Commercial doors come in many different forms. It can be decorative to make it pleasing to the customers or clients. Or, it can be hardy and rugged for the inventory space or loading docks. Because commercial doors are more complex than house doors, they come with their own challenges. Below are some of the most common problems with commercial doors.
Warpage
The location of exterior doors has a crucial influence on the occurrence of warping issues. Take, for instance, an outside hollow metal door on the east side of a structure made from poured concrete. There’s no awning nor any other kind of cover for the door. Furthermore, the door and exterior wall are painted with dark paint that absorbs heat. During the summertime, the temperatures can get high; it won’t be surprising if the door starts warping.
Eventually, The door will develop a permanent bend at the lock edge. Since no one can get in or out, the door will need to be replaced.
Keep in mind that hollow metal doors are the only ones susceptible t0o warping due to heat. In some cases, the door may return to its original shape when pressure is relieved or the temperature drops. In most cases, most warped doors will get worse.
There are doors on the market that are engineered to resist warping. Hence, you might choose such doors if the door location is susceptible to warping. Also, a professional commercial door framing service will significantly help avoid the problem.
The Door Won’t Close
The most prevalent complaint from end users is that a particular door won’t close or opens too slowly. Finding the root cause may involve addressing multiple issues. Locksmiths must properly inspect the door and the jamb.
It is imperative to evaluate the door’s opening and closing mechanism, as well as the door’s attachment to the jamb. Check the floor and header on the door’s swing side for issues.
Common causes include:
* Damaged hardware and locks
* Weather strip
* Bad, old, overused, or misaligned hinges
* The hinges are not securely attached to the door jamb any longer
* Jamb is no longer plumb
* Building settling
* The latch is not properly engaging the strike plate
* Door’s closer or operator is not operable or out of adjustment
* Damaged doors
* Warped doors
Sometimes the door won’t completely close because the weather strip is too thick. Hence, install a weather strip that is appropriate in both size and material for the application.
Another reason why the door won’t completely close is that the latch and/or bolt do not retract completely. Lock malfunction, faulty installation, building settlement, or warped door might cause this. Check that the locking mechanism is working correctly.
If the hinges are stripped, then the door may fail to close. This could also happen if the jam or doorframe is no longer attached properly or securely. Hinge functionality might be compromised by misuse or general wear and tear. Make sure the screws that hold the hinges in place are snug and that they open and close smoothly. Also, apply a lubricant on the hinges while you’re at it. It’s also best not to skip on commercial door maintenance.
Door closing issues may also emerge as a building settles. This kind of problem is difficult to solve. It’s possible for a building to settle into this position and remain in such for many years. There is no one-size-fits-all method to fix this problem. The best course of action is to keep an eye on the situation and start with the simplest fixes possible. A professional commercial door install might help as a specialist may spot the problem before it happens.
The bolt or latch does not go into the strike opening any longer. You can make some adjustments to fix this or call a commercial door repair.
Door Gaps
If the gap is unusually wide or uneven, it could be a sign of a problem with the structure or installation. Air can get through if the gap is wide enough, causing issues with heating or cooling inefficiency. There are different ways of solving this problem, typically involving a gasketing product.
Door Break-ins
If there’s a commercial establishment, then it’s highly probable that there are valuable things inside the structure. To access such items or goods, the doors usually fall victim to intrusion damage. Hence, increasing door security is always welcomed for commercial establishments.
You can use a sort of armor cover to hinges. This adds an extra layer of security, which is very beneficial, especially if the hinges are facing outwards. For narrow stile, mortise, and cylindrical door locks, latch protection can be installed. This can be applied to both in-swing and out-swing doors.
To prevent entry through forceful means, there is a selection of striking plates that range in size and function. If the jamb or strike plate is loose, longer screws may solve the problem.
It is typical for the door hardware on alley or dock doors to become damaged due to hand truck or cart traffic. End caps on exit devices often get pulled off or bent. You can prevent this problem with the help of a cast end cap. If the exit device has vertical rods on the surface, you can install protective products that prevent damage to the lower rods.
Wrapping It All Up
Most of the time, doors often work as intended. However, like most things, they break down from time to time. The only difference is that doors tend to create a secure partition. This means that if it gets broken, there’s a higher risk attached to it. Furthermore, fixing a door is like a puzzle most of the time.
You know what the problem is, but there could be several reasons for the issue. Hence, you must do it the old-fashion way of trial and error.
The problem becomes more challenging if the door is built for commercial purposes. Most commercial doors are more complicated compared to residential ones. Hence, fixing a commercial door problem is also more complex.
Of course, you can do some minor repairs, and hopefully, the problem gets fixed. However, if nothing works, the best thing to do is to contact a professional. In fact, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to call a professional service right away as it will save you a lot of time, effort, and headaches. One example of a professional you can call is Commercial Door Worx in Charlotte, North Carolina area (see their Google business listing below).
Calling on a professional commercial door contractor or company to help with your commercial door problems could save you a major headache, but also prevent you from wasting time and money trying to do it yourself with costly mistakes… Or worse you could get injured without the right equipment, tools or experience.
Have questions or concerns over your next commercial door project? Contact us today!