Top Questions About Molded Doors

1. How do I know the Molded Door I choose is a quality wood product?

Only Pateco molded door has an embedded logo on it. It is your assurance of quality craftsmanship. Pateco offers a one (1) year limited warranty against elemental defects such as shrinking, swelling, warping and delamination on all its molded doors.

2. What are the standard performance tests utilized by PATECO for their molded doors?

Performance boiling tests include, but are not limited to: Boiling of HDF door skin, bending test of finger-jointed frame, bonding of glue used.

3. What independent test lab approved Pateco Molded Door in its performance tests?

One-hour boiling test conducted by Forest Products Research & Development Institute (FPRDI) in University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Laguna, shows how Pateco HDF performs better than MDF and any other HDF. Test piece of 2″ x 3″ is completely submerged into boiling water for 1 hour. An initial and final dimensional thickness measurement is also recorded.

4. We don’t boil our doors- so, what is the Boiling Water Test for?

The boiling water of the door skin is an accelerated test for performance against the door’s repeated exposure to water/humidity. It is a test for delamination of skin from the core.

5. What is Masonite’s HDF?

HDF means “High Density Fiberboard”. Masonite’s HDF is made of 99.9% wood. Wood fiber is molded under intense heat and pressure into 1/8″ (3.2mm) thick sheet of fiberboard. A typical HDF has a density greater than 50 pounds per cubic foot or 800 kg per cubic meter. The density of Pateco molded door skin (from MASONITE International, U.S.A.) is 1050 kg/m3

6. How does Pateco HDF compare to MDF door skins?

Pateco HDF is typically more durable, resists shrinkage and swelling due to seasonal changes. The difference is in the type of resin used in making of the board. Mostly, MDF boards use some type of urea formaldehyde resin. On the other hand, Pateco’s molded door skin is made with phenolic formaldehyde resin. Pateco’s (Masonite) molded door skin is the only known molded door skin with such resin that makes boiling test possible.

7. Can Pateco molded door be installed as an exterior door?

Yes, it can be used as an exterior door provided there is a canopy for door protection. Just like any solid wood panel doors, direct exposure to water and humidity may aggravate the deterioration of doors.

Top questions about Glue, Door Knobs, Door Frames & Jambs

1. Can glue performance in the molded door be easily measured?

Glue performance cannot be easily tested. Because of the variable factors involved in gluing and testing, the only way to accurately measure glue performance is through a laboratory testing facility which Pateco has also undertaken under UP Los Baños aside from the boiling test of the door skin.

2. Can doorknobs be installed in molded door basically the same manner?

There is no substantial difference in installation methods of doorknobs. As a general rule, doorknobs are best installed one (1) meter from the bottom.

3. Some door jambs still warp or move although they have been kiln dried. What can be done before installation to avoid this movement?

Wood in general should be acclimated to the conditions of the room in which it will be installed. By allowing typically 48 hours to acclimate, you are allowing the product to stabilize to its installation environment and minimize subsequent dimensional changes. If the wood is not allowed to become stable in the environment where the part will be used, problems including warpage can occur.

4. Pateco molded door is not all about HDF door skin. It’s stiles and rails can still warp even if its inside, can’t it?

Warp only occurs if the moisture changes. Pateco ensured to get the stile and the rails are at the correct measure content (MC) which is 12%-14% (average kiln drying time to achieve this MC is 28 days) for the job’s final destination, only then the doors may be assembled.

In the case of warped wood, the problem is related to the moisture in the wood. The way the wood was or was not dried will directly relate to the way the wood works.

 

 

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