Installation & Assembly

Notice to Installers & Distributors
STORAGE, HANDLING AND FINISHING INSTRUCTIONS FOR INTERIOR DOORS:
uMasonite may not be responsible for the installation or finishing of defective doors. If a door is found to be defective
please inform us as soon as possible so that we may address the issue and correct the problem in a timely manner.
uWhen doors are received they must be inspected immediately for quality, including
correct size, machining, specie of veneer and finish, if factory finished.
uAny defects should be promptly reported to your supplier in writing and the supplier should notify Masonite immediately.
Field inspections by Masonite may take up to two (2) weeks from date of notifications, depending on schedules at the time
of notification, but every effort will be made to address your concerns in a timely fashion. A Masonite sales Representative
or Quality Assurance Representative will determine the nature of the defect and the best method to correct the defect.
uMasonite may not be held responsible for warping or finishing problems if the following recommendations are not followed:
DOOR DISTORTION (WARPING AND OIL CAN) FACTS AND PREVENTION:
uWarping and oil-canning may occur, depending on the season and relative humidity, until the
doors become conditioned to the humidity and temperature of the building.
uDeliver doors to the site after plaster, drywall or cement is dry.
uIf the doors are stored at the job site not for immediate installation, top, bottom and sides must be sealed.
uHollow core doors may be more prone to warp than solid core doors. When stacking doors, keep the top
door covered at all times with a cover sheet, plywood or cardboard. This is critical to prevent warping.
uKeep the doors away from direct sunlight and sources of extreme heat, cold or humidity.
uAllow doors to become fully acclimated before fitting and hanging.
uWhen storing keep the doors stacked horizontal and fully supported on a level surface,
do not lean the doors vertically against a wall or other structure.
uMasonite includes spacers between doors for certain designs. In order to prevent door
distortion it is required that these packaging spacers remain until the door is hung.
u Do not hang a door in a location where there will be extremes of humidity, such as in a room that is being painted, or in a room
where a concrete floor has recently been poured or in a non-climate controlled building located in a high humidity environment.
uIf a door has a closer installed Masonite does not recommend the use of doorstops or wedges being used
to hold the door open. This will result in uneven pressure on the door and will cause warping.
uIf the frame into which the door is being installed is not true and plumb the door will appear
to be warped, or any minor warp present may be exaggerated by the frame.
uThe top, bottom, opening, and hardware recess edges must be sealed after fitting.
uPlease refer to our finishing instructions located at http://www.masonite.com
uFor other questions please refer to the Masonite warranty available online at http://www.masonite.com
DOOR FINISHING RECOMMENDATIONS:
uPlease refer to How to Stain & How to Paint instructions found on http://www.masonite.com
uPrior to staining, sealing and finishing, wood veneer doors should be lightly and completely sanded, with not less than
180 grit sandpaper, to remove all handling marks, oils and raised grain. Do not use steel wool on oak veneer doors.
uOn soft veneers which may not accept stain evenly use a sanding sealer prior to staining or finishing. When staining,
avoid the use of a dark stain.
uPlease test several doors for compatibility with your finishing system. If you encounter a problem DO
NOT PROCEED but contact your paint manufacturer for assistance. Masonite will not be held responsible
for refinishing costs incurred if you have not tested your finish for compatibility prior to finishing all the
doors on your project. Contact your supplier if your paint manufacturer can not resolve the issue.
uIt is recommended to sand between coats following the paint manufacturer’s instructions.
uAll six (6) edges (top, bottom, sides), hardware, lite and louver cutouts must be sealed after fitting with at least two
(2) coats of oil/alkyd-based paint, varnish or lacquer, if local code permits, to prevent warping, twisting and checking.
Masonite does not recommend the use of water-based paints which may raise the grain, cause veneer splits and
highlight flitch’s in the veneer. The same consistency of finish must be applied to all surfaces. Follow the manufacturer’s
instructions carefully, including guidelines on reduction of water based paints. Please note that primer does not
function as a sealer or moisture barrier. (Refer to pamphlet on http://www.masonite.com for further details.)
uIf you must use a water-based paint please apply in light coats, in a warm dry environment. Do NOT reduce paint beyond
the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you attempt to apply water-based paints in a cold or damp environment,
or apply the paint in a heavy coat, the paint will take longer to dry and the water in the paint will penetrate into the
board, raising the grain or fibers in the substrate. The use of satin or semi-gloss finish is highly recommended.
uMasonite can not guarantee the finish on field finished doors.
INSTALLATION OF INTERIOR NON-RATED DOORS:
uAllow doors to become acclimated to the finished building heat and humidity before fitting
and hanging. Doors should be exposed to the ambient conditions for 72 hours.
uUtility or structural strength of the door must not be impaired in the fitting of the door, the application
of the hardware, or cutting and altering the door for lights, louvers, panels, or any other details.
uIn fitting for width trim equally from both sides, the maximum on each side is 1/8th of an inch for ¼ inch overall
trim. If the door has already been machined then trim from the hinge side and re-machine the hinge pockets.
uIn fitting for height do not trim the top of the door. Do not trim more than ¼" off the
bottom of the door unless accommodated by additional blocking.
uUse two hinges on doors up to 60" in height, three hinges on doors up to 90" in height and 4 hinges
up to a maximum of 120" in height. Thread-to-head wood screws are recommended for fastening all
hardware. Pilot holes are strongly recommended prior to inserting screws to avoid splitting.
uUse of wood or wood composite doors is not recommended for any exterior application
and the use in such a manner will void any and all warrantees.
DIMENSIONAL TOLERANCE: (AS PER WDMA INDUSTRY STANDARDS)
uSize Tolerance: Width, height and thickness +/- 1/16"
uSquareness: +/- 1/8" measured corner to corner across the diagonal plane.
uWarp: No more than ¼" of warp as measured across the plane of the door in a section
no greater than 3-6 x 7-0 in a 1-3/4 door, or 3-0 x 7-0 in a 1-3/8 door.
uTrimming of doors is not recommended unless doors are specified with additional stiles and rails to accommodate trimming.
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