Installation Instructions
- Deliver door(s) to building site after plaster of cement is dry. If doors are stored for more than one week, all edges should be sealed.
- Handle with clean gloves and do not drag doors across on another or other surfaces.
- Store flat on level surface in a dry, well ventilated building. Cover to keep clean, but allow for air circulation.
- Doors should not be subjected to abnormal heat, extreme dryness, humid conditions or sudden changes therein. They should be conditioned to average prevailing relative humidity of the locality before hanging.
- The utility or structural strength of the door must not be impaired in the fitting of the door, the application of hardware, or cutting or altering the door for lights, louvers, panels or any other special details.
- For exterior doors, use three hinges on doors 7′ in height or less, and four hinges on doors over 7′ in height.
- For all interior doors use three hinges, except two hinges may be used for hollow core doors weighing less than 50 pounds or 6’8″ or less in height. All doors 7’5″ or higher require four hinges. Allow a fitting clearance of 1/16 inch on the hinge side and 1/8 inch on the lock side.
- When light or louver cutouts are made in exterior doors, they shall be properly protected to prevent moisture from leaking into the core. When installed for outdoor swing with no protection from the elements, door must be properly protected by flashing or other suitable means.
- Before finishing, remove handling marks or effects of exposure to moisture with a thorough, final sanding over all surface of the door using3/0 and 5/0 sandpaper and clean before applying sealer or finish. Some species of wood (oak particularly) contain a chemical which reacts unfavorable with certain finishes. Where possible, the surface should be tested for such unfavorable actions. Application of a sealer before finishing will usually prevent this difficulty. The full beauty of wood is best emphasized by the use of a satin or semi-gloss finish.
- Immediately after fitting or cutting for closures, weatherstrip and/or threshold, and before hanging any interior or exterior door on the hob, the entire door, including the top and bottom edges, must receive an application of primer and two coats of a good grade of paint, varnish or lacquer. Adequate drying time must be allowed between coats. For job-site finishing, do not use a water thinned paint unless an oil-based prime coat is first applied. Exterior finishes shall be used on the exterior face and all edges of exterior doors.
- Latex or oil-based paints do not always cover spaces on the face of birch doors. Therefore, birch doors should be finished only with stain and varnish. If a painted surface is desired, a hardboard faced door should be used.
- Before machining check all six sides for damage. Damaged doors which are machined by customers, are not returnable for credit.
Handling, Job Finishing and Installation Instructions
- These doors are now your responsibility, treat them with care. Keep them dry, clean and in a protected area. Failure to perform any of these steps will result in the doors being ruined without warranty protection.
- If the doors have been finished by Fortress Door keep the poly bag on the door as long as possible. Dust can be wiped off of a factory finished door with a clean cloth.
- If the doors are not factory finished use extreme care when handling and preparing the doors. The doors will need to be sanded to achieve the quality level that you desire. How much time and energy it takes to achieve your desired results is entirely your responsibility. Under no circumstances does Fortress Door warrant the results of doors not finished by Fortress Door Company.
- Barber Poling – Book matched and other similar veneer cuts will almost always exhibit barber poling when finished.
- Pre-drilling of screw holes is required to minimize the chances of the wood splitting whether the door is fire rated or not. However, the use of powered screw drivers can and will increase the chance of the wood splitting as the head of the screw seats. Five Lakes Manufacturing does not warrant wood that is splitting from a screw hole.
- Warping is becoming increasingly rare as more engineered wood products are being used in the manufacturing of the doors. However, if a door does warp we ask that you look closely at the recent changes to the environmental conditions, ensure that frame and installation are true, and that the doors have been properly finished on all 6 sides.
- Fire Labels – Leave them on the door if the door is being finished in the field. If you take them off the label will be destroyed and we cannot mail you new labels.
Fire Door Installation Instructions
- Trimming for height may be done on the bottom rail only (per NFPA 80, maximum trim of 3/4″ allowed on-site).
- Surface mounted hardware shall be attached with throughbolts unless interior blocking is provided.
- A maximum 1/8″ clearance between the frame and door (or leaves of a pair) is allowed.