FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is your quality of work?
We pride ourselves on producing the highest quality of craftsmanship.
How do I contact you?
Dragonwood would love to hear from you. You may send an email to info@dragonwooddoors.ca or give us a call at 587-392-8337.
How can I see more of your work?
You can find our newest projects on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.
Where do you deliver or ship?
We ship all our products globally. Many individuals, be it the retail customer or the builders, in Alberta, British Columbia and the United States have been more than happy with their Dragonwood products. We aim to exceed all the expectations of our customers.
The standard delivery areas include the Calgary Metropolitan Region, Calgary – Edmonton Corridor, the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, Northern Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Call us at 587-392-8337 for more information regarding delivery or shipping.
Where are you?
We are in Calgary, Alberta. Our headquarters and primary showroom are located at 6027 Centre Street South near the Chinook Mall. We have other distribution centers in western Canada.
How long will my door last?
A well-built wood door will last a lifetime with the proper care and attention. Solid wood doors last for centuries. The most important protection to have is from the weather and direct sunlight. Exterior doors should have an overhang in the roof to protect it from the elements, which will ensure a long life with less maintenance. One of the wonderful features of any wood door is the ability to refinish it. Synthetic or man-made materials are susceptible to degradation from the elements and need maintenance. From time to time when a fiberglass or metal door is damage it is difficult or impossible to restore or refinish.
How much do your doors cost?
Exterior Doors: A standard single, unfinished and pre-hung exterior wood door can cost as little as $4500 CAD. Simple, clear glass transoms add approximately $1000 dollars and matching sidelights are an additional $850 per side. The designs we most often produce range from $6000 to $25,000.
Interior Doors: Unfinished interior wood doors, or doors with knock down jambs range from $700-1200 CAD per unit. Specialized doors like the arch-top Camelot interior can cost as much as $2500.
What comes with my exterior door?
Unless otherwise specified, our exterior door packages include clear, tempered sealed glass units, pre-hanging, unit assembled, brickmould attached and interior casings. We supply the architectural grade hinges and weather-sealed jamb. The weather seal aspect of our exterior doors exceeds the latest building code requirements in Canada and the US.
We offer machining for the following: tubular handle prep, pivot hardware and lockset machining, 3-point lock set and hardware. All handle prep is predetermined based on the dimensions of the door and the requirements.
We do not include the handle supply. However, we provide a handle allowance for anyone who wishes to order the handle hardware through us.
Can I order my door unfinished?
Yes, we can ship door unfinished. We strongly recommend sealing or finishing doors within 48 hours of their arrival. Failure to do so can expose the door to moisture, substances or conditions that can damage the door. It also may void your warranty.
Do you install your doors?
We recommend you use a qualified builder or carpenter. However, we can install our doors within the Calgary Metropolitan Region, Calgary – Edmonton Corridor, and the Edmonton Metropolitan Region.
How long does it take to get my door?
We stock all our doors and it will take 2-3 weeks to ship on average. Any special ordered doors have the usual lead time of 10-14 weeks.
For any custom doors on the door details and type of wood, a door generally takes 8 weeks to build. This does not include time to design or finalize details. A full custom can take 16-18 weeks.
What makes your exterior doors so special?
All of our doors are constructed out of 100% solid Medieval Walnut, a propriety species of wood that is rich in grain and a durability that will make modern or traditional designs stand the test of time – with an outstanding beauty. Only Dragonwood offers Medieval Walnut and Coco Wood doors in North America.
The Medieval Walnut naturally has crystal black distressing throughout the grain, not just a perfect look for rustic and heritage homes, but also the modern castle. Every door is then unique and will have its own stunning beauty. The extreme hardness of the wood and greater density provides an enhanced R- value and lifelong product. Both woods are kiln dried to 10-12% to offer less shrinkage and increased stability compared to local woods.
We combine traditional, time-honored approaches with the hand best modern methods. Our doors feature state-of-the art weather seal products. Our wood doors have a greater thermal break with an insulating layer between the inside and the outside and because wood is so porus it provides an excellent thermal break.
All components, including hinges and glass, are of the highest quality. We use engineered stiles and solid rails, also known as frame and panels to prevent warping, twisting or splitting. Most important of all is the attention to detail we provide to our doors during construction.
Why is the frame and panel construction method you use so important?
Wood changes when humidity changes. Through this tried-and-true method, the frame captures the panels, which are not fixed in place. This allows the panels to expand when they take on moisture and shrink when they lose moisture with the seasons. This prevents cracking, splitting, twisting or warping.
How do I figure out what size door to order?
You will need to provide us with two things, the height and width of the framed opening and the wall thickness. With this information, we can produce a door that will fit your opening.
What type of glass can I choose?
For exterior doors we normally use duel pane, low-E, argon-filled, tempered, sealed units. We can incorporate many standard patterned or obscure glasses into the sealed units as a special order.
For our interior doors we provide all of the same glass options available for exterior doors. Patterned, obscure or art glass provide privacy while allowing natural light to flow through your home.
What should I consider when making choices for exterior doors?
Exposure is the biggest factor. Exposure will, to some degree, dictate the style and color of the door. If the door is not fully protected by a roof overhang, the requirement of regular maintenance for the door and finishing must be upheld and maintained.
General Odie’s Questions
Are there any harmful chemicals in the Odie’s products?
Nope! There are no harmful chemicals, solvents, VOC’s, or hardeners in Odie’s finishes.
What can Odie’s be used on?
Odie’s Finishes can be used on virtually any surface. This includes, but isn’t limited to, wood, concrete, marble, brick, metal, plastic, leather, and epoxy
Can Odie’s products be used outdoors?
All Odie’s products can be used outdoors except for Oxi and Dark products. When finishing an outdoor project, especially a large one such as a deck, we recommend that you first use a layer of our Super Penetrating Oil, and then following up with a layer of regular Odie’s oil.
How can I clean things that are finished with Odie’s products?
There are three different ways to clean things that are finished with Odie’s products:
1. You can mix 1-part vinegar with 10 parts water and clean with a terry cotton cloth
2. You can use soapy water (like Dawn dish soap), but remember to rinse all the suds off, and then wipe it dry
3. Or you can make your own rejuvenating cleaner using Odie’s cleaning concentrate. To do this you can make a mixture that is 50% Odie’s Oil and 50% Odie’s cleaning concentrate, then mix 5% of this with 95% water in a spray bottle. Just spray and wipe. This will clean, refresh, and rejuvenate your finish.
When should I refresh my finish?
You should refresh your finish when you notice it is getting dull. Many customers do not have this happen for many years, but it depends on the use of the piece as to how long it will be before it needs to be refreshed. For instance, in most common settings will not need to be refreshed for many years. To bring back your sheen you simply need to add one thin layer of original Odie’s oil, buff it in, let it set for about 45 minutes and buff it off completely.
Can I use Odie’s oil on top of an already present stain or finish?
Yes, but it’s always best use Odie's directly on the wood so it will penetrate the wood fiber and make that barrier against stains and water that makes Odie's so effective. Also, it is best to use Odie’s products. See below for how to make a custom stain using Odie’s products.
How many square feet can one 9oz jar of Odie’s oil cover? And the other products?
Depending on the wood type Odie’s Oil can cover anywhere from 150-220 square feet on most domestic wood. It is the most efficient finish on the market!
You can get about 600 square feet per jar of Odie's Wood Butter and over 1000 square feet for the Odie's Wax. The Odie's Solvent-free Super Penetrating Oil goes about 600 square feet. Since the Odie's Finishes last so long, it is important to use a finish preserver like Bloxygen.
How long can I let my Odie’s sit on a shelf once opened?
Odie’s immediately starts to harden once it is opened. If you come back to see that there is a hard layer on top, you can dig below it to get to the usable portion of the jar. Once Odie’s has hardened, there is no way to reconstitute it.
Which Products Should I Use?
When should I use Odie’s Solvent-free Super Penetrating Oil?
Odie’s Super Solvent-free Penetrating Oil should be used when you need extra stabilization, or when you are covering a large area. It is a thinner consistency than the regular Odie’s Oil, but still provides protection and sheen. For the best protection, especially when working outside, we recommend that you first put a layer of Odie’s Solvent-free Super Penetrating Oil, and then put an additional layer of regular Odie’s Oil.
What is the difference between the butter and the wax?
The wax is a traditional hard wax and is usually used as a final layer to provide added protection. It is also a stand-alone finish. We like to use it on very light wood to keep them very light (not pop the grain). The butter is a hybrid between the oil and the wax and is a softer consistency. It is used as a building layer and provides additional protection and extra sheen. It can also be used alone.
Should I use the butter or the wax?
The wax is used in very small amounts and should be used when you are looking for added protection and sheen. The butter should be used when you are looking for some added protection, build, and sheen. Both products can be used alone, but it is highly recommended that they be used in conjunction with the Odie’s Oil as additional coats of protection and sheen.
Can I mix pigments into Odie’s Oils?
Yes. You can mix any oil compatible pigment into the Odie’s oil to make a stain, but we recommend Mr. Cornwall’s Creative Colours.
How do I use Mr. Cornwall’s Creative Colours?
You can create a custom stain using Odie’s products. To do this you can either mix Odie’s oil directly with Mr.Cornwalls Creative Colours, or you can make a solvent based stain by mixing 2-3 parts Odie’s Safer Solvent to 1 part Odie’s Oil and then adding your pigment.
Why is the wax so hard?
The wax is a traditional hard wax, so it’s supposed to be hard. You only need to scrape away a very small amount of the wax to use.
Odie's on Wood
Do I need to sand in between layers?
You do not need to sand in between layers. You simply need to work it in with a scotch brite style pad, let it sit for about an hour, then buff it off; this process is repeated for any additional layers of the oil, butter, wax, or any combination of the three.
How long is the cure time for my wood project?
The cure time for most woods is 2-3 weeks, with walnut needing 3 weeks. It is very important to allow your wood to cure for optimal results.
When can I start using my wood project?
You can start using it immediately, however you should baby it and not let any liquid stand on the surface until the cure time is completed. (see above)
If you have used Odie’s on flooring, we recommend you wait 72 hours before you start putting your furniture on it. Do not let any liquid on it until after the complete cure time.
How do I get a better sheen?
Your sheen will depend on the quality of finish prep as well as on the sanding grit used. The lower the grit, the more matte the sheen, and the higher the grit, the higher the sheen. When sanding to a higher grit remember not to skip grits.