JELD-WEN Steel & Fiberglass

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FINISHING GUIDELINES
INSTALLATION & FINISHING GUIDELINES
Finishing Guidelines for Fiberglass & Steel Door Slabs & Systems
The information contained herein is provided solely for informational and/or educational purposes. JELD-WEN and BROSCO disclaims any and all liability
associated with the use and/or provision of this information. Any reliance upon the information or advice is at the risk of the party so relying. The
information contained herein may be changed from time to time without notification.
* Door bottoms in prehung units built by BROSCO will be sealed.
Read all instructions thoroughly before beginning. This is a basic guideline
for painting and finishing fiberglass and steel doors. For more information, visit
support. JELD-WEN can’t evaluate all available paints,
stains, or application requirements. Consult a paint professional or a local paint
department/store for coatings best suited for the project. Select top quality finishes
from a single manufacturer and follow all manufacturers' instructions.
*Finish all six sides (both sides and edges) of the door slab, including cutouts
for hardware, as well as the frame and the brickmould or other trim in order
to ensure proper protection from the elements. Failure to finish the door slab
on all six sides may result in the denial of warranty claims for operational or
performance problems.
IMPORTANT!
• Steel & Fiberglass Door Slabs are factory primed but MUST be finished
within thirty (30) days of installation.
• Finish wood frames in the same manner as the slab.
NEEDED MATERIALS & TOOLS
When preparing to finish doors, consider the materials and tools required for
the entire project. Listed below are some common items needed to properly
finish doors. Not all materials and tools will be required for every job.
Needed Materials:
Needed Tools:
BASIC FINISHING RECOMMENDATIONS
• Wear safety glasses for eye protection, and rubber gloves to prevent
soiling the door with oil from hands.
• Allow doors to acclimate to local conditions for at least 24 hours before
finishing.
• Before finishing pre-hung systems, remove the slab from the frame and
remove hardware. For door slabs, first hang then remove and finish
properly.
• Finish in dust free area away from direct sunlight.
• Finishing is easier if the slab is in a horizontal, flat position on a padded
surface. This is not required and the slab may be finished in any position,
however, do not stand the slab on the sweep (the weatherstrip on the
bottom of the door) as damage my result.
• Remove hardware and mask off glass, weatherstrip, and the door sweep.
• If finishing a slab with a glass insert, inspect for sealant that may have
squeezed out onto the glass or door. Carefully score excess sealant (do
not scratch glass) with a utility knife and remove with a plastic putty
knife.
• If finishing a slab with a glass insert, follow the glass manufacturer's
instructions on the glass insert frame label.
• Door must be clean and dry before finishing.
• Test your finish prior to application in a discreet location.
• Apply finish materials in multiple light coats instead of fewer heavy coats.
• If painting grained or textured doors, too many coats will diminish the
woodgrain texture.
CHOOSE FINISHING MATERIALS
1. If the door is exposed to direct sunlight, dark colored finishes may fade
or deteriorate quickly and increase maintenance. See the Appropriate
Protection document at support in care &
maintenance for more information on color choice.
2. Use a good quality primer and paint or stain. We recommend using one
manufacturer's products to ensure compatibility. Follow all manufacturer's
application instructions.
3. We recommend only using a professional quality, heavy body or highly
viscous gel stain on Fiberglass doors.
4. Finish with coatings that are resistant to water, wear, heat, solvents
and chemicals. Without these characteristics, the finished product may
deteriorate, compromising its integrity.
5. Use a topcoat containing UV inhibitors. Exterior finishing products provide
extra protection and durability for interior surfaces still exposed to sunlight.
PREPARE THE DOOR
• If the door slab has a glass insert, install the provided screw covers over
the screw heads around the glass insert, if necessary.
• Clean the door with a clean, lint-free cloth, removing all dust and foreign
debris. For light cleaning, a one part vinegar to ten parts water mixture
can be used. For tough dirt removal, use denatured alcohol making sure
all residue is removed by turning the cloth often while cleaning. Allow
the door to dry thoroughly. DO NOT USE SANDPAPER OR LACQUER
THINNER ON FIBERGLASS DOORS.
PAINTING - ALL DOOR TYPES
1. For steel doors only: Lightly scuff and sand the door face and back (to
improve paint adhesion) and wipe the door clean with denatured alcohol.
If the door jamb and molding are primed, clean with a damp cloth and
allow to dry. Lightly sand any rough areas and re-clean.
2. Paint all sides of the door, jamb and molding with a good-quality exterior
water-based acrylic latex or solvent-based paint. Interior door or trim paint
may be used on interior surfaces of exterior doors. Spray applications
work best. To simulate a traditional stile and rail door look when using a
paintbrush, paint the panels first, then across all the rails from one edge
of the door to the other. Then paint the stiles from the top of the door
to the bottom. The door can also be rolled for a stipple look. For best
results, apply multiple light coats.
STAIN - ARCHITECTURAL & DESIGN-PRO WOODGRAIN
1. Apply an even amount of good quality solvent-based stain, or a heavy
body (highly viscous) gel stain with a foam brush or lint free cloth in the
direction of the woodgrain.
2. Work the stain into the surface grain using a circular or cross grain
motion before finally wiping the stain in the direction of the grain. For
best results, apply stain to one section of the door at a time, starting
with the embossed panels first and proceeding with the flat sections.
3. Before stain dries completely, wipe the surface in the direction of the
grain with a clean cheesecloth or rag to remove any excess stain. Tip:
Use a dry, soft natural bristle brush to feather out lap marks and blend
stain. Blot brush on a dry cloth and feather stain until desired color is
reached.
4. If a darker appearance is desired, apply a second coat after the first coat
dries. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to apply and wipe the stain
with a brush or rag.
5. Allow stain to dry per manufacturer’s recommendations. Spray on at least
one coat of clear exterior grade polyurethane. THE FIRST COAT MUST BE
SPRAYED ON. Additional coats may be sprayed or brushed on. Repeat
process on the remaining unfinished sides of the door.
• Vinegar and water
• Denatured alcohol
• Masking tape
• Sandpaper - 220 grit or finer
• Clean rags
• Cheesecloth
• Polyurethane
• Paint or Stain (see instructions
for each door type for specific
recommendations)
• Paint thinner or mineral spirits
(for clean up)
• Safety Glasses and
Rubber Gloves
• Foam Brush
• Paint Brush
• Sprayer