Installation Guide
Step 7: Caulk Doorway
Step 8: Adjust Sill Step 9: How to Paint Exterior Doors Step 9: How to Paint Exterior Doors
Factory nished door units do not require any additional eld nishing.
Requirements:
Find a well-lit nishing location that is dust-free, well
ventilated and within the climate conditions recommended
by the coating manufacturer. Recommended temperature
should be between 50˚ - 90˚F degrees fahrenheit.
You will need the following:
Coatings and accessories:
Mineral spirits or acetone
Soapy water (mild detergent in warm water)
One pair of rubber gloves
Stir sticks
Masking tape
Safety razor blades
220-grit sandpaper
Paint
High-quality, oil-base or 100% acrylic water- –
based latex paint of desired color
Lacquer paints are not recommended –
2-1/2" wide brush appropriate for type of paint (A natural
bristle brush should be used with oil-based paint and a
synthetic bristle brush should be used with latex paint.)
Tools:
Hammer
Center punch
Phillips screwdriver
Pliers
Safety glasses
Air-less sprayer (optional)
Note: Painting instructions specically refer to the door
and sidelite panels. Oil-based paint should not be used
on wood frame components (jambs & brickmould).
Please read and understand the entire painting procedures before
attempting to nish the door. Be sure to follow the paint manufacturer’s
detailed application instructions on the product label.
A. How to start
Doors can be painted either hanging in the opening or removed from the
frame (recommended). Should you remove the door, take care to protect
it from damage. Sidelites will need to be finished vertically. To remove
the door from the frame, use a center punch and hammer. Strike the
hinge pin from the bottom until it pops up (for outswing & self closing
units – hinge leaf must be removed from the door). Drive the hinge pin
as far as possible with the punch. Using a pair of pliers, grasp the hinge
pin and, while twisting, pull the pin out. Remove all door hardware.
B. Preparing the door surface
IMPORTANT: For adequate paint adhesion the door surface
must be free of dust, debris and other surface contaminants.
Doors should be wiped clean with a solvent such as acetone or mineral
spirits. Allow the cleaning solvent to dry completely – until there is no
residual odor. Once wiped clean, the door must be lightly sanded
with a 220-grit sandpaper. After sanding, the door must be washed
with a mild detergent in warm soapy water, rinsed and then dried.
Doors should be wiped clean with a solvent such as acetone or
mineral spirits. Allow the cleaning solvent to dry completely – until
there is no residual odor. Next, the door must be washed with a
mild detergent in warm soapy water, rinsed and then dried.
Mask (tape) off all surfaces that will not be painted including all glass.
C. Painting the Door
Use exterior, high quality, oil-based or 100% acrylic water-based
latex paint of desired color. High quality interior paint can be used
on the interior surface of the door only. Lacquer paints are not
recommended. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for paint
application by using either a brush or a handheld sprayer.
Figures 19 and 20: Caulk the sill crown and the front of the sill.
Caulk all four exterior corners and all around the
brick or siding in the following sequence:
caulk the sill on both latch and hinge sides from the edge
of the sill crown along the edge where the sill and jamb or
brickmould meet (Figure 19)
caulk the front sill edge where the sill and
the sub-oor meet (Figure 20)
caulk the top corners where the header and jambs
meet, starting at the weatherstripping and working
to the face of the brick mould (Figure 21)
caulk the perimeter where the exterior trim meets
the brick or siding trim (Figure 22)
If the door is center-hinged or has a sidelite, caulk around the
mullions where the mullions contact the sill and header.
Figure 23: Raise or lower the sill by adjusting the sill screws.
Some sills may have covers over the adjusting screws. These
covers must be removed prior to making any adjustments.
Some door units are supplied
with adjustable sills, and these
may be raised or lowered to
form a tight seal with the xed
sweep on the bottom of the
door. This adjustment requires
a screwdriver with appropriate
screw bit. To increase the
height of the sill cap, turn
screws evenly along the rail.
Refer to the “Steps to test
threshold seal”. (Figure 23).
Figures 21 and 22: Caulk the jambs and the exterior trim.
Steps to test threshold seal
1. Close door on a piece
of paper placed over
the threshold.
2. Pull paper between
the sweep of the door
and the threshold.
3. If the threshold is properly
adjusted, you should
feel some tension,
but if the paper tears, the door’s seal is too tight. If there
is no tension on the paper, the door’s seal is too loose.
To properly adjust the threshold seal if it is too tight.
1. Adjust rail by turning screws evenly a 1/2 turn.
2. Repeat seal test. If paper does not slide beneath door
with a feeling of tension, repeat Step. Re-test seal.
3. Continue testing threshold until it is properly adjusted.
To properly adjust the threshold seal if it is too loose.
(WARNING: Do not increase height by more then 1/8")
1. Adjust rail by turning screws evenly a 1/2 turn.
2. Repeat seal test. If paper does not slide beneath door
with a feeling of tension, repeat Step. Re-test seal.
3. Continue testing threshold until it is properly adjusted.
Painting:
Put on gloves, safety glasses, and prepare your materials. Before
starting, and occasionally throughout the project, stir the paint using
smooth strokes until the texture is creamy – avoid creating bubbles.
Finishing with Brush Application:
Dip the brush into the paint, then use the rim of the container to release
any excess paint. Apply paint as evenly as possible while still wet.
Brush strokes should follow the grain direction of the selected area.
Start working on the panels and sticking (moulding proles), then the
vertical center mullion, next the horizontal rails, then the vertical stiles,
and nally, the outside edges (stiles and top rail, see gure 1 for details).
Doors that are outswing or have adjustable surface mounted sweeps
will need to have the sweep removed and the bottom rail painted.
Finishing Order:
For wood-grain textured door nishing with brush.
# 1 Panels and sticking (moulding proles)
# 2 Vertical center areas (mullions)
# 3 Horizontal areas (rails)
# 4 Outside vertical areas (stiles)
# 5 Edges of door (includes both sides and top of door)
Finishing with Spray Applicator:
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for thinning the paint; (i.e. thin
latex paint with water or oil-based with solvent for better atomization
and spraying results). Strain paint before lling the spray pot.
The door can be painted in horizontal (recommended) or vertical
position; however, the paint should be applied in continuous strokes
extending six inches past the edges of the door. This will ensure
uniformity across the entire surface of the door. Multiple light coats are
better than one heavy coat. Avoid runs as a result of overspraying.
Note: We recommend that all 6 sides (front and back faces
plus all four edges) be sealed to eliminate moisture absorption.
The bottom of your door panel(s) may contain a factory installed
weatherstripping (sweep) which is sealed prior to installation.
Failure to observe this recommendation may void the warranty.
Drying:
IMPORTANT: Let the paint dry completely, following the
manufacturer’s recommended drying time before handling the
painted surface or applying a second coat. If possible, allow the
door to dry in a horizontal position to minimize paint runs. High
humidity and/or low temperatures may extend your drying time.
Warning: Foam-lled doors painted with dark colors or with
attached storm doors, may become very hot to the touch in
direct sunlight. Do not paint the weather strip and do not close
door until paint is dry (see paint manufacturer’s specications on
minimum drying time). To maintain product warranty: Paint the door,
frame, header and brickmould within 45 days of installation.
Maintenance:
1. In the event that the door is scratched after nishing,
the damaged area can be lightly sanded using 400-grit
sandpaper (do not over-sand the surface). Follow the
nishing procedures on the inside of this brochure.
2. Dirt and watermarks can build up on the surface of
your nished door over time. Extend the life of the
paint by cleaning the door a few times a year. Clean
with warm soapy water, rinse and towel dry.
3. Repainting every 1 to 7 years will be required,
depending upon weather exposure.
1. Add a bead of caulk at both ends of sill cap
where the cap meets the jambs.
2. On door lock-side of cap, afx latch seal vertically to jamb on
top of caulk where jamb and cap meet. Push seal into caulk.
3. On door hinge-side of cap, afx hinge pad horizontally to jamb on
top of caulk where jamb and cap meet. Push seal into caulk.
For double doors: Test the threshold seal for the active and
passive doors. Once threshold seal is properly adjusted, afx latch
seal vertically so bottom of seal is resting where cap and both
doors meet. Remember to install hinge pads on both jambs.
Step 10: Corner Seal (Foam Pad) Installation
If it becomes apparent that there is some trouble with the operation
of the unit, the rst thing to check is the installation of the unit
into the rough opening. Check to insure that 1/8" gap across
the top edge of door panel and frame holds true for the entire
width of the door opening AND that weatherstripping is evenly
compressed the entire height of the door opening. Secondly,
check that the two jambs are correctly aligned with each other
and that incorrect nailing on shims have not twisted the jambs.
Check all Critical Points to conrm that unit was
installed correctly in proper rough opening.
Trouble Shooting
Warranty
Warranties are available for most products. Please check with your
dealer or distributor for current warranty terms and conditions.
www.masonite.com
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Step 9: How to Paint Exterior Doors Step 9: How to Paint Exterior Doors
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Masonite
®
and “Masonite. The Beautiful Door.
®
” are trademarks of Masonite International Corporation.
Please check with your Masonite dealer or distributor for current warranty terms and conditions.
4/10 Printed in the USA ©2010 by Masonite International Corporation
HMD101202
plumb-level square
aligned
no twist
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