2 minute read
mm LJ TJ
A FTER falling in love with handFlsome entries photographed in magnificent living color in door brochures and advertisements, the average door shopper is poorly prepared for the naked, bare wood doors he finds in his home center or lumberyard.
Do-it-yourselfers are often surprised to discover that most doors do not come finished from the manufacturer as they have seen them advertised. Even the buy-ityourselfer shopper may not realize that he will have to hire a finisher as well as a professional to hang the door.
Story at a Glance
How to prepare customers for unprepared doors.. tips for proper handling and storage of doors. guidelines you can use to bolster door sales.
A salesman aware of these common misconceptions can make the situation easier for his customer by showing him finished doors while explaining that the one he buys will not look like that until it has been properly stained or painted. The customer who has been warned will be less likely to panic when he is faced with the unfinished door.
By following recommended
guidelines for storing doors, a dealer will find that although the unfinished door may not be beautiful in the eyes of his customers, there will be no dings, scratches or bruised corners marring its appearance. A door that has been treated right increases the customer's ability to both visualize and achieve the perfect finished product.
Doors must always be stored flat in clean, dry surroundings. They must always be protected from dirt, water and abuse. If they are to be stored for an extended period of time, doors should be sealed with a non-water based sealer or primer. Excessive moisture, heat, dryness and direct sunlight are enemies which should be avoided in door storage.
Glass doors or doors with glass panes, panels or lights are even more sensitive to improper handling. Gentle handling with proper protection for the glass is necessary to avoid accidents and damage.
Doors must be treated as fragile and delicate merchandise. Dragging doors across one another or along the floor can cause damage. Dropping a door or bumping it into a wall can blunt the corners and edges or cause dents and cracks. Clean hands or clean gloves are essential for the person handling doors since dirty, unsightly handprints are difficult to remove.
Many manufacturers help the dealer out by packaging doors in poly bags. It is wise to make sure that the bags are not tightly sealed
Basic Door Handling
(1) Store doors flat in clean. drv surroundings.
(2) Protect doors from dirt. water and abuse.
(3) Do not expose doors to excessive moisture, heat. dryness or direct sunlight.
(4) Doors must be handled with clean hands or clean gloves.
(5) Doors must be lifted and carried, never dragged across one another.
since air movement is necessary to prevent moisture accumulation. Corner protectors and other protective coverings applied by the manufacturer should be left in place to protect the doors until they are purchased.
Handling marks, raised grains and blemishes detract from the appearance of an unfinished door. In addition, they make finishing more difficult. Buying a door is an expensive and often diflicult purchase for a homeowner. Make it as easy for him as you can.
