1. General Overview
Timber is a natural product in which the absorption or loss of moisture will occur according to the environment it is stored in and exposed to. As a timber will react to moisture and climatic change by either contracting or expanding due to variations in humidity and temperature.
Therefore it is very important to seal all products with a sealer to protect it against moisture penetration and cement-mortar stains
The colour and density consistency in TIMBER cannot be guaranteed as it a natural product.
Timber products supplied by Van Acht are not designed to be load bearing, and must have lintels installed above the products, with sufficient clearance to prevent any pressure from above on the products.
Please note: Inspect for correctness, quality and size and any other obvious defects prior to trimming and fitting. Failure to do so will invalidate any claim
2. The correct product for its application
The door must fit its application to ensure proper performance of the door.
Doors exposed to extreme conditions cannot be expected to last as long as doors that is semi-exposed.
3. Handling and storage
All wooden doors, frames and windows should therefore be stored in a dry and well ventilated place to protect it from excessive moisture, heat and insects.
Newly built, plastered and painted buildings must be avoided because of the excessive moisture and humidity present.
The doors and frames must be stacked horizontally, well cleared from the floor on evenly spaced bearers with should be longer than the width of the door as well as a cover over the top and bottom door to further protect the doors and allow for adequate ventilation.
Doors should be handled and stored with proper care to avoid scratching and other damage to the edges and corners.
Long-term storage onsite should be avoided if at all possible. We prefer to phase delivery requirements. When long-term (and this means over 1 week), site storage is unavoidable, they should be carefully stacked off the floor and perfectly flat.
Never store doors in areas where there would be extreme changes in temperature, heat (direct sunlight) and humidity, moisture.
Containers although practical on sites are not ideal for long term storage as temperatures can soar if left sealed causing the products to loose moisture and shrink.
They should be stacked so that they are not even partly exposed to sunlight, as the harmful UV rays could cause fading and discoloration of the timber.
4. Experience of carpenter
Using an experienced carpenter is essential in order to avoid potential door failures and to ensure that installation guidelines are adhered to so that the doors guarantee is valid.
Failing which it is always the developer that pays the price for poor workmanship.
5. Sizing the door before hanging.
When trimming a door to fit as a rule it is advised to trim equally on both top and bottom or on left and right sides so as not to trim excessively on one side which could then result in the door becoming unstable and which would cause the guarantee to become null and void.
Hollow Core, Medium Duty & Solid Core Doors can generally have a maximum of 5mm trimmed of the sides, top & bottom.
The carpenter needs to read through the specific installation guidelines of a particular manufacturer to see what the maximum amount is that can be removed from a side without comprising the door.
6. Mortising the lock cavity
Keep the mortise lock cavity to a minimum size and do not fit at the rail joint.
The utility or structural strength of the door can be impaired if the mortise cavity removes and of the joints or is so deep that is penetrates through the door style.
7. Pre installation
Immediately after fitting and PRIOR to hanging the door:
Apply oil based wood sealant V-COAT to all edges (including top and bottom, all 6 sides, cut-outs for locks, etc) to prevent absorption of moisture. If any part of an external door or door frame is cut or drilled, the exposed area should be treated immediately to prevent absorption of moisture.
8 Post installation
After hanging, seal all 6 sides with 2 final coats of your chosen sealant.
Doors are sealed properly on the top and bottom by drowning the end-grain in the sealant. The end grain (top and bottom) must be completely sealed to prevent penetration which can cause swelling, splitting and warping
It is very important to select a good sealant which will minimise any swelling and shrinkage.
Care must be taken to ensure that all cavities, joints and edges are properly penetrated with sealant to ensure that excessive loss or absorption of moisture is avoided.
NB! The use of dark coloured paint or stain finishes on external doors and windows, particularly if located on the north or north-west elevation of a building, will result in high surface temperatures and can increase the risk of distortion and resin exudation
Doors and frames should be protected (see treatment) from extreme variations in temperature and humidity to ensure lasting beauty and stability
9. Warp Tolerance
Warp shall not be considered a defect unless it exceeds 6 mm in the plane of the door itself. Warp is any distortion in the door itself and does not refer to the frame in which it is hung. The term “warp” includes bow, cup and twist. In measuring the amount of warp present in the door, the following method should be used. Bow, cup and twist shall be measured by placing a straight edge, taut wire or string on the suspected concave face of the door at any angle position. The measurement of bow, cup and twist shall be made at the point maximum distance between the bottom of the straight- edge, taut wire or string and the face of the door. SABS warpage tolerance spec: 3mm on a meter, tolerance 6mm across the door (top left corner to bottom right corner).
10. Maintenance
Timber doors must be maintained by the client and re-sealed regularly at least six monthly, depending upon the exposure to the elements, i.e. whether north-facing, etc., and the degree of protection afforded by overhang of roof, awnings, etc., depending on type of finish used.
Timber products will be degraded and have a reduced aesthetic and functional lifespan if neglected.
11. General guidelines that would void Guarantees
The following are excluded from this guarantee:
- Failing to properly treat the products as referred to under treatment.
- Poor craftsmanship on the side of the contractor or installer of the products.
- Alterations or modifications to the products.
- Bending, warping, and twisting of less than 6mm across the door, from top left corner to bottom right corner and the other way around.
- Doors, windows and components that are not stored correctly, are kept flat and under cover until ready for installation
- Doors that are not handled properly and are hung in a damp or recently plastered building.
- Products that are not installed in accordance to the manufacturer’s instructions.
– Every claim will be evaluated according to its merits.
– Replace or repair the product for not more than the original purchase price
Wood products are extremely vulnerable to changes in temperature, heat, humidity, and moisture, this need to be taken into consideration when storing and handling your doors. Any claims are strictly dependent on whether or not the above procedures are complied with.
We guarantee our doors to be made of high grade materials and of excellent craftsmanship and suited to normal conditions i.e. not excessive heat, humidity, dryness or direct sunshine.
Timber is a natural product subject to changes due to variations of humidity and temperature, and whilst we take great care to ensure that the timber used has been treated to make it suitable for the place it will occupy, it is obvious that we cannot know the conditions of every situation in which our products are installed.
Subject to the above, we shall not be held responsible for any incidental work or expenses arising out of, or because of, any defect in our products, and our liability shall in no case exceed our invoiced price.