Use and Care Manual

NOTICE TO INSTALLERS & DISTRIBUTORS
Storage, handling and finishing instructions for Interior Doors:
• Masonite is not responsible for the installation or finishing of defective doors. If a door is found to be defective please inform us as soon as possible so
that we may address the issue and correct the problem in a timely manner.
• When doors are received they must be inspected immediately for quality, including correct size, machining, specie of veneer and finish,
if factory finished.
• Any defects should be promptly reported to your supplier in writing and the supplier should notify Masonite immediately. Field inspections by Masonite
may take up to two (2) weeks from date of notifications, depending on schedules at the time of notification, but every effort will be made to address your
concerns in a timely fashion. A Masonite sales Representative or Quality Assurance Representative will determine the nature of the defect and the best
method to correct the defect.
• Masonite may not be held responsible for warping or finishing problems if the following recommendations are not followed:
Door Distortion (Warping and Oil Can) Facts and Prevention:
• Warping and oil-canning may occur, depending on the season and relative humidity, until the doors become conditioned to the humidity and
temperature of the building.
• Deliver doors to the site after plaster, drywall or cement is dry.
• If the doors are stored at the job site not for immediate installation, top, bottom and sides must be sealed.
• Hollow core doors may be more prone to warp than solid core doors. When stacking doors, keep the top door covered at all times with a cover sheet.
This is critical to prevent warping.
• Keep the doors away from direct sunlight and sources of extreme heat, cold or humidity.
• Allow doors to become fully acclimated before fitting and hanging.
• When storing keep the doors stacked horizontal and fully supported on a level surface, do not lean the doors vertically against a wall or other structure.
• Keep the doors away from direct sunlight and sources of extreme heat, cold or humidity.
• Do not hang a door in a location where there will be extremes of humidity, such as in a room that is being painted, in a room where a concrete floor has
recently been poured, or in a non-controlled climate building located in a high humidity climate.
• If a door has a closer installed Masonite does not recommend the use of doorstops or wedges being used to hold the door open. This will result in
uneven pressure on the door and will cause warping.
• If the frame into which the door is being installed is not true and plumb the door will appear to be warped, or any minor warp present may be
exaggerated by the frame.
• The top, bottom, opening, and hardware recess edges must be finished after fitting. Refer to our finishing instructions available on line at
Masonite.com.
• For questions, refer to the Masonite warranty available on-line at Masonite.com.
Door Finishing Recommendations:
• Refer to How to Paint and How to Stain instructions on Masonite.com.
• Prior to staining, sealing and finishing, wood veneer doors should be lightly and completely sanded, with not less than 180 grit sandpaper, to remove all
handling marks, oils and raised grain. Do not use steel wool; this can leave debris which will compromise the finish.
• For soft woods that may not accept stain evenly, use a sanding sealer on veneer prior to staining or finishing. When staining, avoid the use of a dark
stain.
• Please test several doors for compatibility with your finishing system. If you encounter a problem DO NOT PROCEED but contact your paint
manufacturer for assistance. Masonite will not be held responsible for refinishing costs incurred if you have not tested your finish for compatibility prior to
finishing all the doors on your project. Contact your supplier if your paint manufacturer can not resolve the issue.
• It is recommended to sand between coats following the paint manufacturer’s instructions.
• All four (4) edges (top, bottom, sides), hardware, lite and louver cutouts must be sealed after fitting with at least two (2) coats of oil/alkyd-based paint,
varnish or lacquer, if local code permits, to prevent warping, twisting and checking. The same consistency of finish must be applied to all surfaces. Follow
the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, including guidelines on the reduction of water based paints. Note that primer does not function as a sealer or
moisture barrier. (Refer to pamphlet on Masonite.com for additional details)
• If you must use a water-based paint please apply in light coats, in a warm dry environment. Do not reduce paint beyond manufacturer’s
recommendations. If you attempt to apply water-based paints in a cold or damp environment, or apply the paint in a heavy coat, the paint will take longer to
dry and the water in the paint will penetrate into the board, raising the grain or fibers in the substrate. The use of satin or semi-gloss finish is recommended.
• Masonite can not guarantee the finish on field finished doors.
. Installation of interior non-rated doors:
• Allow doors to become acclimated to the finished building heat and humidity before fitting and hanging. Doors should be exposed to the ambient
conditions for 72 hours.
• Utility or structural strength of the door must not be impaired in the fitting of the door, the application of the hardware, or cutting and altering the door for
lights, louvers, panels, or any other details.
• In fitting for width trim equally from both sides allowing 1/8” clearance on each side, unless the door has already been machined, in which case trim
from the hinge side and re-machine the hinge pockets.
• In fitting for height do not trim the top of the door. Do not trim more than 1/4” off the bottom of the door unless accommodated by additional blocking.
• Use two hinges on doors up to 60” in height, three hinges on doors up to 90” in height and 4 hinges up to a maximum of 120” in height. Thread-to-head
wood screws are recommended for fastening all hardware. Pilot holes are strongly recommended prior to inserting screws to avoid splitting.
• Use of wood or wood composite doors is not recommended for any exterior application and the use in such a manner will void any and all
warrantees.
Dimensional Tolerance: (As per WDMA industry standards)
• Size Tolerance: Width, height and thickness +/- 1/16”
• Squareness: +/- 1/8” measured corner to corner across the diagonal plane.
• Stile, rail and core telegraphing (show through): a variation from the true plane in excess of 1/100” in any three inches.
• Warp: No more than ¼” of warp as measured across the plane of the door in a section no greater than 3-6 x 7-0 in a 1-3/4 door,
or 3-0 x 7-0 in a 1-3/8 door.
• Trimming of doors is not recommended unless doors are specified with additional stiles and rails to accommodate trimming.
Revision 3.4 Jun 25, 2009 www.masonite.com Document Number : ID-DOC-0010