FAQs

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INSTALLATION

• The utility or structural strength of the door must not be impaired in fitting to the opening, in applying hardware, in preparing for light, louvers, plants-on or other detailing.
• Use a minimum of three hinges for CANYON CUSTOM 1 3/8” doors up to 80” in height, three hinges for all 1 ¾” and all doors up to 84” in height and four hinges for doors over 84” up to 96” in height.
• Clearances between door edges and door frame should be a minimum of 1/16” on the hinge edge.  For latch edge and top rail, the clearance should be 1/8” (+0”, -1/16”).
• All hardware locations, preparations for hardware and methods of hardware attachments much be appropriate for the specific door construction.   Templates for specific hardware preparation are available from hardware manufactures, NWWDA or DHI.
• Pilot holes must be drilled for all screws that act as hardware attachments.   Threaded to the head screws are preferable for fastening hardware to non-rated doors and required on fire-rated doors.

ADJUSTMENTS AND MAINTENANCE

• Ensure that all doors swing freely and do not bind in their frame.  Adjust the finish hardware for proper alignment, smooth operation and proper latching without unnecessary force or excessive clearance.
• Review with the owner/owner’s representative how to periodically inspect all doors for wear, damage and unnatural deterioration.
• Review with the owner/owner’s representative how to periodically inspect and adjust all hardware to ensure that it continues to function as it was originally intended.

HOW TO STORE, HANDLE, FINISH, INSTALL AND MAINTAIN WOOD DOORS.
Preface:  Improper storage, handling, finishing and installation of wood doors may result in severe damage to the doors.  The following guidelines will help maintain the high quality products supplies by Canyon Custom.

• STORAGE AND HANDLING:
• Store doors flat on a level surface in a dry, well-ventilated building.  Doors should be kept at least 3 ½” off the floor and should have protective coverings under the bottom door and over the top.  Covering should protect doors from dirt, water and abuse, but allow for air circulation under and around the stack.  Avoid exposure to direct sunlight.
• Do not subject interior door to extremes of heat and/or humidity.  Prolonged exposure may cause damage.  Buildings where humidity and temperature are controlled provide the best storage facilities.  (recommended conditions 30%-50% Relative Humidity and 30°F to 90°F),
• Do not install doors in buildings that have wet plaster or cement unless they have been properly finished.  Do not store doors in buildings with excessive moisture content – HVAC systems should be operating and balanced.
• Doors should always be handled with clean hands and while wearing gloves.
• Doors should be lifted and carried when being moved, not be dragged across one another.

• FINISHING:   The door must be sealed and finished within 72 hours of installations with a suitable sealer and a minimum of two coats of finish on all six sides to maintain warranty status.

• To ensure uniform moisture exposure and dimensional control, all surfaces must be treated equally.
• Before applying first finishing coat, remove all handling marks, raised grains, scuffs, burnishes and other undesirable blemishes by block sanding all surfaces in a horizontal position with 120, 150, or 180 grit sandpaper.  To avoid cross-grain scratches, sand with the grain.
• After sanding, clean entire door with a cloth, removing all dust and foreign debris.  (Avoid caustic or abrasive materials)
• A thinned coat of sanding sealer should be applied prior to staining to promote a uniform appearance and avoid sharp color contrasts or a blotchy appearance.
• All exposed wood surfaces must be sealed including top and bottom rail ends.  Cutouts for hardware in exterior doors must be sealed  prior to installation of hardware and exposure to weather.
• If necessary, adjust components before finishing.  (Wood panels can “float”)  Carefully realign with a wood block and hammer.
• Before finishing, hang the door.  Then remove to finish properly.  Doors must be dry before finishing.
• Certain species of wood contain chemicals that react unfavorably to some finishes or to foreign materials in the finishing system.  Where possible, test your finish prior to application and eliminate the use of steel wool on bare wood, rusty containers or any other contaminate.
• Avoid dark colored finishing if door is exposed to direct sunlight.  This will reduce the change or warping, checking or sunburn.
• Doors with clear glass require special care.  Finish should flow from wood slightly onto glass to prevent water leakage and protect glazing putty.
• Oil-based sealer or primer coats provide the best base coat for finishing.  If a water-based primer is used, it should be an exterior grade.  Note: Water-based coating on unfinished wood may cause splits, highlight joints and raise wood grain, and therefore should be avoided.  If a water-based primer is desired, please contact the finish supplier regarding the correct application and the use of these products.
• Be sure the door surface being finished is satisfactory in both smoothness and color after each coat.  Allow adequate drying time between coats.

EXTERIOR FINISH
Stain and Clear Finish

• The first coat should be a stain-and-sealer, combination of strain and sealer which colors the door and seals the surface on all six (6) sides.  It is available in a wide range of colors.  The stain-and-sealer should have an alkyd-resin base,  Under no circumstance should a lacquer-based toner or any other lacquer-base finish be used on exterior doors.
• The second and third coat (Minimum two (2) top coats on all six (6) sides may be a solvent-borne (oil-base, alkyd resin-base, polyurethane resin-base or a water-borne (latex resin-base) clear finish.  See note (A) and (B) below:

The advantages and disadvantages of solvent-borne vs. water-borne clear finishes are as follows:

• Solvent-Borne
• Advantages:  Faster drying, harder and more water-resistant.  May be applied under variable weather conditions.
• Disadvantages:  Subject to ultra-violet degradation and not as flexible or durable as water-borne clear finish.

• Water-Borne
• Advantages:  Very flexible, greater ultra violet resistance, and good exterior durability.
• Disadvantages:  Cannot be applied below 50°F., long drying period required, and may not fully cure for several weeks.  Water sensitive until cure is complete.   Note:  Do not sand between coats of latex clear.   All Stain-and-clear finishes will perform measurable better if protected from the direct effects of sunlight and weathering, and refinishing will not be required as frequently.

PAINT FINISH
Requires a minimum of two (2) top-coats all in six (6) sides.  Either oil-base or later resin base exterior grade paints may be used with success on panel doors.  Oil-base paints offer more resistance to the passage of water (liquid vapor) than latex resin-based paints, but the latter have better durability and color retention.
Latex-resin-base top-coat paints require the use of an oil-base primer.  Of course, both primer and top coat should be made by the same manufacturer and be designed to be used as a combination.

Caution.
Do not use lacquer thinner with any acrylic glazed doors, as this thinner may damage the acrylic glazing.  CANYON CUSTOM cannot evaluate all the available paints and stains, nor the customer’s specific application requirements.  Your paint dealer should know of suitable finish systems that give satisfactory results in your region.  It is highly recommended that top quality finishes be selected, and the application instructions on the container be followed explicitly.

INTERIOR FINISHING
Stain-and-Clear Finish
A solvent-borne finish system is recommended for interior doors and may be a lacquer-based system.  If a brush application is to be used, it is recommended that a pre-sealer be used prior to staining.  For best performance, a minimum of two (2) clear top coats on all six (6) sides must be used over stains.

Paint Finish
Doors should be sealed with a good quality oil based primer followed by a minimum of two (2) top-coats of a solvent-based or latex enamel applied to all six (6) sided.

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE
Your CANYON CUSTOM door has been handcrafted to last for years to come.  But, like any fine piece of furniture, its finish will require some simple, periodic maintenance to keep it looking great and provide proper protection against the elements.  Regular finish maintenance is also a requirement of the warranty.

Here are some signs to watch for.  They indicate that it is time for some simple easy-to-perform maintenance.

• Hairline cracks in the top-coat of finish.
• Changes in the color of the finish.
• Changes in the texture of the finish, such as flaking or scaling.
• Dullness or chalkiness in the finish.

If you live in a severe climate or your entry receives a lot of direct sunlight from a southern or western exposure, you will want to examine your door’s finish more often.  Depending on the conditions, you may also need to refinish the door more frequently.