Wood Door Finishing, Care & Installation Guidelines

Continued from previous page

Installation Suggestions and Required Roof Overhang 1) The utility or structural strength of the door must not be impaired in fitting to the opening, in applying hardware or other detailing. 2) Use a minimum of one hinge for each 30˝ of door height on all exterior doors. When using three or more hinges, they are to be equally spaced. Standard height (6´8˝) doors require three (3) hinges. Extra height (8´0˝) doors require four (4) hinges. Quality ball-bearing hinges are recommended for superior service in these hardwood door applications. 3) Clearances between door edges and door frame should be a minimum of 1 ⁄ 16 ˝ on the hinge edge, and 1 ⁄ 8 ˝ on the latch edge and top rail. 4) All hardware locations, preparations for hardware and methods of hardware attachment must be appropriate for the specific door construction. 5) Apply the sealer, primer or first coats of the required finish immediately after fitting, cutting for hardware, weatherstripping, etc. Be sure to finish all surfaces of the door, including those surfaces milled for the hardware prior to installation of the hardware. Also be sure to finish the top and bottom edges of the door, as well as the sides of the door, prior to installation. 6) Damage caused by failure to comply with this Wood Exterior Entry and Finishing Information section, failure to perform normal homeowner maintenance, or by attempts other than by GlassCraft to repair the door will void the GlassCraft warranty. 7) The door or entryway system must be installed in a protected opening with adequate roof overhang to protect the door and entryway. Damage may result from exposure due to installation in an unprotected opening, such as an installation without sufficient roof overhang protection. This will cause the door and/or entry system to be exposed to an unusual amount of direct sunlight and/or precipitation, which will result in the failure of the door or entryway. This damage is specifically not covered by GlassCraft‘s warranty.

Required Roof Overhang

Please refer to this information to ensure that your installation will provide the correct amount of protection for your wood door.

Roof Overhang Overhang distance elevation distance

An adequate roof overhang (see drawing at right) is one in which the roof overhang projects out a distance from the structure no less than one-half of the elevation difference between the lowest edge of the door and the base of the overhang’s highest point above the entryway. This calculation is shown at right.

= 0.5 or greater

Roof Overhang Distance in Inches

Overhang’s Highest Point

Maintenance and Troubleshooting If you maintain your door properly, it will give you years of enjoyment. The most important single method to ensure the door’s longevity is to apply a high quality stain and finish. We recommend that only top quality finishes specifically produced for exterior applications be selected.

Lowest Edge of Door

Quality of the Finish : Stain-and-clear finishes perform better if protected from direct sunlight, moisture and other weathering conditions. Refinishing will be required less frequently if a proper finish is initially added to the door. Some finishes on exterior doors deteriorate relatively quickly with exposure to the environment. In order for your exterior door to continue receiving the protection required, inspect the condition of the exterior finish at least twice a year and refinish as often as needed to maintain the protective integrity of the finish. If required refinishing is not completed as needed, you will allow moisture to enter the wood in the door. This will cause the door to warp or crack, and will void any warranty claims. Inspect the finish on all six sides of the door.

Roof Overhang

Binding or Sticking of the Door: Ensure that the door(s) continues to swing freely, does not bind in the frame, and that all hardware remains completely functional. If the door begins to stick or bind in the door frame, sand the edge of the door (use an electric sander or a hand plane) to trim the door so that it does not bind or stick. Be sure to refinished the newly sanded exposed area. Usually, it takes as long as one year for a wood door to acclimate to it’s installation surroundings. Cleaning the Door: Cleaning of the door is best performed by simply dusting the interior and exterior of the door using a soft, clean cloth. If required, a very mild soap and water solution may be needed to remove dirt from the door. Do not use any abrasive detergent or solvent based product, as these products will harm the quality of the finish. White or Unfinished Lines around the edges of the panel are caused by the normal contraction and expansion of the “free floating” panels in the doors, due to varying climatic conditions such as dry or hot weather. If the panels were nailed in place, they would crack during these conditions. Use a standard wood stain to touch-up and eliminate this line.

Continued on next page