Door Care
CARING FOR YOUR DOOR
Our post-door care page is your go-to resource for maintaining the beauty and functionality of your newly purchased doors. From basic care tips applicable to all door types, to specific instructions tailored to different materials, we've got you covered! Learn how to protect against common issues, enhance your door's aesthetics with decorating tips, and find answers to frequently asked questions. Taking care of your doors not only prolongs their lifespain, but also ensures your home remains welcoming and secure for years to come.
Deanta Doors
To allow this door to acclimatise, it should be left in the house prior to installation for at least 7 days with the ambient temperature gradually increased over this period. 3 coats of internal wood finish are required on unfinished doors and on any modifications to a pre-finished door including the ironmongery and hinge cut-outs. We recommend only the use of products for sealing against moisture which are suitable for use on interior joinery doors. We recommend a few options of oil for your door. Osmo oil, Sikkens polyeutherane interior varnish, Ronseal and Dulux. Three coats of internal wood finish are required on unfinished doors and on any modifications to a pre-finished door including planed edges and the ironmongery and hinge cut-outs. To ensure the best finish on our White Primed doors, we would suggest using a fine sand paper to smooth any roughened surface/excess primer and then completing with one to two coats of your chosen finish. Remember to also treat any altered/trimmed areas too, sealing against any moisture.
LPD Doors
INTERNAL JOINERY: Products taken out of their packaging, must be fully decorated straight away. Pre-finished doors however, come already finished and ready to hang. If the door edges are trimmed, they will need finishing with a polyurethane varnish. We recommend a HiBuild, microporous product that is not quick drying to prevent waterlogging. Our Oak timber doors can be decorated with a paint, stain, varnish or lacquer of your choice. White primed timber doors can be decorated with a good quality timber paint suited to your property. LPD internal joinery is NOT suitable for waxes, polishes, dyes or oils. Please speak to the manufacturer of the product prior to use to ensure it is suitable for the style and construction of your veneered door. LPD are forming a new partnership with Treatex and recommend their Hard Wax Oil for unfinished oak internal doors. It is designed to enhance and protect the natural beauty of your door and is user friendly, easy to apply and can be used in all interior situations.
EXTERNAL JOINERY: Products taken out of their packaging must be fully decorated straight away. Sand away any handling marks or variations and dust thoroughly before priming or sealing. Ensure that wire wool or other sanding materials containing steel or iron are not used on any of our products. Where necessary it is important that doors and frames are fully sealed on the two faces and all edges. Areas that are cut out for handles, locks, hinges, and letter plates etc. must also be fully sealed. These must be in accordance with British standards. Failure to seal products accordingly will invalidate any claims. Use a proprietary branded Hi-Build stain or paint and treat in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Note: Redwood, boarded doors including garage and Paint Grade doors are only suitable for Hi-Build paint finish. Lightly sand between coats to provide the best finish. Ensure adequate drying time is allowed between coats. The sun can shorten darker colours’ lifespan which makes them vulnerable to the elements. Where there are areas of high exposure, cover the external door with a hood, canopy or porch to help create a decorative finish and elongate your door’s lifespan. Regular maintenance, however, is required to stop the deterioration of the wood, the construction and finish. When decorating the door, take care not to paint or stain weather strips, ironmongery, projecting hinges or moving parts as this could cause damage to the performance of the product. LPD external joinery is NOT suitable for varnishes, waxes, polishes, dyes, oils including Danish Oil, yacht varnish or lacquers, as the finishes do not protect our products.
MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES: LPD recommend the following points to maintain and extend the life of your exterior joinery products:
- All joinery products should be washed twice a year minimum with a mild solution of soapy water and rinsed with clean water. This should be completed at least four times if in a marine or industrial environment.
- All mechanical hinges etc. should be oiled with grease or neutral oils.
- Weather seals should be checked and cleaned often.
- When cleaned, scrape, lightly sand and touch up any areas of wear and tear with a matching microporous paint or stain. Bare wood should be primed first.
- Timber is a natural product so performs slightly differently throughout the year, seasonal adjustment may be required to assure ongoing performance.
XLJoinery Doors
Internal White Primed Doors:
- We recommend the use of a good quality brand of water based paint on our white primed doors. It is important to ensure that the coating is suitable for application onto MDF/TIMBER surfaces.
- Final fit the doors to size and remove. This is so that all edges including the top and bottom can be coated and also any ironmongery cuts outs. It is important that all areas of the door are coated equally. i.e. if two coats are applied to the faces of the door, it is important that the rest of the door has the exact same number of coats.
- Remove all loose dust particles after sanding, this can be achieved using a cloth or vacuum if available.
- Apply the first top coat to do door, ensuring the manufacturers application advice is followed accordingly.
- It is important to leave the first coat to dry for the recommended time stated. This will be detailed on the reverse side of the tin.
- After the drying process another light sand of the coating is required using 240 or 320 grade sandpaper. This is to ensure that the second coat adheres to the first.
- Remove all loose dust particles after sanding, this can be achieved using a cloth or vacuum if available.
- Apply the second coat to the door and allow to dry. Most Paints require two coats to achieve an adequate final finish.
- Re hang the door and attach ironmongery.
Internal Oak doors:
- We recommend the use of a good quality brand of a water based coating on our Oak doors. It is important to ensure that the coating is suitable for application onto veneered surfaces.
- This information can be gained via the manufacturers technical department or your local decorators merchant may be able to advise on suitable products.
- It is important to apply one coat immediately after unpacking the door to all faces and edges. First perform a light sand using 240 grade sandpaper. Then apply the first coat of the finish system you have selected. Ensuring the manufacturers application advice is followed accordingly.
- Once dry, the fitting of the door can commence. Remember to re coat any raw timber areas caused by trimming & all latch and hinge cut outs.
- After the fitting procedure has been completed. The door can be finished fully. Sand the first coat lightly using 240 or 320 grade sand paper.
- This provides a “key” to ensure that any subsequent coatings adhere to the first coat efficiently. Do not apply additional coatings to the door without sanding first.
- Remove all loose dust particles after sanding, this can be achieved using a cloth or vacuum if available.
- Apply the second coat to the door and allow to dry. Most coatings require two coats to achieve an adequate final finish.
- Allow the recommended drying time.
- Re hang the door and attach ironmongery.
External Oak Doors:
- These doors can be finished using Translucent or Opaque Coatings. We recommend the use of a good quality high performance external coating system from a reputable manufacturer. It is important to ensure that the product is suitable for use on veneered products prior to use.
- Most external coating systems require 3 coats. i.e. A primer and two top coats or a base stain and two top coats.
- If using a translucent coating, it is important not to use a clear varnish as this can lead to discolouration from UV degradation. All translucent coatings should contain slight pigmentation to protect from this.
- Prior to coating the door, sand using 240 grade sandpaper.
- Remove any loose dust particles using a cloth or vacuum if available.
- Apply the first coat equally to all faces & edges including the top and bottom & also any cut outs created for letter plates etc.
- Allow the recommended drying time as stated by the manufacturer. This information can be found to the rear of the tin.
- Once the first coat is dry, a light sand using 240 grade or 320 grade sandpaper is required. This is to provide an adequate “key” to ensure that any subsequent coatings adhere efficiently. Do not add subsequent coats without lightly sanding first.
- A compatible end grain sealer should now be applied to the top and bottom edges of the door with 2 coats recommended.
- Apply coats number 2 and 3, again using a light sand in between coats.
- The door should be fully finished and coated equally prior to final installation. This includes the top and bottom edges & also any cut outs created for letter plates etc.
External Tricoya Doors:
- External white primed Tricoya doors are supplied pre-treated and primed and are ready for final finishing with a compatible top coat.
- These doors are only suitable for opaque coatings and not translucent.
- A good quality brand of a water based external top coat is recommended.
- It is important to sand the door prior to applying the finish coatings using a 240 grade sandpaper. This is to provide an adequate “key” to ensure that any subsequent coatings adhere efficiently. Do not apply any top coats without sanding the primed surface first.
- Remove any loose dust particles using a cloth or vacuum if available.
- After fitting of the door has been completed, any raw exposed timber created by trimming & cut outs for ironmongery requires coating using the full external paint system. i.e. A compatible primer, end grain sealer and top coat.
- It is important that all areas of the door are coated equally and then the first top coat can be applied.
- Apply the first top coat to all areas of the door and allow to dry for the Manufacturers recommended drying time. This information can be found on the rear of the tin.
- Once dry, a light sand using 240 grade or 320 grade sandpaper is required. This is to provide an adequate “key” to ensure that any additional coatings adhere efficiently. Do not apply any additional coats without sanding the surface first.
- Remove any loose dust particles using a cloth or vacuum if available.
- Apply a second coat to the door and allow to dry.
- Please note: For strong colour changes, a suitable primer or additional third coat may be required.
Mendes Doors
Internal Stain Systems: Sikkens Cetol TYI Satin Plus - Single product system: 2-3 coats application to bare timber, available in clear or light oak.
Internal Paint Systems: Zinsser Allcoat Multi Surface Primer & Finish (Solvent Based) - Single product system: Zinsser will need t advise how many coats, available in white only.
External Stain Systems: Sadolin Extra Durable Clear Coat - Single product system: Minimum of 3 coats application to bare timber, available in clear finish only.
Sikkens Cetol HLS Plus - Single application base coast to be used with Sikkens Cetol Filter 7 (below)
Sikkens Cetol Filter 7 - Top coat to be used with Sikkens Cetol HLS Plus (above) - This is available in numerous finishes, i.e. ebony, rosewood, walnut pine, light/ dark oak etc...
External Paint Systems: Zinsser Cover Stain: Base coat - 1-2 coats required, to be used with Zinsser All Coat Exterior Satin (below)
Zinsser Allcoat Exterior Satin (Solvent Based) - Top coat - available in white, black and a selection of bases that can be tinted to any colour, to be used with Zinsser Cover Stain (above).
Please note Zinsser Allcoat Satin (Solvent Based) as above does not need a base coat - please see their data sheet online.
In addition to these, we state ALL systems must be solvent based and external products must have a UV filter.