SFD Finish Maintenance
Taking care of your door finish.
Southern Front Doors Finish Maintenance Recommendations – REVISED 5-1-23.
Your Southern Front Door has been handcrafted to last, but periodic maintenance is required to keep it looking great and provide proper protection against the elements.
Regular finish maintenance is also a requirement of your warranty.
If you maintain your door properly, it will give you years of enjoyment.
Regular maintenance of your door is easier than you may think.
Your main objective is to keep the exterior clean.
We suggest a product called “Minwax Wood Floor Cleaner” or “Murphy’s Soap’’ for wood Floors.
This product can be used every month or so as needed.
You need to apply it to the entire exterior of your door. Include the glass and handle set as well.
Apply it generously and then wipe your door dry with a clean towel. Do not soak the door.
Do not use any abrasive detergents or solvent based products. Do not use a water hose or pressure washer on your door.
These will only cause the premature breakdown of the polyurethane finish.
As well as performing the above, visually inspect the door.
If you live in a severe climate area or your door receives a lot of direct sunlight or precipitation, you will want to examine your door’s finish often. When the product needs to be maintained will depend on the exposure conditions. An exposure that gets a large amount of weather and/or direct sunlight will need to be inspected more frequently. If any part of the exterior finish or any other door edge or surface is noticeably dull and/or different from the interior finish, topcoat maintenance is required.
Start with a clean and dry surface.
3) Lightly sand only the clear topcoat, being very careful not to break through into any underlying coats already applied, using a “Scotch-Brite” pad and/or 280-320 grit sandpaper until the entire surface has been de-glossed.
4) Clean the surface of the sanding dust by using a clean cloth.
5) Follow by wiping with a clean cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol to remove any residual sanding dust and to help promote adhesion between the factory-applied finish and the re-coat material used.
Let dry for 3-5 minutes prior to topcoat re-application.
7) Apply a generous coat of 100% exterior oil-based polyurethane finish by spray, or hand foam brush application, in a uniform manner. If using a bristled brush, only use a fine bristled brush. It is typically recommended to not apply finishes in temperatures lower than 60 degrees or above 85% relative humidity. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended application guidelines for any product used.
8) Allow the coating to dry per finish manufacturer’s recommendations. If the coating is applied to the door while it is in the frame, allow the coating to fully dry before closing the door to avoid sticking.
Wrought Iron Grilles
Your Southern Front Door may include a handmade decorative wrought iron grille. These grilles are real wrought iron and like any iron or steel item they will rust if not properly maintained. Should rust appear on your wrought iron grille, simply burnish the affected area with a wire brush and repaint using a flat black paint for iron or steel.