Care of Timber Doors on Site

Internal and external timber door sets may be supplied 'in the white', with a primer or stain base coat applied or as fully finished components. Each type needs carefull handling and protection although the actual requirements vary. After delivery it is vital that doors are correctly treated to ensure that the moisture content is appropriate to the situation and that they are not physically damaged in unloading, storage and installation. Good practice avoids damage, maintains quality and saves money.

Delivery Charges...

Check doors at the time of delivery. All components should be cheecked at the time of delivery to ensure that they are in accordance with the order schedule, the delivery is complete and the components, including any protective packaging, are not damaged.
Doors manufactured in accordance with BS1186: Parts 1 and 2: 'Quality of timber and workmanship in joinery' are made from timber with a moisture content between 10% and 19% depending upon thier type and location. For long term performance of the door and finish, it is important that the appropriate moisture content is maintained during storage on site and during the construction process. Wherever possible the sequence of deliveries should be coordinated to site requirements in order that the doors are not kept on site unfixed for longer than necessary.

Handle Doors Carefully...

    Doors and door sets should be handled carefully to avoid physical damage (do not lift by glazing bars) and to keep them clean. When door leaves are protected by shrink-wrapping or other packaging this should be kept in place as long as possible.
    Doors delivered in white should be sealed or knotted and primed on all faces and edges immediately after delivery.
    Never hang a door before applying a protective coating.
    Doors should be stored flat (never opn edge or on end) on a level surface and kept clear of the floor on at least three level bearers. The bearers should be no longer than the door.
    Doors should be protected from any dirt and damage but without restricting air circulation.
    Natural finish doors should be stacked so that they are not partly exposed to daylight and opaque wrappings must not be torn
    Exposure to ultra violet light can cause fading or discolouration of timber veneers.
    Whenever possible store doors and door sets in the sequence they will be needed, with codes or identifying marks visible to avoid double handling. Avoid dragging them across each other in the stack.
    Doors which have projecting cills, or have the hardware fitted, must have spacers between them in the stack to avoid damage.
    Protect doors during site operations.
    Ensure that the moisture content of the wood is kept as close to the level at which it was when the door was manufactured.
    Internal doors must be conditioned to the service conditions before fixing. They must be protected from abnormal heat, extreme dryness, humid conditions or sudden changes of temperature or humidity.
    Doors should not be stored or fitted in a building untill the wet trades are finished and dried out.
    Treat doors like a piece of furniture.
    Factory finished door fames or door linings should ideally be fitted into preformed openings and not built into masonry walls.
    Pre-finished doors should retain thier protective packaging untill the latest possible time, ideally untill internal decorations have been completed.
    If it is necessary to separate the doors from door sets, each door and frame should be given an identifcation mark so that the correct door is returned to the frame.