As a business owner, keeping your commercial door in top condition is important. A damaged door is not only aesthetically unappealing but also puts the safety of your employees and customers at risk.
Not to mention, damage to the door is a hazard to all assets in your building. Unfortunately, your door can become damaged due to extreme weather, heavy impacts, use, and more. Read on to learn about the common causes of commercial door damage and tips on preventing it.
Broken Lift Cables
Lift cables allow for the smooth opening and lowering of the door. However, these components undergo extreme tension and pressure, making them susceptible to wear and tear. The friction of the cable moving against the cable drum as the door opens or closes can cause it to fray.
A broken cable can make the door malfunction, making it difficult or impossible to open and close. In a worst-case scenario, damaged cables could even cause the door to collapse. Furthermore, malfunctioning lift cables can cause door misalignment, damaging the door frame, hinges, or other door components.
The Solution
Replace faulty lift cables as soon as you notice they appear frayed or worn down to prevent the risk of door damage. Keeping the mechanisms intact will also help keep employees safe.
Lack of Regular Maintenance
Over time, dirt, dust, and other debris can accumulate on the door hinges and frames, leading to corrosion and rusting. Corrosion weakens the metal and can cause the hinges or frame to break, creating a safety hazard. Hinges also require regular lubrication; without it, they can become stiff and difficult to move, putting strain on the door. This strain could cause the door to warp or buckle.
Below, we’ve listed several a couple more maintenance items you should keep on top of.
Check the Weather Stripping
Weather stripping protects the door from wind, rain, and other environmental conditions by creating a seal around it. Regularly checking your door’s weather stripping can help you identify damage early on and prevent further issues.
Check for Rust
Rust can cause damage to the frame, hinges, and other components of the door. Regularly checking for rust helps you identify potential problems before they become serious.
Intense Weather Conditions
Intense weather conditions can cause serious damage to commercial doors, such as dents and corrosion, among other issues. Thunderstorms can be destructive, subjecting doors to powerful winds, hail, and excessive rain. Likewise, wind damage can be especially harmful, as it can create pressure changes that can either pull the door in or push it out. This can significantly damage the door frame, hardware, or even the hinges.
Additionally, prolonged water exposure can lead to corrosion and rust, weakening the door’s metal components—springs and hinges—which will cause it to malfunction.
Assess the Damage
Sadly, no one can perfectly predict or prevent severe weather. To reduce the risk of weather-related damage to your door, inspect it after heavy storms to spot all possible damage immediately.
Poor Installation
Improper installation is another common cause of commercial door damage that will impact the door in the long run. When the installer lacks knowledge, skills, or experience, they may not install the door correctly. This can result in issues like improper alignment, uneven gaps, and improper sealing, leading to unnecessary wear and tear. Even the slightest misalignment can cause the door to bind, which exerts additional strain on the hinges and other parts of the door system. This, in turn, can weaken the durability of the door and result in severe damage.
Moreover, an installer without years of expertise may use poor-quality or faulty parts during installation. This can lead to damage or cause your door to break down years sooner than it should.
Ensure Proper Installation
Hiring a professional with stellar reviews and a reputable background ensures a long-lasting, robust door system. All Access Doors is your top choice for commercial roll-up door repair in Los Angeles and Orange County, CA. We’ve been in business since 2007, and all our installers have essential industry expertise.
Accidental and Intentional Impact
A heavy impact is a common cause of damage to commercial doors, which can occur due to various factors. For instance, drivers can lose control of their vehicles due to icy or slippery roads, leading to collisions with the door. In such cases, the impact can result in significant bending, warping, and denting of the metal, making the door unusable.
Vandalism is another common cause of damage. In some instances, disgruntled employees or criminals may deliberately cause heavy impacts by throwing rocks or forcefully hitting the door with a vehicle. They may also bend the door frame, which decreases your commercial door’s functionality.
Prevent Impact Damage
Business owners can prevent damage caused by heavy impacts on their commercial doors by reinforcing them with additional insulation layers, such as steel or wood. This provides extra strength and protection in an accident or intentional impact.
Additionally, you should secure the area with security cameras and motion-sensor lights to deter vandals.
Wear and Tear
Commercial doors play a vital role in any business because they serve as the gateway for customers and employees to enter and exit the building. However, like everything, commercial doors naturally break down over time. This will happen regardless of how well you care for the commercial door. Of course, routine maintenance will put off the need to replace the door in the near future.
Opening and closing doors all day, every day, puts a significant strain on their hinges, latches, locks, and other moving parts. Plus, as components become outdated, your door may show signs of damage more often. This is because it doesn’t have the same level of durability that modern pieces and doors do.
Contact Us
You can count on All Access Doors to get the job done whenever you need your commercial door maintained, repaired, or replaced. By keeping your door damage free, you keep your building looking great and protect all assets inside. Contact us today to make an appointment.
