The door frame should be set well back from the outer face of the wall or else be protected by a canopy. If not, the head of the frame should be provided with a projecting head drip. External doors opening outward should be particularly well protected.

Glazed panels in doors must satisfy the requirements in respect of safety glass.
Bead glazing must be correctly fitted using compound or glazing tapes to both sides of the glass.

External doors and frames with factory applied primer or base coat stain should have at least one of the finishing coats applied as soon as possible after delivery or installation. The back of external frames should be coated before installation.
Use good glazing practice. Glazing rebates and backs of beads should be sealed with an appropriate sealant.
Ensure surfaces and edges are in good condition before applying finishing coats. If the primer or base coat stain has deteriorated it should be recoated before further finishing coats are applied.

Finishing of external doors and frames should be carried out in dry weather using good exterior quality materials in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. On external doors, the finish should be exterior quality paint or a ‘high build’ stain .

(‘Low build’ types of stain should not be used on external doors)
It should be noted that the use of dark coloured paint or stain finishes on external doors, particularly if located on the south or south west elevations of buildings, will result in high surface temperatures on the door and can increase the risk of distortion and of resin exudation through the finish. Ensure that all Surfaces and Edges are Finished
It is important that all surfaces of doors are painted. For external doors or other doors subject to wetting or take up of moisture it is especially important that the full finishing system is applied tothe top and bottom edges of the door leaf. The bottom edge should be coated before fitting the door.
Factory finished doors should be checked and any small areas made good in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

The door manufacturer may disclaim responsibility for any defect or failure that may subsequently occur which is attributable to non-compliance either wholly or in part with the advice given in this copy.
In addition to the recommendations of the British Wood Working Federation given above, the following points regarding achieving a long lasting finish to doors should be noted. Getting the Best Finish
The secret to a smooth finish is a series of sanding stages (either work by hand or use an electric sander). Always work with the grain and progressively change to finer sandpaper. Make sure thatsharp edges are slightly rounded, especially on doors designed to endure weather conditions, asthese areas are where breakdown of any coating usually begins.
Note: Recommendations from the manufacturers of wood stain and preservatives differ, for example some recommend a different base coat preservative. It is essential that the manufacturer’s instructions are followed closely. Below is a guide to ensuring the finished door is fully protected and sealed. However, our recommended number of treatments is the minimum required, irrespective of manufacturer’s recommendations. We do not recommend the use of wax, polishes or treatment with oils. Varnish cannot be used on external doors unless it is specified for such usage by the varnish manufacturer.

Please use Recommended stain treatment to validate your Warranty period
Please use Recommended stain treatment to validate your Warranty period- A timber door must not be exposed to extremes of temperature or humidity prior to protection with reccommended treatment.

Doors must not be hung or stored in damp or freshly plastered rooms, all new plaster needs at least six weeks drying out period.

To validate the warranty and preserve the appearance of all external doors and to guarantee long and trouble-free service, it is most important that the recommended treatment is used on all our External Doors, which is:

2 coats of ‘Sikkens HLS’ base coat and at least 3 coats of ‘Sikkens Filter 7’ top coat.
OR IF PAINTING
2 coats of Aluminium Prmer and at least 3 coats of top Coat

It is of paramount importance that all external doors are completely sealed from moisture ingress before exposure to the elements, remember there is moisture in the air, and as soon as you unwrap your door it is exposed, whether it be inside your garage or home.

A) - Reduce doors to fit equally from both sides, but not excessively, e.g. maximum of 4mm from each side.
B) - Seal the door with two coats of treatment before fitting, then remove from the hinges, taking off all ironmongery and coat every surface liberally with, including all cut outs before refitting. The number of coats advised by the manufacturer is usually a minimum, it is therfore wise to exceed this if possible.
C) - Fully seal glass rebates and backs of glazing beads prior to glazing on models supplied without glass.
D) - Door Finishing treatment does not adhere to the Silcone that is used for Glazing Pre-glazed Doors, so after completing the finishing on a Pre-glazed door, please be sure to re-silcone between the glass and tmber bead to be sure that you do not have the problem of water penetration, which can seriously damage the construction of the door.

E) - Never fit mortice locks etc. at rail joints as this may seriously weaken them, use a minimum of three 4” hinges.
F) - Always fit with suitable weatherboard regardless of frame cill type fitted, to prevent droplets of moisture hanging from the bottom of the door
G) - It is also advisable due the English climate and for further protection from same, to apply a bead of clear silicone to the glass apertures,
before your final coat of ‘Sikkens Filter 7’
H) - To test the final finish you have put on the door, spray with water, and if finished with 'Sikkens' products correctly as above, water droplets appear and just run off the door.
I) - It is also important to protect your door from direct sunlight and rain by means of a porch, canopy or similar construction.

Remember if an External Door is fitted before any treatment or protection has been applied, it will be ruined within a few hours when exposed to the elements ( moisture in the air is enough to effect the moisture content and subsequently the structure of the door)