The doors of your business or commercial property don’t just keep the temperature regulated or offer basic security, they are an essential piece in the functioning of your commercial operation and the reputation of your business. When your commercial door inevitably has some sort of damage, knowing how to best proceed isn’t always clear. Follow this guide to know if your door should be repaired or replaced.
What Type of Door Do You Have?
Before knowing if you door needs to be replaced or repaired, you need to identify what kind of door you’ve got. This might change whether or not a complete door replacement is the best decision.
The most common commercial doors include:
- Steel / Metal Doors
- Aluminum Doors
- Herculite / Glass Doors
- Storefront Doors
- Fire-rated Doors
Understanding the benefits of each of these doors and how to easily replace or repair them can save time and money for your business.
When You Should Repair Your Door
The most common types damage issues are:
- Alignment issues
- Bent frames
- Corrosion
- Door warping
Alignment issues can come from regular use or misuse and cause the door to drag against the floor or frame. Although not necessarily a security issue, it’s most certainly annoying.
Bent frames can drastically influence both the operation of your door and the security of your business. Forklifts, deliveries, break-ins and misuse can cause these issues, and if not fixed, can provide an easy crack for anyone to break in.
Corrosion damage occurs predominately in places of high sunlight, humidity, salinity or after extreme weather. Once the paint or primer has worn off a door, it invites all sorts of nastiness in depending on what type of door you’re using. Corrosion isn’t a big issue unless the door itself is rusted out, brittle, or insecure in a pryable area.
That being said, remember that doors are the first thing someone sees when they come into work or walk into your business. Rust is a depressing sight!
Door warping can happen through misuse over time. It isn’t a common problem most commercial doors face due to the proliferation of metal assemblies in the industry, but it can most definitely happen.
All of these can significantly disrupt operations and reflect poorly on the business as a whole if not regularly maintained. Sometimes a simple repair can add many years back into the original door and save you from installing an entirely new one.
Because many of these repairs require specialized knowledge or tools, it’s best to get a professional to do this for you, especially if this is a commercial property. Improper door repairs and hanging can cause problems beyond what you began with.
Common door repairs include:
- Door and frame alignment
- Door sealing
- Hardware replacement (handles, crash bars, springs, locks)
- Threshold alignment
When You Should Replace Your Door
Sometimes a door is just broken beyond repair or simply due up for a replacement. These damages often occur from blunt force, water damage, chemical damage, or simple wear and tear. The most common situations where a door should be replaced include:
- Repair is more costly than replacement
- Your door isn’t representative of your brand (outdated, discolored, or rusted)
The Flying Locksmiths are experts when it comes to commercial doors. Contact our team today and we would be happy to help you decide if your door should be repaired or replaced. Our technicians are experienced and ready to service any type of commercial door your business needs. Contact us today!