Doors in commercial spaces typically endure a lot of wear and tear over time, especially if they are used frequently or see a lot of traffic. These doors can also be important for keeping your building secure and accessible. From storefronts to warehouses, every business benefits from keeping their doors in good shape. Unfortunately, wear and tear on your doors is inevitable, but there are signs you can look for that mean you are in need of commercial door repair.
In this post, we’ll look at some basic types of commercial doors and discuss some common signs that they are in need of repair.
Commercial Door Repair for Automatic Doors
Automatic doors are very common in customer-facing businesses and buildings that need accessible entrances such as housing or hospitals. With automatic doors, though, there are a lot of moving parts involved that can wear down over time.
Signs Your Automatic Doors Need Repair
- Finicky or Broken Sensors: If your automatic doors only open sometimes or your sensor fails to pick up on motion or pressure, your door’s motion-sensing technology may need to be fixed.
- Unusual noises: Grinding, squeaking, or scraping noises can indicate that your automatic door needs repairs. These sounds can come from dirty tracks or broken mechanical parts.
- Slow response time: Delayed or slow opening and closing can happen when your sensors are broken or your doors themselves are having issues.
Commercial Door Repair for Overhead Doors
Sometimes referred to as commercial garage doors or sectional doors, these are commonly used in warehouses and loading docks. They are made to be durable and withstand heavy usage. They usually operate with multiple hinged horizontal panels that open vertically and slide along tracks. These moving pieces can incur damage over time, which is why it’s so important to be proactive about controllable factors such as maintaining commercial doors to protect from pests.
Signs Your Overhead Doors Need to Be Fixed
- Difficulty opening or closing: If your door becomes difficult to operate, there are quite a few things that can cause this. Misaligned tracks, worn pieces, and damaged rollers are just a few possible causes.
- Unusual vibration or noise: shaking or vibrating when the door is in motion can also indicate that parts of your door are breaking down or loose.
- Sagging or imbalance panels: Misaligned or unbalanced panels can cause your door to jam or shake. This can also pose security risks if the warped pieces make it difficult to lock and unlock your door.
Commercial Door Repair for Hollow Metal Doors
Hollow metal doors are by far one of the most common types of commercial doors. Available in dozens of types and configurations, they are adaptable doors that suit a lot of commercial applications. They are usually made of steel and are designed to withstand heavy use, weather, and force.
Signs Your Hollow Metal Doors Need Repair
- Visible dents and damage: Noticeable dents, bends, or warping can make your door difficult to open and close. It can also compromise the door’s structural integrity.
- Rust or corrosion: Aside from looking worn down, rust and corrosion also damage metal and make it break down. Once your door starts to rust or corrode, it’s time for a replacement.
- Loose hardware: Hinges, handles, and locks that come loose can incur more damage over time. As these loose pieces move and rub against other parts of the door, it can cause the door to become inoperable.
Commercial Door Repair for Impact Doors
Impact doors go by many names, such as saloon doors, cafe doors, or double-action doors. They are common in high-traffic areas where users may be carrying items or operating equipment. Places like hospitals, kitchens, restaurants, and points between storefronts and stockrooms are great for these doors. They are usually made of durable, lightweight materials like PVC or fiberglass.
Signs Your Impact Doors Need Repair
- Cracked or broken panels: Because they operate by being pushed open with body weight or machinery, impact doors can crack or break over time. This can pose a safety and security risk.
- Impaired motion: If the door sticks in certain places or requires more force than usual to open, it may have issues with its hinges or closers. The door may also begin to sag and scrape the floor it swings over.
- Poor insulation: When placed between temperature-controlled areas or in kitchen settings, impact doors can struggle to insulate temperate and control smell between areas. Signs of unwanted drafts or air leakage can indicate this as well.
Commercial Door Repair for High-Speed Doors
High-speed doors are designed to quickly open and close when needed. They are great for optimizing efficiency between access points while keeping your building secure. They can help optimize workflow and minimize temperature fluctuations.
Signs You High-Speed Doors Need Repair
- Slow or erratic motion: High-speed doors should be just that- fast. If they become slow or move incorrectly, they may need motor, sensor, or hardware repairs.
- Damaged curtains or panels: These doors can be made from soft or hard materials, with soft materials like soft plastic being common for faster operation. Tears and rips in these panels can mess with safety, security, and insulation.
- Broken safety features: High-speed doors have safety features that prevent the door from closing on objects in the door’s path. When these features become unreliable, they create safety risks for those using them.
Conclusion
We hope this blog gave you a good starting point for identifying if your commercial doors need repair. Remember – when in doubt, call a professional! Do you have a commercial door not listed in this blog post? Ask us about it on our contact page, or call us for more info and a free estimate on any of our services. Check out our other blog posts to learn more about us and commercial doors.