Information

Selecting a Door

There are three main types of construction; solid, honeycomb core, and stile and rail. Some designs feature a combination of solid and honeycomb core. Knowing a door’s construction is important when considering security or the placement of the door furniture.

Measuring up for a new door

1 Measure your existing door height, width and thickness.
2 Check that the door opening is square by measuring the door frame diagonally. If the frame is out of square, you may have to order a slightly larger door and trim it to size. A trimming allowance of up to 5mm is allowed on most doors.
3 Keep in mind that approximately 3mm clearance is required for the top and sides of the door and 5mm for the bottom, above the floor covering or door frame sill.

Common door sizes

Entrance Doors 2040x820x40mm
Sidelights 2040x400x40mm
Transoms 400x1800x40mm
Internal Doors
2040x820/770/720/620/520x35mm

Measurement Conversions

To convert Metric to Imperial, divide by 25
Example: 50.8mm divided by 25.4 = 2”
To convert Imperial to Metric, multiply by25.4
Example: 2” x 25.4 = 50.8mm

Installing your new Door

Like many jobs around the home, installing a new door is a simple task….given the right advice and the right tools! Here’s a brief installation guide to help to home handyperson.

1. Remove the existing door and its door furniture, if reusing. Measure and check the new door for size and squareness against existing door jamb.

2. Plane door to required height. Stand door against the hinge stile in the opening. If too wide, mark the overhang on opening side, plane to fit. Do not exceed height and width trimming allowances.

3. Fit hinges to door. Fix the door to the jamb with 2 screws per hinge. The door should swing freely. Remove the door and hinges, apply 2 coats of sealer to the top and bottom edges, and hinge check outs.

4. You may wish at this pint to complete the painting or staining of the entire door, re-hanging your old door until you are ready. (See Applying the finish)

5. Re-hang your new door. Fit door furniture as per instructions. Complete your painting or staining it you have not already done so.

Care and Handling

Timber doors are a natural product and as such are susceptible to changes in the environment such as sunlight, humidity, temperature fluctuations and rain. To help you protect your investment:

• Always store your raw doors flat, in a dry place, avoid freshly plastered rooms or other damp areas.
• Doors must be correctly installed, sealed and maintained.

Door Furniture, Hinges & Accessories

• A good quality lock means peace of mind. Consult a locksmith for advice.
• Follow manufactures instructions carefully when fixing door furniture.
• Door furniture can be fitted in any position on Baltic solid construction doors – subject to instructions form the door furniture manufacturers. On honeyhcomb core doors, check lockblock position first.
• Always hinge entrance and solid construction doors with 3 x 100mm hinges. This will reduce the chance of warping.
• Flashing and weather stripping is recommended for entrance doors exposed to weather.

Choosing the Finish

• Exterior finishes must be used on entrance doors. Enamel paint is recommended, sating or semi-gloss producing the best results.
• Light reflective colors are recommended for all entrance doors. Avoiding dark colors, especially for doors exposed to direct sunlight, will reduce the risk of heat distortion which may cause warping.
• Sealer must be used on entrance doors given a stain finish.
• Enamel or acrylic paint may be used for internal doors.
• Honeycomb core doors should only be painted with flat, semi-gloss or satin finishes.
Appling the Finish

Your new door, including the top and bottom edges and hinge checkouts, must receive 2 coats of paint, varnish or sealer to prevent undue absorption of moisture which may cause warping to occur and void the warranty.

PAINT FINISHES: Apply one coat of primer, if not a primed door, sand lightly in the direction of the grain, apply another coat of undercoat, and finish with two coats of enamel color for entrance doors or enamel or acrylic for internal doors. Remember to properly seal the top, bottom and sides, including behind hinges, always follow the paint manufacturers’ instructions closely.

STAIN FINISHES: Before applying stains, all surfaces must be clean and dry. If light sanding is required, sand in direction of grain only. Avoid cross sanding as this will only exaggerate when stained. Stains do not offer any protection against the elements so an exterior sealer must be used. Because staining is a specialized technique, manufacturers’ instructions must be closely followed.

Maintenance

Doors should be checked periodically of signs of breakdown in the finish used. Over time all finishes break down but the life of the finish will be determined largely by the doors location and exposure to the elements, and the quality of the finish selected.

Guarantee

All doors supplied by Baltic Doors are covered by a 5 Year Guarantee against faulty workmanship and materials subject to compliance with the Company’s Door Care Instructions and Pre-finishing recommendations.

Natural variations in the color and texture of the timber, and normal show through of frame and core components in flush doors are not considered defects. Do not act on the basis of these instruction only as they are of a general nature rather than detailed instructions for any products used in association with your new Baltic door such as door hardware, paints and other finishes.

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