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Below are some general maintenance tips for Therma-Tru®. There are several items to make sure that your door is properly maintained. They include:
- Weather strip
- Corner seal pads
- Wood deterioration
- Hinge finish
- Caulking
- Appearance of the door
- Top coat
- Stain and/or paint
Click below to watch a video that highlights this information:
To ensure that your door is maintaining a tight seal, check your weather strip, corner seal pads, and door bottom sweep.
Check Weatherstrip
To be sure the weather strip is sealing properly, check for damage or paint on the weather strip. Also, the weather strip should not be punched or overlap in the corners of the unit. Close the door and check for air infiltration and daylight around the door. If needed, replace the weather strip.
Check Corner Seal Pads
For in-swing units, locate the corner seal pads at the seal jam joint. To ensure a proper seal, make sure the pad is in good condition and is installed properly. This includes a bead of caulk at the base of the pad. Also be sure the tab is tucked behind the weather strip. Replace and recaulk if necessary.
Check Door Bottom Sweep
Again, for in-swing units, check to be sure the door bottom sweep is not loose or damaged and that it is maintaining a tight seal with a threshold. Replace if necessary.
Check For Wood Deterioration
With the door open, inspect both bottom corners of the door and the jam for discoloration, softness or wood deterioration. If needed, sand the affected areas. Clean and fill with hardening wood putty following the products instructions. Finally, prime and paint or stain.
Check Hinge Finish
With the door open, inspect the hinges for excessive rust, pitting, or corrosion. If needed, replace the hinges.
Check Caulk
Ensure that all joints are properly caulked and the sealant is in good condition, especially around the base of the unit. If needed, clean and reapply elastomeric or polyurethane sealant.
Clean The Unit
Inspect the unit for dirt or debris.If needed, use a mild detergent or tsp solution with warm water and a soft cloth to clean the door.
Check The Top Coat
For a stained unit, inspect the door to see if the top coat has dulled, or is rough to the touch. Reapply the top coat if needed.
Check The Stain
Inspect the stained unit for fading, flacking, peeling, or blistering of the stain. If the color of the unit is not uniform, you may need to strip and refinish the unit. For small areas, simply touch-up the stain and topcoat.
Check The Paint
For painted units, inspect for fading, cracking, peeling or bubbling paint. If needed, lightly sand with triple ott steel wood, or 300 grit sandpaper. Wipe clean and reapply the paint.
Exterior Doors at Von Tobel
If after inspecting your exterior door you decide it time for a replacement, visit your local Von Tobel showroom. Our friendly exterior door experts are available to walk you through the options for new exterior doors.
Learn more about some of the exterior doors that we carry here: https://vontobels.com/thermatru-exterior-doors/
You can also schedule a consultation ahead of time, click here: https://vontobels.com/schedule-a-free-in-store-consultation/
