Johnston Millwork
Limited Manufacturer Warranty

Helpful Recommendations

Wood Door or Window Handling and Storage

1. Handle all wood products with clean hands or gloves and remove small amounts of grease, oil or pitch with mineral spirits.
2. Use cardboard between doors or windows when transporting multiple units.
3. Never store wood products in direct contact with concrete floors or walls. If standing them, keep the angle very slight to avoid bowing and warping. If stacking flat, place the doors on wood pallets or 2x4s.
4. Cover to keep clean but open enough to allow for circulation and reduce sweating.
5. If any of these recommendations cannot be followed, call JMI regarding storage options.

Wood Door or Window Finishing Guide

1. Hire a professional painting contractor. JMI and your new doors and windows will thank you! Some hardwoods can have an adverse effect to certain chemicals.
2. All wood products require light sanding with 150 or 180 grit sandpaper prior to applying finishes.
3. JMI is not responsible for final appearance of field finishing.
4. Never paint wood with water based paint as it will cause the grain to rise too much.
5. Raw edges of wood must be sealed. Use marine spar varnish to seal all cutouts for hardware, (locks, hinges, deadbolts, speakeasies, etc.). Remove weather stripping before finishing. Reinstall when dry.
6. Apply a primer after cleaning the door of sawdust. Sand lightly then apply three (3) coats of high quality exterior grade oil based or quality latex paint.
7. There are six (6) sides to a door and all six must be sealed. Warranties are most often voided by a lack of proper finishing of the top and bottom of doors.
8. For stain finishes, apply a first coat of quality oil based stain and sealer followed by a minimum of three (3) coats of clear finish. Not all exterior stains are sealers. Again, use a professional painter.
9. Sand lightly between all coats of paint or stain. Making sure all six (6) sides are covered with each application of final finish product.
10. Fill small voids with putty as needed. Be certain not to prevent the necessary movement of panels during expansion and contraction due to weather changes.
11. It is highly recommended that wood products be finished with compatible light colors on both sides. For example, when the interior is painted white and the exterior painted black bad things happen. The temperature differences may reach 30 degrees or more which causes extreme tension on the cells of the wood causing splitting or warping.
12. Paints and stains deteriorate over time. All finishes (including those on wood sills and/or thresholds) need yearly inspection and routine additional coats of finish.

Glazing Warranties

JMI orders all glazing and glass products from outside suppliers. If there are problems with window panes or other glazing, call your JMI sales representative for the contact information needed.
Doors with insulated glass, typically, are warranted against hermetic seal failure for a period of five (5) years from the date of manufacture. However, if hermetic seal failure is caused by the use of chemical cleaners that attack the sealant, or if lap painting was not done properly, the warranty is voided. Cracked or broken glass is also not covered by the warranty.
Hand crafted and/or decorative glass may vary from one pane to another and contain variations in color, size, clarity, etc. These are not defects.
Tempered glass contain varying degrees of distortions that may affect view and are not considered a defect.

Glass Cleaning Suggestions

1. Clean glass when dirt appears.
2. Avoid cleaning glass in direct sunlight.
3. Soak the glass with clear water to loosen dirt and debris. Do not let solution remain on windows.
4. Use a mild soap in water to clean. Never use abrasives or petroleum based solvents or chemicals.
5. Never use a high pressure spray nozzle when washing or rinsing glass.
6. Never clean glass using a razor blade or metal scraper.
7. Do not apply tinted film materials. They often cause glass to crack. Order Low-E glass instead.

Last Words on Wood

On all knotty wood doors the location, quantity and size of knots are unpredictable. Knots which show light through the door will be filled. Knots which do not show light through the door and are not filled should be expected and are not considered defects. It is preferable to stain these doors so that the beautiful, natural grain is displayed to its fullest.
In all species of wood natural variations in the color, texture and density of the wood is a common natural characteristic of wood and is always acceptable.
Even though once a tree is cut down and is considered dead by humans, it is not equipped with a brain to tell it that it is dead! The cells of the tree are still functioning normally bringing water to the branches (picture a Christmas tree in a bowl of water). If a wood product is left in a damp or moist environment without being properly sealed it will swell and warp as the cells expand with water. Thus, the caveat is to hire a professional painting contractor!

Calculating Required Overhang Dimension

In most climates, an overhang is required for all wood doors and suggested for all exterior doors.
Overhangs are wise for all doors including steel and fiberglass doors.
The most common formula for determining the minimum overhang requirements is: Y = 1/2X. For example, if the measurement from the bottom of the overhang to the base of the door is 10 feet, then the overhang should extend at least 5 feet. Please consult your building official and/or architect for specifics for your climate zone and sun exposure.
Southern and western exposures cause the most damage to exterior wood doors. In those instances it is recommended that the formula be: Y = X.
With proper overhangs, doors may face any direction but ALL wood doors require maintenance. They should be inspected yearly and will need to be refinished every two to five years.