04 Sep When is the Best Time to Schedule Preventive Commercial Door Maintenance and Repair?

Commercial doors get a lot of abuse day in and day out. Unlike your typical residential door, these doors go through so much use which takes a toll on the door itself and all the hardware that comes with it. Many business owners have to deal with malfunctioning or completely damaged doors because they don’t prioritize commercial door repair and maintenance.

Preventative maintenance ensures that your door stays in optimal working condition for a long time. This should be done regularly, at least once or twice a year to increase the lifespan of your commercial door. Experts suggest having your commercial doors checked during the early spring and late fall.

Maintenance Tips for Commercial Doors

Here are some of the things you can do to keep your commercial doors in excellent shape all-year-round.

1. Be gentle with your doors.

Commercial doors deal with so much wear and tear. If you want them to last long, it’s never a good idea to use excessive force just to open them. For example, kicking your door open or keeping it propped open for a long time will likely decrease your door’s lifespan by several years.

The same thing goes when it comes to your commercial door hardware. By forcefully turning the key when unlocking commercial doors, you might end up with broken locks and keys – something a business would not want to deal with.

If there’s usually a need to exert that much power to open and unlock your commercial door, there may be a deeper issue that should be assessed by a commercial door repair professional

2. Check battery-operated devices.

It’s not just commercial door repair you need to remember. Just like smoke alarms, battery-operated hardware on your commercial doors (i.e. card access systems, exit alarms, etc.) should be routinely checked.

If you hear a strange noise or two, it’s typically a sign that batteries need replacement. If your batteries are dead, it only means you’re keeping an expensive piece of hardware on the door with no use at all.

3. Paint and clean the door.

This is more on maintenance rather than commercial door repair, but it helps to inspect the door for possible signs of wear or damage as often as possible.

For steel doors, check for corrosion spots that need sanding and painting. An all-purpose cleaner is ideal for keeping fiberglass doors neat. Pay close attention to commercial doors made of wood, as water damage and warping are quite common in this material. Remove any peeling paint before sanding and repainting.

4. Lubricate any moving parts.

Lubrication is essential because it reduces strain on the door opener and rollers. Locks should also be lubricated because dirt and grime could build up inside and potentially jam it. For any hinges or rollers that seem stuck, you can use a penetrating solution to keep them clean and lubricated.

While routine maintenance is meant to extend the effectiveness and life of your doors, there will come a time when commercial door repair and replacement will be necessary. Once that happens, always call a professional to handle your commercial door needs. They will be able to give you a proper assessment and help you install and maintain your new commercial doors.