Nothing compares to the look of natural wood. Each species has its own inherent beauty and can enhance the aesthetic appeal of any home. However, nature can be harmful to unprotected wood. Ultraviolet rays, temperature, moisture, elevations, and fungi cause your wood to deteriorate over time, making it important to properly protect your precious wood from nature’s elements.

FINISHING YOUR SUMMIT DOORS

Your doors should be finished prior to installation within 72 hours of delivery to validate the warranty. Achieving a high quality finish on-site is possible, but it requires planning, time, and careful attention to detail. For optimum results, we recommend consulting a wood finishing professional.

Stain

All unfinished stain grade doors are sealed before shipping with Nelsonite, a wood stabilizer which guards against swelling, shrinking and warping. Nelsonite also repels water and acts as a preservative.

Lighter color stains are recommended on garage doors. The darker the stain, the more heat is absorbed. Further, the more heat that is absorbed, the more likely the wood is to move.

1. Clean it. Before applying stain, wipe the wood down with a clean cloth dampened by mineral spirits to temporarily emphasize defects such as sanding marks. Smooth out any flaws that appear and remove all dust with a brush, compressed air, or a tack cloth.
2. Stain it. Apply stain generously to all six sides (front, back, edge, and end grains) following the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Finish it. When the stain is dry, brush or spray on the first finish coat and let it dry according to the manufacturer’s directions. Drying or curing times will vary depending on the type of finish you use. When it is bone-dry, sand the surface lightly with fine sand paper. Remove the dust with compressed air or a tack cloth and apply second coat.

Repeat steps 1-3 as necessary to achieve desired color and appearance.

Helpful Hints and Reminders:

• Oil or alkyd-based semi-transparent stains are recommended for use on our doors, providing a light, even coloring and at least twice the service life of non-pigmented water repellent preservatives.
• Use the right brush – natural bristle for oil-based stains and synthetic for latex. Stain brushes are wider than paint brushes and have shorter bristles.
• Stain absorbs and dries more quickly than paint.
• Check the weather. Allow ample amount of time for the stain to dry. Optimum staining climate: 50 - 90ï‚°F, preferably low humidity and avoid direct sunlight.
• Stain pigments settle more quickly than paint. Make sure the stain is well mixed prior to starting. Stop and mix the stain regularly.
• Apply the stain in the direction of the wood grain.
• Lap marks do not show up until the stain dries. Avoid them by brushing back from dry to wet. Work in small areas and do not stop in the middle of the door.
• Stain all vertical running material from top to bottom and all horizontally running material from left to right.

Paint

All unfinished paint grade doors are primed with a premium exterior primer before shipping. NOTE: If painting is delayed for more than two weeks from delivery of doors, a soap-like material may form on the surface and interfere with the bonding of the next coat of paint. If this occurs, the surface should be scrubbed and sanded with fine sandpaper or simply re-primed before applying the next coat.

1. Clean It. Sand all glossy, rough, or patched surfaces. Then, remove all dust with a brush, compressed air, or a tack cloth.
2. Paint It. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, apply two topcoats to the primed door. Be sure to cover all six sides (front, back, edge, and end grains).

Helpful Hints and Reminders:

• We recommend using a top quality acrylic latex paint on our doors. Latex paints resist chalking and tint loss caused by direct sunlight better than oil-based or alkyd paints. Permeable or breathable latex paints also allow moisture to vaporize and escape before damage to your wood can occur. In addition, the superior adhesion and flexibility of latex paints help prevent cracking and flaking caused by the expanding and/or contracting of the wood material.
• Paint quality is generally reflective of its price.
• A painted finish with two top coats over one primer coat will last roughly twice as long as one heavy coat over one primer coat.
• Check the weather forecast before starting the job. Rain or high wind can cut your painting time short and ruin what has already been applied. Today's exterior latex is fast drying, but it still needs time to dry before being in contact with any moisture. Oil-based paint needs curing time - check the manufacturer's recommendations. Paint when temperatures are above 50° and below 85°. Heavy rain or high humidity on a newly painted uncured surface can cause blistering. Avoid painting in direct sun.

Special Note regarding Tannins

DEFINITION: Tannin (or Extractive) Bleeding: Redwood, Cedar and Douglas Fir are examples of wood species that contain naturally occurring, water soluble chemicals that tend to migrate to the surface with exposure to extracting agents such as water. After rain or heavy dew, coffee or tea-colored stains may appear on the wood surface. If the wood is coated, discoloration of the coating may occur when tannin extractives are dissolved into the coating solution by water, reach the surface and remain as dark, coffee-brown stains after the water evaporates. This reddish-brown bleeding is unsightly, but not damaging to the coating.

Recommendations: Summit Door applies double coatings of a premium primer especially made for wood species known for tannic bleed through. On site, wood brightner products can also aid in the removal of the dark colored bleed through.