Prefinished HM doors and frames

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Author Message George A. Everding, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: geverding Post Number: 495 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 01:11 pm:    Just received my first ever request to specify a prefinished HM door and frame. I am used to primed, full profile welded frames, seamless flush doors, for field finish painting. The obvious fear is doors and frames get nicked and dinged in installation, so field painting makes sense. I'd appreciate glowing reports from anyone who has success with specifying and installation of prefinished HM doors to allay my old fashioned fears. George A. Everding AIA CSI CCS CCCA Cannon Design - St. Louis, MO Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: rlmat Post Number: 351 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 01:25 pm:    George, Stick with your old-fashioned fears I never ever specify prefinished hM Door/Frames for the exact reasons you stated They will get nicked and dinged, not only during installation, but while they're stored on site waiting to be installed, all sorts of damage can occur. Just like on a car - touch up never looks as good as the original paint job. John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1123 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 02:34 pm:    I've never used pre-finished doors. However, I have spoken with a rep (can't remember which) for the type of system that goes in after all the drywall is up. He advised that the right way to do this (and what he claimed is common in Europe) is to install the doors after all the painting and everything else is done. Then the doors and frames come in to a clean, conditioned space right at the end of construction and thus don't get banged up. Sounds great, if the contractor approaches it that way. (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 01:26 pm:    I work for a door/frame/hardware supplier. We supplied 200 plus Ceco prefinished door frames and and handful of prefinshed hollow metal doors for a hotel project. The customer was satisfied, but the frames were drywall (knock down). We supplied touch up paint with the order. I'm not sure if I'd want to install welded prefinished frames, since welded frames are typically installed before or as the studs are being installed. Do the frames need to be welded? If the frames don't need to be welded, they can be installed after much of the finish work is complete. (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 05:19 pm:    I've specified pre-finished HM doors and frames with success. Far superior to field finishing. No issues with contractor neglecting to properly prep the "primed" substrate for field applied water based acrylic latex the Inferior Designer asked for. Plus we get like a kajillion LEED points for not painting these things in the field. Talk with your local door manuf., they'll tell you all about it. Last time I checked, spec writer not responsible for Contractor damaging installed work.... By that logic, we would require field finishing of freaking everything on the project. Pah-leeze! J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 369 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 06:40 pm:    I am less concerned about damage in the field (Contractor's responsibility; although a concern) than I am with trying to get the color right if you have to select from manufacturer's standard range. On the one project I had with prefinished doors, the color scheme was gray and white. The architect later told me that there were a number of different grays (warm tones and cool tones) and the result was a little distracting. I do like the distinction of priming welded frames and prefinishing KD units. On a 200-door order, I guess you could get a custom color. (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Thursday, October 22, 2009 - 07:57 am:    I don't want to promote any certain maufacturer, but my experience is with Ceco. They literally must have 1000 colors. Timely and Rediframe also make prefinished frames. They are not welded and they are not a true hollow metal frame, but we use them on hotels and light commercial projects all of the time. Each frame is packed in an individual box. They have standard colors, upcharge colors and custom colors. The prefinish looks much better than a field painted frame. ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 39 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 09:45 am:    Hi George. In a previous lifetime when working on lots of hospitality projects, KD was fine so pre-hung, pre-finished doors were acceptable as long as they were boxed individually and installed after most of the damage could have been done. Upside -powder coat factory finish looks great and is reasonably durable. Downside - no such thing as 'touch-up'. Damaged doors and frames had to be completely repainted with damaged areas sanded, primed, resanded, and then the whole door or frame re-finished. Consider having one door/frame assembly intentionally damaged and repaired to establish acceptable range of repairs. Best regards, Ken