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PRODUCT AWARENESS STATEMENT
The natural characteristics of wood with respect to its color, texture, finishes, grain pattern and wood movement will show
distinctive features that may be perceived by some individuals to be product defects. However, these characteristics result
from environmental factors beyond manufacturer’s control (i.e., humidity changes), and are not considered defects on a Wellborn
product, and are excluded from Warranty. To gain further understanding of the characteristics of hardwoods, please review the
section titled “Characteristics of Wood” in our Installation, Care and Warranty Guide. The following are examples of these natural
characteristics:
• All wood finishes will show a change in color of finish and wood over time, (including thermofoiled and laminate doors), which
may occur when exposed to sunlight, smoke, UV rays, indoor lighting, household or cleaning chemicals or other environmental
conditions.
White will develop yellow tones.
Some panels, such as veneer, may change at a faster rate than solid wood.
• All doors will show separation and peeling in the joints at the door corners. These characteristics are more prevalent in miter
door styles than other doors. This is directly related to relative humidity and how it reacts to wood. We recommend humidity
control in your home.
• Separation at the face frame or door joint lines can be visible in all stained and painted finishes. These characteristics are more
prevalent in darker finishes and painted products.
• Solid wood doors manufactured of quality kiln-dried hardwood are affected by temperature and humidity and will expand or
contract, depending on the installed location. These conditions are inherent in all wood products and will cause a light line to
appear at edges of the center panel normally when winter heating greatly reduces humidity. This can easily be touched up (use
a Wellborn Touch up Kit) and is not considered a defect. Excessive humidity will cause expansion of the center panel which will
result in shifting of rails and stiles of the door. This can be controlled by regulating humidity.
• Painted Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) doors display a color variance from the painted maple face frames and mouldings
used in the same finish due to the MDF substrate material. This is not considered a defect and is not covered under warranty.
• Any product that is exposed to moisture will show separation at the joints. This natural characteristic is excluded from warranty.
• Undue wetness and heat to the edges of thermofoil and laminate doors will cause delamination over time.
• Doors that are warped must be allowed to hang through one heating cycle, or
180 days,
before a no-charge replacement will
be considered.
• Some doors may warp slightly after being installed in a new home due to high humidity levels and in older homes due to low
humidity levels. The door will usually return to its normal flat position after going through the heating cycle; however, cabinets
need to be checked for proper installation and squareness. Cabinets installed improperly can be racked out of square. If
cabinets are not properly installed and shimmed and the floor is unlevel, the cabinet face frame may rack to the contour of the
wall resulting in doors that appear off a flat plane. The door will probably still be flat and not warped or racked. These problems
can be greatly reduced with correct installation and humidity control.
• Variations in natural grains and finishes (especially noticeable in natural and light stain colors) are not considered defects.
• Scratches and changes in finish sheen resulting from bumps or abrasions occurring during delivery, installation and daily usage
are not considered defects.
Even though great care and quality control standards exist in the manufacture of these products, the above characteristics
could possibly develop in your cabinetry. We recommend humidity control in your home for all products to reduce the possibility
of wood movement and shrinkage. Wood-based materials must be protected against extreme high and low humidity variations
and direct moisture since wood contains hygroscopic properties even though it has been processed.
Wellborn uses certain techniques to achieve design features of cabinetry. The results of these techniques are intentional and
are not considered to be defects on a Wellborn product. Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. makes no warranty on the design features
created by these techniques. The following are examples of these techniques.
Bead Board Stain Retention:
The Harbour, New Haven and Bridgeport door styles have a bead board door center panel. The
bead board grooves retain more stain in ALL finishes, resulting in a darker color in the grooves. This is not considered a product
defect and has no warranty.
Burnishing:
A technique where the profile edges have been brushed with a dark glaze to create an antiqued effect.
Carved Edges:
A technique where small areas of the wood surface are chiseled out on door edges and corners meaning to
create a high level of worn look.
Dry Brushing:
A technique applying a very dark stain to imitate distressing on the surface of the wood.
Glazing:
Many of Wellborn’s Specialty Finishes receive a glazing finish process. This process purposely creates an
uneven, inconsistent look by applying an accent stain over the entire door and then wiping off, leaving a “hang up” of light to
dark tones in the corners, deep grooves and wood grains creating an inconsistent light to dark all over glazed look. The soft
edges of the Milan and Barcelona doors are created by applying a 1⁄8” thick solid wood edge. Certain stains may show a slight
line between the door panel and wood edge. This is an acceptable level of quality for these doors and finish combinations. Many
finishes have a paint applied to the face frames, doors, drawer fronts and end panels, which will result in joint separation. This
characteristic of painted finishes is excluded from terms of warranty.
Medium Dents:
A physical technique of randomly striking the wood surface with a tool to create indentations that mimic the look
of aged wood. Medium Dents are larger than Worm Holes and will collect a glaze in varying amounts when applied.
Rasping:
A physical technique using a metal rasp to run over the edges and raised details to mimic severe wear.
Rub Thru:
A sanding technique used to randomly expose an undercoat or natural wood tone of corners and edges.
Small Dents:
A physical technique of randomly striking the wood surface with a tool to create indentations that mimic the look of
aged wood. Small Dents are larger than Worm Holes and will collect a glaze in varying amounts when applied.
Spatter:
A paint technique where paint is flicked across the surface producing inconsistent spatter on the stained or painted surface.
Worm Holes:
A physical technique of randomly placing small round holes that mimics the look of insect penetration that
occurs naturally in trees and harvested wood. Worm Holes are smaller than Small Dents and will collect a glaze in varying amounts
when applied.
