Storage, Handling, Finishing, & Installation Instructions

Storage & Handling Instructions

• Handle the doors with the utmost of care. Handling damage is not considered a factory defect.
• Lift or carry doors. Do not slide doors across one another.
• Do not deliver doors to the job site or install until concrete floor, foundations and plaster or dry wall work is completed and fully dry.
• Doors must be allowed to acclimate to the average job site humidity conditions for at least 72 hours prior to finishing and installation.
• Doors should be stored on a level surface in a dry, ventilated area. Only store the doors in an enclosed building with an operational and balanced HVAC system.
• Doors should be stacked horizontally and the bottom door should be placed on a piece of plywood or cardboard to protect the door from picking up moisture and dirt from the floor.  If doors are stored using support blocks, it is very important to include at least 3 evenly spaced blocks to prevent sagging.
• DO NOT lean doors against the wall
• If doors are stored for long periods of time (longer than 3 days), doors must be sealed (all six sides and hardware cutouts).
• DO NOT store doors in direct sunlight.
• Never store doors outside exposed to the elements
• Doors should not be subject to extreme or rapid changes in humidity

Preparation & Finishing Instructions

• Doors should be painted at the earliest possible time after they have been delivered to the job site and have acclimated to the job site humidity conditions.  Sealing all six sides is required before hanging, including the top and bottom edges and hardware cutouts. If all six sides are not sealed, it increases the likelihood that an unsealed side can take on moisture and the door will warp. FACTORY PRIMER IS NOT A SEALER.  
• Do not finish doors that have obvious defects. Timberland Door will not be responsible for the warranty of doors that had obvious defects prior to field finishing.
• Before finishing, lightly sand the door with a 220 grit sanding sponge to ensue a smooth even finish.
• Before you apply paint to the surface of the door it should be clean, dry and free from dust, dirt, mildew and other contamination.
• Timberland Door recommends using a high grade waterborne all-acrylic latex finish paint in strict compliance with the manufacturer's specifications..  Apply at least two coats of paint for best results, sanding in between coats. Paint should be applied with the door in a horizontal position to eliminate the solvents evaporating too quickly leaving an inconsistent finish.
• When finishing doors, finish both sides at the same time, do not leave one side unfinished for a prolonged period of time.

Fitting & Installation

• Trimming to meet your size requirements can change the overall appearance of the door. If you need to slightly trim your door, recommend that you trim an equal amount from both ends. (Do not trim more than 1" total or the warranty will be void).
• Only install the doors in a closed-in building with operational HVAC.
• Allow doors to acclimatize to the temperature and humidity of the installation location before fitting and hanging (Minimum of 72 hours or longer when heat and/or humidity extremes exist compared to storage location).  
• Timberland Door recommends that you pre-drill your screw holes to reduce the chance of any stripping or splitting.
• Do not over tighten screws – set clutch on drill to minimum. Over-tightening of screws causes a wedge effect and creates minor splits approximately 1/16” on either side of the screw. If splits appear loosen screw slightly and fill split with vinyl spackle. The integrity of the door will not be compromised.
• If hardware installation requires drilling into a top or bottom edge of a door, installer must pre-drill for screws to ensure effective screw holding and eliminate any chance of material splitting
• Three hinges should be used on doors up to 7’ and one additional hinge for each additional 30" in height. We recommend using a minimum of #9 x 3/4” screws for hanging the doors.

Tolerances

• When hanging a door, allow adequate clearance for swelling of the door or frame in extremely damp, high humidity environments. The following guidelines should be used:

• Width: Specified + or - 3 /16" with possible humidity expansion* of 3/16" for a total variance of 3/8"
• Height: Specified + or- 3/16" with possible humidity expansion* of 3/16" for a total variance of 3/8"
• Warp or Bow: 3/8" or less measured diagonally from the top rail to the bottom rail across the span of the door.

Important Note
Failure to follow these handling, installation & finishing instructions will void all warranties, written or implied.

"Opening Doors to a Better Home"