DGI – STORAGE & HANDLING: TOPS
Being timber (a natural product) your tops are subject to changes in atmospheric conditions, and therefore require some care in handling and storage.
Buyer Protection
DGI GLULAM is warranted free from manufacturing defects and the performance of the product is guaranteed for 7 years providing the conditions relating to handling and storage are adhered to, and that fabrication and installation has been performed to DGI’s recommendations.
We at DGI believe that your Glulam product should give years of service; our manufacturing and quality control processes strive to produce items of durability and practicality. All we ask in return is that the installation, sealing and care instructions are adhered to, and that the product is not used in areas of extreme climatic conditions.
Our warranty does not cover external usage unless the product has been specifically manufactured for that purpose eg. Treated Pine structural beams. Generally our products are specifically designed for internal use.
Natural timber features and variations in colour and texture of the wood and/or laminates are not considered defects.
Handling / Transport
Your DGI GLULAM tops should only be top loaded and a suitable protective packaging should be used to avoid damage. With fabricated products, do not put stress on joints and areas of short end grain.
Onsite Storage
On receipt of your DGI GLULAM tops it is essential that they are to be stored in a way that they are protected from the weather and areas that are subject to extreme changes in humidity. Store flat at least 200mm off the floor to allow air to circulate. Do not leave boards leaning against brick or concrete walls as excess moisture pick up is inevitable.
It is essential that DGI GLULAM is fully envelope sealed as soon as possible with at least two coats. (Refer section 8 – FINISHING).
Problem Solving
Refer to DGI LEAFLET No. 5 (REPAIR GUIDE) for more detail.
Cupping: DGI GLULAM, being a very wide solid piece of timber may cup when it is in an unsealed or unbalanced state. This is considered normal and occurs when there a moisture content imbalance. This imbalance is temporary and can be easily corrected by wetting the concave side and covering with a plastic sheet. When straight, sand and envelope seal immediately.
End Splitting: is common with unsealed boards. Repair by filling with Plastibond or Epoxy glue.
Minor Timber Defects: Natural to timber. Can be repaired with Wood Putty or Plastibond coloured to suit.
Fabrication Recommendations
Refer to FABRICATION OF TOPS for more detail.
1. CORNER JOINTS
All edges to be joined together must be dressed true (“shot”). The recommended corner joints are MITRE joints or full BUTT joints. With mitre joints on boards of unequal width, a true mitre normally gives the best result as any movement is equalised and the laminates will be close to matching at the join.
Mason’s mitres are not recommended.
1.1: Biscuit or tongue the joint. Joints should have “Lamella” biscuits or plywood slip tongues fitted.
1.2: Bolt clamp the joint. Do not use dowels. Fit bolt clamps (Mitre Bolts) to the underside of all joints; 80mm from the front, 100mm from the back of mitres and 50mm from both sides of butt joints. On wide joints fit an extra clamp midway between the others.
1.3: Butt joints with opposing grain direction are never to be glued, instead use silicon.
1.4: Mitre joints and butt joints with grain running in the same direction should be glued.
2. SPLASHBACKS
Can be fitted to the top, back or rebated in if scotia/cove is used. Splashbacks running with the grain are to be glued. Splashbacks with opposing grain must not be glued but seal prior to assembly and fix by screwing through oversize holes either from the back or from under.
3. APRONS/ DROP-FRONTS/ FASCIAS
Fitted to the front edges of benchtops. Must not be glued across the grain. If an apron is to run across the end of the benchtop it should be screwed with a fixing baton allowing for movement or “build up” the end grain by slicing off sections of the benchtop end and gluing underneath.
4. GLUES
Use full strength Epoxy glues for like grain directions and Silicone sealant wherever there is opposing grains.
5. HOLES/CUTOUTS
Must have a 5mm clearance on all sides and corners should have a slight radius. The distance between the end of the benchtop and a cutout or between cutouts should be at least 120mm. If this is not possible, reinforce the narrow cross grain section by recessing and gluing a piece of similar DGI GLULAM into the underside with the grain running in the same direction and position it so that the gluelines are offset to the gluelines on the benchtop.
A rubberised joint sealant should be used in all sink and basin applications. Holes must be properly sealed with at least four coats of polyurethane or dgi country oil. Particular attention should be paid to the end grain.
6. PREPARATION
Any grain checking, tearout and similar timber blemishes should be filled and sanded (use a wood putty). Shakes which have a tendency to lift should be repaired with “5 minute” Epoxy or “Plastibond” coloured to match the timber.
7. SANDING
Sand the surface and seen edges through a suitable range of papers.
8. FINISHING
Use 2 pack Polyurethane or DGI COUNTRY OIL. Ensure that all surfaces are clean, dry and free of contaminants. ALL SURFACES MUST BE COATED with at least 4 (four) coats to provide an envelope seal. (ie. top, bottom, front, back, ends and the insides of all cutouts) Sand between coats (even on the bottom) with 180 grit paper.
9. INSTALLATION
Installation must be in accordance with DGI’s INSTALLATION GUIDE.
Please ensure you obtain a copy.