Is your industrial door not wanting to close right? This can cause some serious operational disruptions. You need to diagnose things like hinge misalignment, door warping, and strike plate not in the right place and fix them.
To fix a door that won’t close, look at the hinges, the door frame, and the strike plate to see if they are straight and not broken. Straighten or replace any of these items.
Let’s talk about this in a little more detail as it relates to industrial doors so your operation runs well.
Common Problems with Industrial Doors Not Closing Right
Industrial doors, especially those in manufacturing plants, warehouses, and test facilities, need to work great. If they don’t close right, it could be because of a hinge not in the right place, a door hitting the frame or a door that won’t latch because of the strike plate. You need to figure out what’s wrong and fix it so you don’t beat up your stuff.
Diagnose the Problem
Before you start fixing things, you need to figure out what’s wrong. Is the door hitting the frame? Is it misaligned? Industrial doors take a lot of abuse, and the hinges can get loose, or the door can get warped. If the door won’t close all the way, it might have an obstruction or the strike plate might not be installed right. You need to look at the door and see if you need to adjust the frame, hinges, or the locking mechanism.
Adjust Hinges for Proper Alignment
If your door hits the frame or doesn’t close all the way, it could be that your hinges are out of alignment. Over time, the hinges can get loose, causing the door to sag or be out of alignment. You might need to tighten the screws in the hinge plates. If the hinges are worn out, you might need to replace them with heavy-duty, industrial-grade hinges that are made to take a beating.
For doors that see a lot of use, I recommend you get some heavy-duty hinges that can handle a lot of weight and a lot of movement. This will help keep your hinges from getting out of whack.
Replace or Repair Damaged Hinges
If adjusting the hinges does not work, you may need to put new hinges on. Industrial doors need different hinges than residential doors. They need hinges that can carry more weight and handle tougher conditions.
If your door won’t close or won’t latch when closed, the hinges might be bent or damaged. You can replace them with some nice industrial hinges such as butt hinges or heavy-duty concealed hinges. These will provide more support and help the door close more smoothly, so it doesn’t hit the frame.
When you put new hinges on, make sure you get them correctly aligned and seated in the door and the frame. This will keep the door from sagging and make sure it closes right.
Check and Fix Door Frame Issues
A door that won’t close all the way can be due to a frame that’s gotten warped or damaged. The door frame can shift over time, especially in environments with extreme temperatures or a lot of use. If the door is hitting the frame, look for places where the frame is bent or warped that need to be fixed.
You may be able to tighten or realign the door’s installation points to fix minor warping. However, if it’s really bad, you might need to get somebody to come out and fix or replace parts of the frame to make the door fit and close right.
Checking for Obstructions or Warping
Doors that won’t close right could also be experiencing external obstructions or warping. There could be stuff in the way, like dust, dirt, or things that are out of alignment. Clear the doorway and look in the path of the door for any obstructions.
Another issue is the door itself being warped. This happens a lot with big industrial doors that are exposed to the elements. If the door is warped, it may not close all the way or it may hit the frame on one side. You might need to sand down the part that’s warped or replace the door panel if it’s really bad.
Fixing the Strike Plate and Latch
A problem you may have is the door won’t latch because the strike plate is out of whack or worn out. If your door won’t lock when it’s closed or won’t latch because the strike plate is off to one side, you need to move the strike plate.
You’ll want to start by loosening the screws and moving the plate up or down so the door latch catches in it. If the strike plate is all banged up, you might need to put a new one in. You can replace it with a heavy-duty strike plate made for industrial use. This way, the latch will catch when the door is closed, and the door won’t bounce open or fail to lock.
Lubrication and Maintenance
You need to do regular maintenance to keep from having problems with your doors. Make sure the hinges are well-lubricated because metal rubbing against metal will wear out over time. Because these doors are often in harsh conditions, using an appropriate lubricant on hinges, locks, and other moving parts will help them last longer and close right.
You should also look at the hinges, frames, and locks every so often to catch little problems before they become big problems.
When to Call in a Professional
If you’ve tried everything and you still can’t get the door to close right, you might need to call somebody. There could be more serious issues, like severe warping or structural problems with the door frame that need special tools or skills to fix. It’s best to call a professional to save time and keep from beating up your door.
Conclusion
Fixing a door that won’t close quite right includes looking at things like hinge misalignment, the strike plate being off, or the frame being messed up. Fix or replace these things to make it all work right.
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