Caring For Doors – What Is Involved?
Sunday, November 8, 2009 1:49It’s important to learn how to care for your door if you have to store it before fitting. The temperature and humidity of the storage area needs to be as close as possible to those provided by the supplier and manufacturer. It’s therefore important to have doors delivered at the best time for your installation plans.
If you have to keep them at your home before installing them, think about a suitable space for them. To comply with the appropriate British standards, doors are usually manufactured from timber with a specified moisture content (between 10% and 19%). Storage before use should keep the same conditions so that moisture content remains stable.
This is not as problematic as you might think and you’ll be helped to plan for storage when ordering.
On arrival, carry and handle your new doors as you would a piece of furniture. Take care to carry by the ends and not to try to manipulate them singlehandedly as this will be difficult and may result in you twisting them.
To store doors before fitting, you’ll need a flat surface (usually a floor) and bearers you can place under each door. Place at least three bearers under each door including the one at the bottom of the stack. Add each one carefully to the stack without exerting any uneven pressure. Never stack doors on their ends or sides.
Door furniture or cills mean taking extra care over finding props to go between the doors. If props aren’t thick enough, the cills, etc may gouge or scratch other doors.
If you have different types of doors awaiting installation, do remember to keep descriptions (such as product numbers) visible. If you have to separate parts (e.g. frames and doors), they should similarly be made easily identifiable.
Carefully maintain any wrappings on your doors. Shrink wrap will usually cover factory finished doors and other doors may have thick paper or other materials keeping light and ultra-violet rays from the timber/veneer. Preservation of these important protections is another good reason for careful handling of your doors.
Doors delivered “in the white” (with just an initial primer or base coat) will require careful priming on every part and edge as soon as they arrive. You can buy appropriate treatment from the supplier who will help you choose the best product for your particular case.
When you’re ready to hang internal doors, don’t subject them to sudden changes in temperature or humidity. They should be conditioned to their new situation before hanging, and of course, never hung before their surface has been finished appropriately.
Door care when storing is simply to keep them in prime condition ready for hanging. They should be stacked flat allowing air to circulate, and the temperature and humidity as close as possible to factory stockage. They should also be protected from light and dirt.
If you take the time to talk through this storage period with your supplier when ordering and arranging delivery, you’ll be confident when the time comes, that you know how to care for your door.
Article submitted by Savoy Timber Ltd, the No. 1 supplier of doors and door accessories in the North West UK. If you are looking for interior doors or external doors make sure you check out what they have to offer. With masses of doors available a fast delivery Savoy are your first choice for on-line doors.
