When Your Commercial Door Won’t Close

Jan 27, 2020

Just as with aging doors in a home, a common complaint about older commercial doors is that they won’t close properly. If a door at your business isn’t closing right, it could be for any number of reasons. Most of the time, a bit of elbow grease and repairing some of the commercial door hardware can save you from needing a new door installation.

Common Reasons Your Door Won’t Close Properly

Here are some of the problems that might be occurring with your aging commercial door installation — and some easy fixes.

1. Obstructive Weather Stripping

Problem: If your weather stripping is not too thick, it could have been installed poorly in the first place. If you have an older storefront door, it may have moved out of place or become brittle after years of weathering. Commercial storefront doors and windows tend to be the main area where you lose most of your energy efficiency, and properly-maintained weather stripping is key to reducing that energy loss.

Solution:

  • Inspect the weather stripping for wear, tears, or misalignment.
  • If it’s damaged, replace it with a correctly sized strip.
  • Ensure that your weather stripping is installed evenly and doesn’t interfere with door movement.

2. Loose Hinges

Problem: Over time, hinges can loosen, sag, or rust. This causes them to pull out from the doorframe or from the door itself, meaning the door no longer lines up properly within its frame.

Solution:

  • Tighten screws with a screwdriver or wrench.
  • If the hinges are rusted or bent, replace them with new ones.
  • If the wood or metal frame is damaged, patch it with filler and re-hang the door.
  • For heavy commercial doors, consider upgrading to ball-bearing hinges for better durability.

3. Damaged Hardware and Locks

Problem: Faulty locks, misaligned strike plates, or worn-out hardware can prevent proper latching. This is simply not good and should be repaired urgently. Damaged hardware or locks are both a security risk and a safety liability, especially when we’re talking about large doors like overhead doors at a loading dock, or truck trailer doors.

Solution:

  • Check if the lock is properly aligned with the strike plate and adjust if needed.
  • Lubricate or replace locks that are sticking and not turning properly.
  • Upgrade to high-security commercial-grade locks if your current hardware is outdated.

4. Settling Buildings and Shifting Door Frames

Problem: As any structure ages, it moves with the land and the weather. This is especially true in areas near fault lines, like the Sacramento area, or if you have wood doors that expand and contract due to humidity. These movements can skew alignments anywhere in your building, including all your doorframes.

Solution:

  • Check if the frame is level using a carpenter’s square.
  • Adjust or reposition the strike plate to match the door’s new alignment.
  • If the shifting is significant, consult a contractor to address foundational issues.
  • Consider upgrading exterior wood doors to steel or fiberglass.

5. Misaligned Door Jamb

Problem: A door jamb that isn’t perfectly vertical (plumb) can prevent proper closure and locking. A door that isn’t latching properly is a security risk, but luckily, it’s also an easy fix.

Solution:

  • Use a plumb bob to determine if the jamb is plumb.
  • Use a chisel to slightly shift the strike plate to line up with the latch.
  • If the issue persists, consider rehanging the door or replacing the frame.

When You’re Working with a Historic Door and its Original Door Hardware

In historic buildings, there is often no such thing as a straight wall or 90-degree angle, which can cause friction. While this isn’t exclusive to historic buildings, there is an easy solution. Sand and re-varnish either the door frame or the door itself wherever it is rubbing so much that you can’t close it. This is an easy DIY fix that doesn’t require you to compromise or replace any original historic pieces.

  • If the hinges are worn, need adjusting, or were not right in the first place: They may not be the right size they need to be based on your door’s width and thickness, for example. Pick the right hinges for your door.
  • If the latch and strike plate don’t line up: Sometimes when this happens, the door may close but not latch. This is a serious risk for security and energy efficiency, and it’s also a simple fix: adjust the hinges and/or rehang the door.
  • If the door is warped: This is more commonly a problem with wooden commercial doors than with those made of metal or fiberglass. Wood holds moisture, so it changes and warps with weathering, use, and exposure to moisture. This is especially true for salty moisture, which is a constant factor in coastal climates. If you’ve got exterior wood doors on your business storefront, check the various faces of your door with a straight edge to see if it’s warped.
  • If the operator or door closer is not adjusted properly: The door operator will not work right if the door is misaligned. Also, when the door closer is used as a door stop, the body and arm mounting screws of the closer body are subject to twisting, excess stress, and pressure. It’s advisable to install a stop to decrease the stress on the door.

Preventative Maintenance Tips for Commercial Doors

As with any other issue, regular maintenance is key. Regular maintenance can help you avoid door malfunctions and minimize repair costs by catching any issues before they get too large to fix. Follow these essential maintenance tips to avoid costly breakdowns and keep your business running without interruption.

Clean the Door Track or Threshold

  • For rolling or sliding doors, remove dirt, dust, and debris from the track.
  • For swinging doors, check the threshold for obstructions.
  • Wipe down door edges to prevent buildup.

How often: Weekly.

Inspect Hinges and Hardware

  • Check for loose or rusted hinges that may cause misalignment.
  • Tighten screws and bolts to ensure hinges remain secure.
  • Apply lubricant to hinges, locks, and moving parts to prevent squeaking and wear.

How often: Quarterly.

Test the Door’s Alignment and Closing Mechanism

  • Open and close the door multiple times to check for sticking or resistance.
  • If the door won’t close flush, inspect the strike plate and realign if needed.
  • For automatic doors, test the sensors to ensure proper function.

How often: Quarterly.

Lubricate Moving Parts

  • Use a commercial-grade lubricant on hinges, rollers, and locks.
  • Avoid heavy greases that attract dust — opt for silicone-based lubricants instead.
  • If the door makes grinding noises, check for worn-out components.

How often: Every six months.

Check Weather Stripping and Seals

  • Inspect weather stripping for wear, gaps, or peeling that can lead to air leaks.
  • Replace worn-out strips to improve energy efficiency and door sealing.
  • Ensure rubber seals on overhead doors are intact to prevent drafts.

How often: Annually.

When to Call a Professional

If your commercial door frequently sticks, refuses to close, or shows visible damage, it may require expert repair or replacement. A professional technician can check the opening and closing of the door, making sure it’s securely mounted to the jamb, and inspect the floor and header on the swing side. This is one of the many reasons SACS DOOR & GATE CORP always reminds you to regularly maintain your storefront doors, overhead doors, security doors, specialty doors, and air curtains for climate-controlled rooms, or any other doors at ports of entry to your business.