Sagging Commercial Metal Doors

Pemko Hinge

Because employees often use blocks of wood between the door and jamb in order to keep the door open, door hinges are often damaged, as are the door and frame. When the door frame and door supports for the hinges are bent, it is all down hill for the rear door opening. If you have ever priced a commercial door, you will be in for one big surprise.

Before you spend $50 installing three new commercial hinges, be aware that doing so may not solve your problem. If the damage to the door appears to mild, try this money saving trick. Be sure to use a larger Phillips screwdriver, the one that is sized up above the #2. I think it is a #3. Have someone hold the door open, remove the bottom hinge, which is the least likely hinge to be damaged, and replace it in the top hinge location. By doing this, the bent top hinge will push the lower end of the door out and the normal bottom hinge will pull the top of the door in. If the damage is slight, the door may work just fine. Instruct your employees to prop the door open with a garbage can or large brick. Nothing should ever go between the open door and jamb. When you put something in this place, somebody inevitably tries to force the door shut, unaware of the obstruction. The leverage they apply is multiplied and damage easily results.

If the door and jamb supports have been totally bent, consider using a Pemko Continuous hinge. This hinge installs on the outside and runs the entire length of the door. They have a lifetime warranty. My advice would be to forget the standard commercial hinges in favor of this. Install this hinge once and forget it. Your locksmith pays $97 for this hinge, which comes in bronze of silver, and he will install it for $300 to $400, depending on certain factors. If you are handy, you could probably install it yourself. Just read the online literature at Pemko.