Care & Maintenance

Maintaining Architectural Traditions' Rubbed-Oil Finish

Your Architectural Traditions doors and windows have been manufactured to last for years, but as with any piece of fine furniture, the finish will require some simple periodic maintenance to keep it looking its best and to provide protection from the elements. Regular finish maintenance is also a requirement of the warranty. We recommend that you maintain wood products exposed to exterior environments annually. If your doors or windows receive a lot of moisture or direct sunlight (Southern and Western exposures, for example), you will want to examine the finish often. Watch for drying and fading, and plan your maintenance accordingly.

To maintain your Architectural Traditions Rubbed-Oil finish, simply clean the wood and remove mold or fungus, if necessary. Cleaning the wood may be as simple rubbing steel wool across the surface of the door (exterior only). Start with medium coarse and finish by buffing with fine density. More extensive cleaning may include the use of deck cleaners, or one part household bleach to three parts water.

After you have cleaned the door, simply apply a coat of wood oil, with or without color. We use oils by Cabots or Watco, both of which are available in "Natural Oil." Apply the oil with a brush and then finish by thoroughly wiping the door with a clean cotton rag. Apply several coats if necessary. The oil will bring back the rich color in the wood.

Maintaining Architectural Traditions' Top Coat Finish

If you have ordered a top coat finish, inspect the finish annually (more under extreme conditions) and if maintenance is needed, lightly sand the surface and reapply two coats of an oil-based exterior polyurethane.

Finish Raw Wood

It is imperative that the finish you apply fit the exposure expected for your particular application. Extreme exposure or inclement conditions beyond the norm require special attention. Before sealing your door, you must follow the instructions below, regardless of type of stain.

For wirebrushed surfaces, sand your door with 80 or 100 grit sandpaper to achieve desired grain texture, remove rough areas, and eliminate splinters. (CAUTION: Oversanding will eliminate wirebrushed texture.) Rub door vigorously with medium coarse steel wool approximately 7-10 minutes per side or until all edges are rounded and flat surfaces are slick.

For sanded (smooth) surfaces, you must sand door thoroughly starting with 120 grit and finishing with 220 grit. Failure to do so may show inconsistencies in your stain, particularly when using lacquer or varnish top coats.

Our warranty requires that you immediately seal all exposed wood, including all mortised and drilled areas, with at least two full coat of sealer or primer. After it is sealed, let the door acclimatize to the environment before putting the finish coats on the door.

There are two ways to finish raw wood, regardless of whether it's been stained to change the color or left natural. The first is with a series of penetrating oils that toughen the wood fiber as they build up after consecutive coats. The second is with a shell-like paint, urethane, or varnish as a protective top coat. There are advantages to both methods: consult your paint professional to determine which finish best suits your particular needs.

Maintenance and Repairs

At least annually, examine your doors and windows for signs of damage or deterioration. Scratches or dings can be repaired using a cotton swab dampened with wood stain. Remove as much excess stain as possible by dabbing the cotton swab on a clean cloth before touching up the door (this ensures an even color tone). Check periodically to see if the exterior sealants exhibit any gaps, leaks or signs of damage or deterioration, and if so, apply a quality exterior caulking to these areas.