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Finishing Options Because Vision Products doors are crafted with only the finest materials, you can choose from a wide variety of stain or paint possibilities. Paint dealers have a broad selection of color chips on hand to demonstrate the look you can achieve when staining fine Vision Products doors. If you choose paint instead of stain, you can apply either oil-base or latex resin-base paints oven an oilbase primer. However, take care in following the finishing instructions provided. Also, be sure to evaluate the conditions your Vision 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 oilbase 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. *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 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. The second and third coat (two top coats minimum) may be solvent-borne (oil-base, alkyd resin-base, polyurethane resin-base) or a water-borne (latex resinbase) clear finish. 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 ultraviolet resistance, and good exterior durability. Disadvantages: Cannot be applied below 50 degrees 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 measurably better if protected from the direct effects of sunlight and weathering, and refinishing will not be required as frequently. 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 seated with a premium quality oil-base primer followed by two top coats of a premium quality oil-base paint. Caution Vision Products 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.
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