Use and Care Manual

finishing & Refinishing instRuctions
for Interior & Exterior Door Slabs & Systems (JCM004)
The information contained herein is provided solely for informational and/or educational purposes. JELD-WEN disclaims any and all liability associated with the use and/or
provision of this information. Any reliance upon the information or advice is at the risk of the party so relying. The information contained herein may be changed from time to
time without notication.
© 2011 JELD-WEN, inc. | JELD-WEN, the JW icon, FiberLast, Finishield and Reliability for real life are trademarks or registered trademarks
of JELD-WEN, inc., Oregon, USA.
Read all instructions thoroughly before beginning. This is a guideline
for painting and nishing exterior and interior doors. JELD-WEN can’t
evaluate all available paints, stains, or application requirements. Consult
a paint professional or a local paint department/store for coatings
best suited to the project. Select top quality nishes and follow all
manufacturers' instructions.
Finish all six sides (both sides and edges) of the door slab, including
cutouts for hardware, as well as the frame and the brickmould or other
trim in order to ensure proper protection from the elements. The sweep
on the bottom of exterior doors needs to be sealed on both ends with
exterior silicone sealant rather than be painted or stained. Failure to
nish the door slab on all six sides may result in the denial of warranty
claims for operational or performance problems.
IMPORTANT!
• Steel & Fiberglass Door Slabs are factory primed but MUST be nished
within thirty (30) days of installation.
• Factory primed wood doors (molded, ush, custom carved, stile & rail)
MUST be nished within fourteen (14) days of installation.
• Raw, un-primed wood doors (molded, ush, custom carved, stile &
rail) MUST be nished within SEVEN (7) days of installation.
• Finish wood frames or frames in the same manner as the slab.
• Vinyl components do not require nishing.
• Renish products when the nish cracks or splits or becomes dull.
NEEDED MATERIALS & TOOLS
When preparing to nish doors, consider the materials and tools required for
the entire project. Listed below are some common items needed to properly
nish doors. Not all materials and tools will be required for every job.
Needed Materials:
BASIC FINISHING RECOMMENDATIONS
• Wear safety glasses for eye protection, and rubber gloves to prevent
soiling the door with oil from hands.
(12/11)
BASIC FINISHING RECOMMENDATIONS - CONTINUED
• Allow doors to acclimate to local conditions for at least 24 hours
before nishing. Before nishing pre-hung systems, remove the slab
from the frame and remove hardware. For door slabs, rst hang the
slab then remove to nish properly.
• Finish in dust free area away from direct sunlight.
• Finishing is easier if the slab is in a horizontal, at position on a
padded surface. This is not required and the slab may be nished in
any position, however, do not stand an exterior slab on the sweep
(the weatherstrip on the bottom of the door) as damage may result.
• Remove all hardware and mask off glass, weatherstrip, and the door
sweep (on the bottom of exterior slabs).
• If nishing an exterior slab, seal both ends of the sweep (weatherstrip
on the bottom) with an exterior grade silicone.
• If nishing a slab with a glass insert, inspect for sealant that may have
squeezed out onto the glass or door. Carefully score excess sealant
(do not scratch glass) with a utility knife and remove with a plastic
putty knife.
• Wood doors with glass require the nish to ow from wood slightly onto
glass. This protects the glazing compound and prevents water leakage.
• If nishing a slab with a glass insert, follow the glass manufacturer's
instructions on the glass insert frame label.
• Door must be clean and dry before nishing.
• Test your nish prior to application in a discreet location.
• Apply nish materials in multiple light coats instead of fewer heavy coats.
• If painting grained or textured doors, too many coats will diminish
the wood grain texture.
CHOOSE FINISHING MATERIALS
1. If the door is exposed to direct sunlight, dark colored nishes may fade
or deteriorate quickly and increase maintenance. See our Appropriate
Protection document at www.jeld-wen.com/resources in care &
maintenance for more information on color choice.
2. Use a good quality primer and paint, or wood sealer and stain. We
recommend using one manufacturer's products to ensure compatibility.
Follow all manufacturers’ application instructions.
3. If choosing an oil or solvent based paint, consult with a paint
professional on the best product (usually quick drying) for the job.
4. If staining Fiberglass and FiberLast™ doors, for the best results, we
recommend only using a professional quality, heavy body or highly viscous
exterior gel stain. Note: Once berglass doors are stained, it is very
difcult to change the color. Always test the color in an inconspicuous
area to determine if the color is acceptable before staining the entire door.
5. Use only exterior solid color stains on wood surfaces exposed to sunlight
because their high concentration of pigments protects wood against
damage. The natural wood color and grain is obstructed, but the wood
texture is retained. These stains provide minimum protection against
water or dirt protection, so a polyurethane top coat must be used.
6. Finish with coatings that are resistant to water, wear, heat, solvents
and chemicals. Without these characteristics, the nished product may
deteriorate, compromising its integrity.
7. Use a topcoat containing UV inhibitor. Use exterior nishing products
on all exterior surfaces as well as for interior surfaces still exposed to
sunlight to provide extra protection and durability.
• Vinegar and water
• Denatured alcohol
• Wood Block
• Masking tape
• Sandpaper - 150-220 grit or
ner
• Pre-stain conditioner if
staining wood
• Clean rags
• Cheesecloth
• Polyurethane
• Paint or Stain (see instructions
for each door type for specic
recommendations)
• Paint thinner or mineral spirits
(for clean up)
• Tack cloth
• 0000 Steel wool
• Safety Glasses and rubber
gloves
• Screwdrivers
• Power Drill
• Hammer
• Punch
• Utility knife
• Plastic putty knife
• Hand block sander
• Foam Brush
• Paint brush
• Sprayer
Needed Tools: