Use and Care Manual

DOC1INSE 5/11

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

Finished Woodgrain Doors: Over time, harsh weathering will degrade even the best fiberglass finish. We recommend

reapplying a UV topcoat over the existing topcoat every 2-3 years. We do not recommend stripping the factory finish

topcoat. In locations of severe weather exposure, more frequent maintenance may be required. Fading, minor cracking

and peeling are some initial signs of UV topcoat deterioration.

Painted Fiberglass Doors and Wood Components: Repaint your doors, jambs and brickmolds as soon as deterioration

occurs. Initial signs of wear are fading, cracking, bubbling, and peeling.

Weatherstrip: Replace compression weatherstrip, door sweep, and seal pads when worn or torn.

Caulking: Just as with the finish, it is imperative that deterioration of caulking/sealant is properly maintained. Any areas

of deterioration should be re-caulked based on the areas pointed out in the installation instructions (Exterior Trim to

Exterior Façade, Exterior Trim to Jamb, Jamb Base to Threshold/Sill). Note: All Feather River fiberglass door lite

frames come pre-caulked from the factory. The excess sealant on the door lite is normal and does not indicate a

defective glazing. In some cases over time, you may experience excess caulking/sealant ooze around the lite frame. In

most cases this happens during extreme heat buildup or when the door is exposed to direct sunlight. The excess

sealant on the glass can be removed by carefully scoring the excess sealant with a razor blade and peeling it off. The

excess sealant on the glass side may be better removed with the blade after scoring. However for the sealant on the

finish side, the sealant should be removed without using the blade after the initial scoring around the perimeter of the

frame.

Door Lite Plugs: Every door with a lite comes with enough plugs to fill all screw holes. All screw plugs should have a

tight fit when installing to keep from falling out. To install screw plugs, line up screw plug with hole and insert at a slight

angle to get started. In some cases you may be able to push the plug into place with hand. In most cases, you will

need to take a small round head hammer and lightly tap into place or take the handle part of a screwdriver and tap into

place with a hammer. If it seems that the screw plugs are too tight to fit into the plug holes, place the screw plug packet

in a freezer for about an hour prior to installing or slightly sand or file bottom side of the plug to help plug get started in

the plug hole.

Thermal Bowing: In some areas with temperature fluctuations, your door may experience signs of bowing over a period

of days. This is typically due to the temperature difference between the exterior and interior part of the home. In most

cases the door should return back to it’s normal position. This is also common during the first couple of weeks after the

door is installed while the door becomes acclimated to the opening. However in areas or conditions of extreme

temperature exposure on the door, some permanent bowing can be expected. In the areas of extreme temperature

exposure, the effect of the temperature on the door can be reduced by following some recommendations listed below.

Door Exposure and Protection: Doors protected by the elements will obviously need less maintenance and re-finishing

vs. doors fully exposed to the elements. So overhangs will help provide long lasting protection to your entryway along

with reduced maintenance.

Color Choice: As with overhangs, door colors may help reduce periodic maintenance and help with the door

performance, especially in areas where doors receive an extreme amount of sun without protection. Dark colors will

absorb more heat than the light colors. So if a door is absorbing a lot of heat or has constant sun exposure, it is more

likely to have UV topcoat deterioration, color fading, and even issues with warping due to differential temperature. Light

colors in these situations will help reduce the amount of heat absorption and help prolong the life of the door and reduce

the overall maintenance.

Storm Doors: Our doors are energy efficient and storm door protection is not necessary. If purchasing a storm door,

keep in mind that it should be ventilated to help reduce the amount of heat buildup. Full View non-ventilated storm

doors in areas where no overhang and constant sun exposure is present will most likely lead to accelerated issues

pointed out above due to the extreme heat (UV deterioration, color fading, warping, caulk/sealant oozing).

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CARE AND MAINTENANCE Finished Woodgrain Doors: Over time, harsh weathering will degrade even the best fiberglass finish. We recommend reapplying a UV topcoat over the existing topcoat every 2-3 years. We do not recommend stripping the factory finish topcoat. In locations of severe weather exposure, more frequent maintenance may be required. Fading, minor cracking and peeling are some initial signs of UV topcoat deterioration.
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CUIDADO Y MANTENIMIENTO Puertas con textura de madera acabadas: Con el tiempo, la exposición a la intemperie degradará aún el mejor acabado de fibra de vidrio. Recomendamos volver a aplicar una capa de UV sobre la capa superior ya existente cada 2-3 años. No se recomienda remover la capa de acabado que viene de fábrica. En los lugares de severa exposición a la intemperie, se puede requerir un mantenimiento más frecuente.