Q. Why do you use merbau wood ?

A. Merbau wood has a hardness rating and stability superior to all the northern hemisphere woods, and is better than both mahogany and teak. This makes merbau the ideal wood for exterior doors where you need the doors to be as strong as possible to prevent dents and dings. Merbau is a very popular

for high end wood flooring for the same reasons. Furthermore, its natural oils

and mineral content prevent any damage from insects.

Q. What kind of stain will the doors take?

A. Merbau is a light reddish wood that is very well suited to darker and reddish finishes. It will take medium stains but the lighter stains are not recommended for merbau. For exterior doors, we only use oil based stains. Doors have finished with a clear urethane, but if requested we can also provide a marine spar varnish finish which is recommended for locations with heavy rainfall.

Q. Will solid wood doors warp or split after installation?

A. Solid wood doors will always react to changes in humidity and temperature, and therefore to avoid any warping caused thru changes in water content in the wood, we have to use a special method of construction. Firstly the wood is kiln dried to a moisture content of 6-8%, and then it is cut into the necessary lengths and sections. Each length of wood is then recut, the grain or direction of the wood is inverted, and then the different lengths are then rejoined, mortice and tenon, then glued and clamped together. When the different lengths naturally want to bend or move they do so in opposition to  each other thus canceling out each other's movement, and the doors remain straight. It is the same principle used to make plywood.

NB. Wood doors should not be installed facing direct sunlight. This may result in some discoloration or minor cracking on the surface.

Q. Are the doors prehung?

A. Yes, unless requested otherwise. The standard size of exterior door jambs for wood doors is 2" x 6 9/16", but we can build jambs to any sizes as specified.

Q. Do you include handles and locks with the wood doors?

A. No, we are not able to supply handles and locks. However we can drill the doors for handles at no extra charge, according to the customer's request. For the iron doors, we include pull handles and locks in the price of the doors. Pull handles and locks are included with the wrought iron doors.

Q. Do you include the glass with your doors?

A. The glass is NOT included in the price listed for any of the doors. We do however, offer to install tempered glass in the doors whenever required, and for a price far less than one would expect to pay in the US. For more information, please click on the tempered glass link at the left hand side of the page.

Q. What is the lead time on a set of entry doors?

A. In most cases it will take 30 days to complete an order. The shipping time is usually 6-8 weeks depending on the location, so it takes 10-12 weeks in total.

Q. Can you custom build doors?

A. Yes. We can build doors to the customer's own design specifications and size needs. On receipt of a 50% deposit, we will send a CAD drawing to the customer for the doors and begin the construction once all the specifications are agreed upon.

Q. Is there a warranty on the doors?

A. Yes. All doors have a 12 month warranty against damages caused by defects in the production. This warranty covers the cost of any repairs to the doors and also covers the cost of replacements , including the shipping charges if necessary.

Q. Do you install the doors?

A. No, we are unable to arrange installation of the doors. We recommend in most cases that a building contractor or professional is used to install the doors. A typical 8' x 6' set of double doors will weigh over 500lbs. While waiting for installation, do not leave wood doors flat on the ground. Wood doors should be kept standing at all times.

Q. Do the doors need any maintenance?

A. The finish should be inspected at least once every 12 months for any deterioration due to the environment and be re-finished wherever required. The hardware, particularly the hinges, should be checked periodically to ensure correct alignment and smooth operation. Contact a professional to make any necessary adjustments.

Q. What kind of iron is used in the doors?

A. All the iron used is solid iron bar, diameter is 1/2" or 3/4" - no hollow tubing is used. The iron bar is uniquely worked by hand by our craftsmen, and no two doors will ever be an exact copy. No cast iron or prefabricated steel is used. Wrought iron is far stronger and has a much longer life span.  The doors stiles, rails and panels on the iron doors are built form 12 gauge steel plate.

Q. Does the wrought iron move or operate in any way?

A. Firstly each wrought iron panel is hinged directly into the opening cut into the doors, this enables the panels to open outwards in order to allow for cleaning of the glass. Each panel closes and is held in place by discrete screw bolts. Iron grills are mostly for decorative purposes and are attached with clavos' into the wood. Speakeasy cages are fixed, whether the speakeasy is operational or decorative. On the iron doors the the wrought iron panels are fixed, and the glass inserts open up to allow for cleaning and/or ventilation.

Q. What finishes are available for the iron?

A. Most people prefer a matt black paint finish for the decorative wrought iron panels, but we can also paint a semi gloss finish. We use an oil based paint after first applying an anti rusting primer to the iron. In terms of color, any shade or combination is possible, including metallic paints and textured finishes. On the iron doors, we can paint to any color of finish. We used epoxy paints for all the iron doors.