Exterior Mahogany Doors - Stain / Varnish

[JMR]

I have just ordered 2 mahogany exterior doors from a well known door supplier in Dublin.
Just as the deal closed the salesman mentioned that I would need to stain and varnish the doors within 2 to 3 days of fitting.
I wasn’t aware I would have to do this.

It would seem to me to be a much better idea to do this before the door is hung and handles / door knocker fitted?
Anyway, I have a friend who is in the business of spraying and staining etc so called the door supplier this morning to ask could we arrange to have doors sent to his workshop for staining / varnishing and then back to door supplier until installation date arrives.

I was told that they would not advise this course of action as a better result is obtained by staining / varnishing by hand!!
I find it hard to believe that a professional would not achieve a better result than me.
Organising the courier to collect / deliver between door store and workshop would be down to me so the door supplier would not incur any additional cost, any ideas what the real reason could be for this??

 

[mathepac]

I have just ordered 2 mahogany exterior doors from a well known door supplier in Dublin ...

I doubt that very much as mahogany is not a wood that's suited to outdoor use - its too scarce, too expensive and doesn't weather well. Traditionally it was used for expensive indoor furniture either as a solid wood or latterly as a veneer.

... I wasn’t aware I would have to do this...

Generally par for the course with exterior hardwoods.

... Organising the courier to collect / deliver between door store and workshop would be down to me so the door supplier would not incur any additional cost...

That sounds reasonable to me.