How to care for your wooden products

Installation, treatment and care of wooden doors
All of our products are manufactured using kiln dried timber. Timber is a product which reacts to moisture and climatic change. Our products should therefore be treated with care and protected against the elements.

Handling and Storage
• Doors and windows should be handled carefully to avoid physical damage.
• Store products under cover in a dry, ventilated building.
• They should be stored flat, never on edge or end, on a flat surface and kept clear of the floor on a suitable bearer. The bearers should be longer than the width of the door.
• Doors and windows should be protected from dirt and damage without restricting air circulation.
• They should be stacked so that they are not even partly exposed to sunlight, as the harmful UV rays could cause fading and discoloration of the timber.

On Site Handling
Protect doors and windows during site operations as outlined previously. Products should not be stored or fitted in a building until all wet trades are finished and dried out.

Trimming
In accordance with SABS regulations and guidelines we allow for a maximum trimming of doors of 20mm on top and bottom rails and 10mm on vertical stiles. Any further trimming could result in the door becoming unstable and cannot be covered by our guarantee.

Pre-installation
Immediately after fitting and PRIOR to hanging the door:
Apply two coats of paint, varnish or sealer to all edges (including top and bottom, all 6 sides, cut-outs for locks, etc) to prevent absorption of moisture. If any part of an external door or window or door frame is cut or drilled, the exposed area should be treated immediately.

Door Care
The end grain (top and bottom) must be completely sealed to prevent penetration which can cause swelling, splitting and warping. Keep the mortice lock cavity to a minimum size and do not fit at the rail joint.

Finishing Recommendations
• Clean door surface with fine sandpaper and cloth.
• Apply first coat on all edges and sides.
• Store flat in closed area.
• Plane bottom and both sides for fitting.
• After preparation for fitting, re-seal all planed edges.
• After hanging, seal with 2 final coats.
• NB! The use of dark coloured paint or stain finishes on external doors and windows, particularly if located on the north or north-west elevation of a building, will result in high surface temperatures and can increase the risk of distortion and resin exudation.

Warp Tolerance
Warp shall not be considered a defect unless it exceeds 6 mm in the plane of the door itself. Warp is any distortion in the door itself and does not refer to the frame in which it is hung. The term "warp" includes bow, cup and twist. In measuring the amount of warp present in the door, the following method should be used. Bow, cup and twist shall be measured by placing a straight edge, taut wire or string on the suspected concave face of the door at any angle position. The measurement of bow, cup and twist shall be made at the point maximum distance between the bottom of the straight- edge, taut wire or string and the face of the door. SABS warpage tolerance spec: 3mm on a metre, tolerance 6mm across the door (top left corner to bottom right corner).

Maintenance
Inspect the condition of all external joinery, especially the decorative and glazing system, at 6 monthly intervals and carry out remedial work as required.

ALL WOODEN PRODUCTS ARE SOLD UNTREATED AND UNPAINTED
Please note: Sliding doors are supplied without lock and handle unless otherwise arranged.