Mahogany Care & Finishing
Finishing Options
Because Simpson Mastermark® doors are crafted with only the finest Honduran Mahogany, you can choose from a wide variety of stain or paint possibilities. If you choose paint instead of stain, you can apply either oil-base or latex resin-base paints over an oil-base primer.
However, to maximize the life of your door and assist in warranty compliance, take care in following the finishing instructions as outlined below. Also, be sure to evaluate the conditions your Simpson door must endure, such as direct exposure to severe climates, before deciding on the specific finish to use.
Handling
- Do not walk on any door units. Some units contain glass.
- Avoid dragging doors across one another and keep doors clean.
- Store flat on a level surface in a dry, well ventilated building.
- Doors should be conditioned to average prevailing relative humidity of the locality before hanging.
- Doors should not be subject to extreme or rapid changes in heat or humidity. Avoid sudden changes such as forced heat to dry out a building.
- If the doors are to be stored on the job site, all ends and edges must be sealed with an effective quality oil-base sealer in order to prevent undue moisture absorption.
Preparation for Finishing
- Before applying the first coat of finish, sand the entire surface lightly with 5/0 sandpaper (180 grit). This is to remove fingerprints and handling marks. This is one of the most important steps in finishing and can be expected to take considerable time.
- Adjust or align components if necessary before finishing. Wood panels "float" and may be knocked into alignment with a wood block and hammer. Be careful not to damage door.*
- Clean door thoroughly after sanding with a cloth to remove all dust or foreign material. However, avoid using caustic or abrasive cleaners.
- Hang door before finishing, then remove to finish properly.
- All surfaces of the door must be properly finished. The edges (top, bottom and sides) should be coated with each and every coat of finish that is applied to the exterior surface of the door. Doors must be dry before finishing.
- On doors that are glazed with clear glass, the finish used should be flowed from the wood slightly onto the glass. This will provide assurance against water leakage and protect the glazing "putty" from drying out.
Exterior Finishing
1. Stain-and-Clear Finish
The first coat should be a stain-and-sealer, a combination of stain and sealer which colors the door and seals the surface. It is available in a wide range of colors. The stain-and-sealer should have an alkyd-resin base. Under no circumstances should a lacquer-based toner or any other lacquer-based finish be used on exterior doors. For best results, a filler should be applied to fill the pores of the wood and to achieve a smooth surface. This can be done by using an exterior stain and filler combination.
Stain the door using an exterior wood stain and wipe with a soft cotton cloth to achieve the desired level of color.
The second and third coat (two top coats minimum) 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. Sand with an extra fine grit sand paper between coats. The advantages and disadvantages of solvent-borne vs. water-borne clear finishes are as follows:
(a) 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.
(b) Water-Borne Advantages: Very flexible, greater ultra-violet resistance and good exterior durability. Disadvantages: Cannot be applied below 50º 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 clear latex.
All stain-and-clear finishes will perform measurably better if protected from the direct effects of sunlight and weathering, and refinishing will not be required as frequently.
2. Paint Finish
Either oil-base or latex 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 and vapor) than latex resin-base paints, but the latter have better durability and color retention.
Doors should be sealed with a good quality oil-base primer followed by two topcoats of either an oil-base or latex resin-base paint. Of course, both primer and top coat should be made by the same manufacturer and be designed to be used as a combination.
Note: Where possible exposure to direct sun or rain is a factor, doors should be sealed with a premium quality oil-base primer followed by two top coats of a premium quality oil-base paint.
3. Caution
Simpson Door Company cannot evaluate all the available paints and stains, nor the customers' 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.
Fitting and Hanging
- When hanging door, allow adequate clearance for swelling of door or frame in damp weather. Allow approximately 3/16" clearance for swelling when the door is installed in fully dry conditions. Jambs must be plumb.
- Do not cut panel doors down in height by more than 3" (1/2" maximum from top). Care should be taken in cutting panel doors down in width to avoid exposing engineered components. Use sharp fine tooth saw for trimming ends of doors.
- Caution must be used to avoid impairing the strength of the door when fitting for locks. Allow at least 1" of wood back of mortise.
- Use three hinges on doors up to 7' in height and four hinges on doors over 7'. Hinges must be set in a straight line to prevent distortion.
- Jambs and stops must be set square and plumb.
- For best performance, any exterior door should be installed under an overhang or with sufficient protection. If an overhang is not feasible or if additional protection is not practical, finishing the door in a light color will prevent excess heat build-up in the door.
- Immediately after cutting and fitting (before hanging), seal all cut surfaces and ends of door with an effective quality sealer. See exterior and interior finishing recommendation for complete instructions.
- Prior to exterior exposure, doors should be finished with complete finish system.
- To minimize heat loss and save energy, use weather stripping.
Your Simpson Mastermark 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 that's included with every Simpson door.
Here are some signs to watch for. They indicate that it's 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'll want to examine your door's finish often. Depending on the conditions, you may also need to refinish the door more frequently.
*See #7 under "Characteristics excluded from these warranties."