How to store, handle, and finish wood interior doors

Do not expose doors to rain or snow at anytime.
Prehungs should not come in contact with moisture. Prehungs should be kept off the floor and should have protective coverings under and over the units. Covering will protect door units from dirt, water and abuse.
Avoid exposure of prehungs to direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Certain species, in an unfinished state, are more susceptible to discoloration if exposed to sunlight.
Do not subject prehungs to extremes of heat and/or humidity. Buildings where humidity and temperature are controlled provide the best storage facilities (recommended conditions 25%-55% relative humidity and 50 degree F to 90 degree Fahrenheit).
Do not install prehungs in buildings that have wet paint, plaster or cement unless they have been properly finished. Do not store prehungs in buildings with excessive moisture content.
Prehungs should always be handled with clean hands or while wearing clean gloves.
Caution must be exercised when lifting prehungs. Do not grab or jerk unit by the casing or it may loosen or even pull off.
You must shim a prehung during installation to maintain your margins and be able to anchor properly to the stud. If you secure a prehung bythe casing alone your margins will shift.
Due to variation in the thickness of doors and paint finishes you must set the stops to the door and secure the stops after hanging.
To prevent the splitting of doors and frames proper size pilot holes must be pre-drilled before installing hardware.
If torque is too great, installing locksets and reapplying hinges with screw gun will strip screws. All final tightening of screws should be done with hand held screw driver.
It is the responsibility of the installer to make all adjustments such as adjusting the stops, the strike and maintaining consistent margins.
Please do not call the manufacturer, the prehanger or the lumber dealer if you experience a prehung problem and you have not followed the aboveinstructions. The warranty will be voided and the purchaser will be charged for all service work performed.

Finishing Instructions

Wood is influenced by changes in moisture content caused by changes within its surrounding environment. To assure uniform moisture exposure and dimensional control all surfaces must be finished equally.
All exposed wood surfaces must be sealed including top and bottom rails. Cutouts for hardware in exterior doors must be sealed prior to installation of hardware and exposure to weather.
Prehung units are not ready for finishing when initially received. Before finishing, remove all handling marks, raised grain, scuffs, burnishes and other undesirable blemishes by block sanding all surfaces with a 120, 150, or 180 grit sandpaper. Solid core flush doors due to their weight naturally compress the face veneer grain while in the stack. Therefore, sanding of the overall surface will be required to open the veneer grain to receive a field applied finish evenly. To avoid cross grain scratches, always sand with the grain.
Certain species of wood, particularly oak, may contain extractives which react unfavorably with foreign materials in the finishing system. Eliminate the use of steel wool on bare wood, rusty containers or other contaminates in the finishing system.

A pre-stain wood conditioner must be applied prior to staining to promote a uniform finish and avoid sharp contrasts in color or a blotchy appearance.
Dark colored finishes should be avoided on all surfaces if the door is exposed to direct sunlight, in order to reduce the chance of warping or veneer checking.
Water-based coatings on unfinished wood are not recommended and may cause veneer splits, highlight joints and raise wood grain. “Use at your own risk”. You must follow the finish manufacturer’s recommendationsregarding the correct application and use of these products.
Be sure the door surface being finished is satisfactory in bothsmoothness and color after each coat. Allow adequate drying time between coats. Desired results are best achieved by following the finish manufacturer’s recommendations. Do not finish doors until a sample of the finish has been approved. Do not finish over water spots. This will void the warranty. Water spots can be sanded out before finishing.
Any claim of manufacturing defects must be filed prior to installation and finishing. Do not stain over water spots and then request replacements.
The door manufacturer, the prehanger and the lumber dealer are not responsible for the final appearance of field finished doors. It is expected that the painting contractor will make adjustments as needed to achieve the desired results.

Cortland Hardwood Products

Manufacturer of Fine Millwork

How to store, handle, and finish wood interior doors