and contract as the moisture level changes; however it does not contract or swell equally in all directions. The thickness and width of lumber is more prone to the effects of moisture and climate change rather than insignificant changes in length. These effects fluctuate from one species to another.

• Proper humidity levels in the range of 35% to 50% should be maintained throughout site storage, installation and use.
• The density of the wood can affect the extent of the expansion and contraction. Choose a wood species with a lower dimension change coefficient for homes in high risk areas.
• Severe dryness or excessive moisture will cause problems in panel contraction or expansion, joint separation, veneer checking or cracking, bowing, contraction or expansion of the stile or rail.
• Product failure or product concerns related to exposure to extreme changes in temperature or humidity is not covered under the warranty.
• No matter the location, products installed into non-air conditioned or humidity-controlled homes will expand. Seasonal homes should always be maintained with some type of climate control during off season or non-use.
• Natural expansion and contraction of a wood door can cause noticeable seams. These unavoidable seams are a natural characteristic of an applied paint finish and are not covered under the warranty.
• Proper finishing will slow the absorption of moisture, but will not eliminate it. Doors should be completely finished on all faces and sides as soon as possible in accordance with the “Finishing” instructions.

Because we use genuine wooden products, the color and wood grain are unique to your door. Some of these markings will become more pronounced during the wood finishing process. Woodport is not responsible for these variations. Please direct all questions regarding the proper application of sealers and finishes to your chosen finish supplier.

Woodport Doors recommendations for painting a factory primed door

• Our factory applied primer is an Acrylic, white, water-based product. Always read and reference the finish paint manufacturer’s instructions and re-prime doors with their recommended product, if it is necessary.
• For best adhesion results, sand doors lightly with fine grain sandpaper (180-220 grit).
• While sanding, pay special attention to any handling marks, raised grain or other blemishes.
• Slight additional sanding may be required for high gloss paints and/or spray applications.
• After sanding, clean the door with a soft cotton or fiber cloth to remove debris.
• Apply finish paint, as per the paint manufacturer’s instructions. Note that water-based paint products may highlight joints and raised wood grain.
• It is suggested that you test paint compatibility in a discreet area, to assure the desired appearance, before applying paint to the entire door.
• Apply finish paint to all six sides of the doors (including the top and bottom edges).
• Allow for adequate drying time after each coat is applied to confirm smoothness and color are correct.
• Woodport is not responsible for the overall appearance of the finish paint applied. If you have any questions or require further information regarding this subject, please contact Customer Service at (715) 526-7742, during normal business hours.

Painting Notes

Well executed prep-sanding is vital to the overall performance of the finish, and cannot be rushed. Ensuring a thorough prep-sanding can help regulate the desired outcome. Some paints require specific primer (i.e. most UV products) although our primer is very versatile, verify requirements from paint manufacturer to guarantee proper adhesion. If painting a door that has not been primed by Woodport, make sure to prime with appropriate product for the top coat being applied. Follow manufacturer’s instructions. Exterior doors must be primed with an exterior grade primer.

Finishing

Follow the below process to finish your door properly. If finishing a door with glass panes take extra care to properly tape off each pane. Pattern glass such as Frit and Frost can produce staining and/or blotchiness if finish materials seep through. Although we have recommendations on our website regarding the best practices for removal, there is no guarantee. Woodport Doors, LLC does not warranty any incident involving stain, paint, primer, or clear coat that distorts or blemishes the glass.

Sanding

• Sand lightly with fine-grit sandpaper (180-220). Sand “with the grain” to avoid scratches.
• Pay special attention to handling marks, raised grain and other blemishes.
• Sand slightly more for dark stains, high gloss paints and spray finishes.
• After sanding, clean the door with a soft cotton or fiber cloth to remove any debris.
• Interior and Exterior doors require the same prep work.

Finishing

A sanding sealer, otherwise known as pre-stain, is recommended to avoid a “blotchy” finish. For best results choose the same manufacturer for your sanding sealer, stain, and topcoat. Sanding sealer is not necessary if only a topcoat is being applied.

• Apply a thin coat of sanding sealer (or pre-stain) for a uniform appearance.
• Test for stain compatibility in a discreet area as some wood types do not react well to particular finishes.
• Notify the finish supplier if you detect an undesirable appearance and discontinue the finishing process until a solution is found. Apply the finishing products by following the instructions supplied by the manufacturer.
• A clear finish for lighter wood types like maple and birch is recommended. The natural characteristics of these wood types may make dark finishes appear uneven.
• Allow for adequate drying time after each coat is applied to confirm smoothness and color are correct.
• Seal all exposed wood surfaces with every coat, including the top and bottom.
• When staining the door, oil-based sealers work best for finishing. If painting the door, be sure to use a primer first. Water-based coats may highlight joints and raise wood grain.

Additional Exterior Finishing Recommendations

Use a stain and sealer combination with an alkyd-resin base as the first coat to both color and seal.

The second and third coats of clear finish should be either a solvent-borne (oil, alkyd-resin, or polyurethane resin-base) or a water-borne latex resin-base

• Solvent-borne finishes dry faster and are more water resistant, but they are more susceptible to UV degradation.
• Water-borne finishes have greater UV resistance and stronger exterior durability, but they require a longer period to dry, several weeks in some cases.
• Finishes last longer if they’re not in direct sunlight and weather. Woodport is not responsible for the overall appearance of the finish applied.