Below are some general guidelines to consider with your Ashworth Doors products:

Have the installation instructions been followed? (If not, all warranties, Expressed or Implied, without limitation are disclaimed.)

Warped/Bowed Panels

• Are all wood surfaces properly finished and sealed? Priming or stain only is NOT properly sealing the panels. Is the top edge sealed?
• Is the unit plumb and level? Check frame with a minimum 4' level.
• Are margins equal around the unit?
• Units must be allowed to acclimate to the surroundings for a period of time.

Door Operation

• Are all margins equal around the operating panel(s)?
• Shimming is very important in maintaining proper margins.
• On Center Swing Doors, check instruction for maintaining head margin.
• Note where unit is sticking: bottom, side, or top.

Leakage

• Determine where water is coming in.
• Is there caulking under the seal?
• Are the margins equal around the operating panels(s)?
• Is the unit properly finished if an unfinished unit?
• Have white pads been removed from corners of unit?

Warp is an undesirable natural characteristic of wood. Wood gains or loses moisture to reach equilibrium with the humidity level of its environment.

Ashworth’s stringent manufacturing process assures that our wood products contain no more than 12% moisture content, as recommended by the Window and Door Manufacturers Association. Ashworth has no control over the levels of humidity our products are subjected to after shipment.

Subjecting our products to humidity levels lower than 30% or higher than 60% may cause warping. Door panels, within the same opening, may have a different moisture content which causes them to react differently when exposed to varying levels of humidity. Within 12 months, after installation, a door panel that has warped may acclimatize to its environment and return to its original plane. Due to this, it is industry standard to defer any warped door claim for 12 months before replacing a warped panel. This acclimatization period is also recommended by trade organizations such as the Architectural Woodwork Institute as well as the Window and Door Manufacturers Association.

Finishing your door helps protect it from natural elements that could cause it to warp. The door must be finished within 30 days after purchase to maintain your warranty. Be sure to finish all exposed faces of your door, including the edges and top rail.

As defined by the Architectural Woodwork Institute as well as the Window and Door Manufacturers Association, warp is not considered a defect unless it exceeds 1/4" on a 6'8" tall door, or 3/8" on a 8'0" tall door. Warp is measured by placing a straight edge or taut string, at least 60" in length, on the concave face and determining the distance between the straight edge or string to the door’s face.

For more information on condensation, contact Ashworth’s Technical Services Department at ashworthcustomerservice@woodgrain.com.

Variation in Appearance:
Wood naturally varies in color, texture, and figure. These variations are created by the different layers of wood between the outer portion of the tree that transfers sap and the inner portion that fills with natural deposits. Any manufacturer cannot control this natural growing process. In time, wood will change color as it is subjected to typical ambient conditions. Stains and/or clear topcoats may slow this process but will not stop it.

Low Humidity:
Subjecting wood products to humidity levels lower than 25% relative humidity will cause the dry air to draw moisture from the wood. This actually causes wood to shrink in the direction of its annual rings, which leads it to warp, cup, and bow.

A door panel made of wood will shrink causing hardware to operate incorrectly. The door panel will not set properly against weather stripping, causing an Ashworth Door to leak. The gap between door panel and frame will also increase to an amount where light could be seen between the door and frame or between two door panels.

High Humidity:
Subjecting wood products to humidity levels higher than 55% relative humidity will cause the wood to draw the excess moisture from the air. This actually causes the wood to swell. A door panel made of wood will swell, not allowing them to close properly by binding with the frame in which they are hung.

Sudden Change in Humidity:
Any wood product subjected to sudden changes in humidity will either absorb or release moisture at a rate that will cause the wood to react with an extreme characteristic of either low or high humidity.

Sunlight:
Sunlight accelerates the bleaching and oxidation process in wood. Stains and/or clear topcoats may slow this process but will not stop it. Dark stains are not recommended on any wood product. Dark stains absorb harmful UV rays, which will cause any wood product to lose its optimal moisture content and react with the extreme characteristics of low humidity.

On veneered components, the veneer will be subjected to the harmful UV rays while the substrate will not. This will cause the veneer to lose its optimal moisture content while the substrate will not. The veneer will begin to check, blister, and delaminate.

Following Ashworth’s storage, maintenance, and finishing Instructions will greatly reduce the effects of humidity and sunlight.

Condensation on an Ashworth door is not a defect. Condensation is caused by air saturated with too much humidity or water. When this happens, the air cannot hold excess humidity. The air then releases the excess humidity by condensing it on the most convenient cool surface, often windows and exterior doors.

The following factors add humidity to air:

• Normal breathing and perspiration by a family of 4 adds a half-pint of water to the air each hour.
• Cooking can add up to 4-5 pints of water everyday.
• A shower can add a half-pint of water.
• Dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers add several pints of water every day.
• Humidifiers add too much water.
• New building products will release water during their normal drying out process.

Today’s new energy efficient homes actually trap humidity inside, making condensation more prevalent.

What can you do to reduce condensation within your home?

• Vent all appliances and exhaust fans outside.
• Vent attics and crawl spaces.
• Cover the ground of any crawl spaces with a vapor barrier.
• Run exhaust fans while bathing or cooking.
• Do not store firewood inside.
• If you have a forced air furnace, make sure your home is properly ventilated by installing a fresh intake.
• Keep in mind that condensation forms on any cool surface, which may even include your walls. This could create a more serious problem if the condensation were to penetrate the wall itself.

If you see condensation forming on your windows and exterior doors, you may want to get the situation under control before it creates a more serious problem. Also, please note that most manufacturers’ warranties do not cover damage caused by condensation.

For more information on condensation, contact Ashworth’s Technical Services Department at ashworthcustomerservice@woodgrain.com.

Knotty Alder is the natural choice when you’re looking for a wood with a relaxed, yet distinctive appearance. The open, solid knots found in Knotty Alder vary in size, shape and color, giving each piece its own individual pattern. When you choose Knotty Alder, no two pieces of wood will be exactly alike.

Alder is a medium density hardwood with an even grain appearance. Its softer nature makes it receptive to a variety of stains and finishes, which help further highlight its beautiful grain. Knotty Alder is naturally light brown in color, featuring hues of red to peach, which make it a complementary wood to use in any home.

The natural wood characteristics of Knotty Alder include:

• Missing or open knots in any location up to 1 ½" in diameter
• Knots in any location up to 1 ½" in diameter
• Cracks, chips within knots

It’s these unique characteristics that make Knotty Alder the perfect choice when you’re looking for wood that’s naturally distinct.

Attention: Please make sure these natural characteristics meet your expectations before ordering this product. Ashworth by Woodgrain Millwork will not accept any returns for Knotty Alder doors that have these natural characteristics. Contact our customer service department with any questions at 1-800-935-2000.

Oil-Rubbed Bronze is a unique option when you’re looking for hardware that evolves in color and texture over time. Its distinct antique appearance results from the oil rubbing process that is used to enhance the finished pieces gloss, depth and texture.

Because Oil-Rubbed Bronze is a living finish, the environment in which it’s placed and the amount of use it gets determines the development of its patina. The more the hardware is used and the more elements it faces, the more intense its color and texture will appear. This also means that exterior hardware will patina differently than interior hardware.

The intrinsic imperfections of Oil-Rubbed Bronze are what give this finish its unique aesthetic. When you choose Oil-Rubbed Bronze, you’ll receive a finish that will constantly change over time.

Attention: Please make sure these natural characteristics meet your expectations before ordering this product. Ashworth by Woodgrain Millwork will not accept any returns for Oil-Rubbed Bronze hardware that have these natural characteristics. Contact our customer service department with any questions at 1-800-935-2000.