Painting, sealing and caring for timber doors
Seal all six faces of a new door before you hang it, then paint or finish every surface with a quality system and keep entrance doors under cover. Entrance doors must be painted in a light colour with a light reflectance value (LRV) of 50 or more, and stained doors need an exterior grade varnish or sealer. Follow these steps and maintain the finish, and the five year guarantee stays intact.
Key takeaways
- Seal and paint the entire door, including the top and bottom edges, immediately after fitting and before hanging.
- Entrance doors finished in a colour with an LRV below 50 void the warranty.
- Entrance doors need overhead protection; fully exposed doors are not warranted.
- Check doors for damage on delivery: claims must be notified in writing within seven days.
How should I store a door before hanging it?
Store the door flat in a dry, well-ventilated area. The manufacturer's guarantee requires doors to be stored or hung in dry buildings, not in damp, moist or freshly plastered areas, and the manufacturer accepts no responsibility for doors when the timber's moisture content falls below 12% or rises above 18%. Inspect doors for damage as soon as they arrive: the manufacturer's terms say no claim will be accepted unless notified in writing within seven days of delivery.
How do I seal and paint a new door?
- Trim first, within limits. No more than 3mm from any edge, done evenly (BAL40 doors cannot be trimmed). See how to measure for a new door.
- Seal all six surfaces: both faces, both stiles, and the top and bottom edges, including any edge you have trimmed.
- Paint the entire door immediately after fitting and before hanging, whether it was supplied raw or factory primed. The manufacturer's guarantee requires the entire door, including the top and bottom edges, to be painted with a good quality paint or coating system suited to where the door is hung, following the paint manufacturer's advice. See our returns and guarantee page.
- Use the right system. Use an internal or external paint system to suit where the door hangs, and follow the paint manufacturer's instructions.
- Choose semi gloss or satin. The manufacturer recommends these finishes for all doors to reduce show-through of frame components.
- Use one colour on all six surfaces. Different colours may cause a door to warp, and doors painted a different colour on each face are excluded from the warp guarantee.
Staining instead? An exterior grade varnish or sealer is mandatory to stop moisture absorption, applied to the same standard as a paint finish. Blockboard (STPC) doors must be sealed on every surface because of their open ended core, or the guarantee is void.
What colour can I paint a front door?
Choose a colour with an LRV of 50 or higher. The manufacturer strongly recommends this for entryway doors, including any access door into the home, because dark colours absorb heat and accelerate deterioration, warping and bowing. Doors finished in colours with an LRV below 50 void the warranty. The manufacturer's chart shows Taubmans Blue Tune (LRV 50) as suitable and All Black (LRV 5) as not. Check the LRV on the tin or the paint maker's website, as some colours that look light have a lower LRV than expected.
Does my entrance door need overhead protection?
Yes. The manufacturer states that entrance doors require overhead protection, and that doors and door systems (including pivot systems and opening out doors) installed in a fully exposed situation will not be warranted. In the manufacturer's calculation, B is the height from the floor to the underside of the cover and A is how far the cover projects. Its width, C, should be at least the width of the entry frame, subject to adjacent walls.
| Climate | North | South | East | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal | A = 1/2 B | A = B | A = 1/2 B | A = B |
| Tropical | A = B | A = B | A = B | A = B |
| Arid | A = B | A = 1/2 B | A = B | A = 1/2 B |
| Mild | A = 1/2 B | A = 1/2 B | A = 1/2 B | A = B |
For example, where the rule is A = 1/2 B and the cover sits 2400mm above the floor, it should project 1200mm.
How do I maintain a timber door?
- Inspect the door periodically. At the first signs of deterioration, refinish it, resealing and repainting all surfaces.
- Clean with a damp cloth. Do not hose the door or use chemicals or abrasives.
- Lightly oil hinges and door furniture.
- For timber mouldings around the door, the manufacturer's timber care guide suggests washing external products at least annually and recoating every 5 to 7 years (3 to 5 years inside).
What does the guarantee cover?
Doors are guaranteed by the manufacturer for five years from the date of shipment to be of good material and workmanship. Fire doors and frames carry a one year guarantee, as do steel door frames. These terms sit alongside your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. Key conditions:
- Natural variation in colour, texture or grain is not a defect.
- Entrance and solid doors up to 2040 x 820mm need three hinges; larger doors need at least four or a pivot system. Doors must be installed as per AS 2688-2017.
- Warp of up to 4mm (doors up to 2150mm high), 6mm (2150 to 2400mm high) or 3mm across widths up to 1020mm is not a defect. Doors over 2400mm high or 1020mm wide are not guaranteed against warp.
- Defects must be raised when discovered, and within five years of shipment. The manufacturer will not reimburse repairs or replacements made without its prior written consent, and does not cover hanging or painting charges arising from a replacement.
- Steel door frames must be checked on delivery, with claims for incorrect deliveries made within 3 working days, and given two coats of compatible sealing primer straight away.
Questions about finishing or a claim? Read our returns and guarantee policy, use our contact form or call 0450 800 088. Choosing a new front door? Browse entrance doors.