Your front door used to swing shut with a soft click. Now it drags. It rubs the frame at the top. Some days it won't latch at all.
That door is sagging. It is one of the most common door problems we see at businesses. Here is why it happens, and how to fix it for good.
Why heavy doors sag
Most doors hang on 3 or 4 small hinges. All the weight of the door sits on those few spots.
Business doors are heavy. Many are metal or glass in a metal frame. They may open hundreds of times a day. Every swing pulls a little on the hinges.
Over time, a few things happen:
- The screws work loose.
- The holes in the frame get stripped.
- The hinge pins and knuckles wear down.
- The top hinge gets pulled away from the frame.
The door drops a tiny bit at the latch side. That is all it takes.
Signs your door is sagging
- The bottom of the door drags on the floor or threshold.
- The top corner rubs the frame.
- The latch doesn't line up with the strike, so the door won't lock.
- You have to lift or push the door to close it.
- The hinge screws keep coming loose.
If your door won't latch, the door is not locked. That makes sagging a security problem, not just an annoying one.
The quick fix (and why it doesn't last)
The first step is often to tighten the screws or put in longer ones. Sometimes the strike is moved to meet the latch.
That can work for a while. But on a heavy, busy door, the same few hinges are still holding all the weight. So the sag comes back. Many businesses end up paying for the same repair again and again.
The lasting fix: a continuous hinge
A continuous hinge is one long hinge. It runs the full height of the door, top to bottom.
Instead of the weight sitting on 3 or 4 points, it is spread along the whole edge of the door. The door has nothing to pull loose.
The fix: take off the old hinges, put on a continuous hinge, and reset the door so it lines up with the frame.
Where continuous hinges work best
- Aluminum storefront doors
- Hollow metal doors
- Back and service doors
- Busy front entrances
A real job
At Ross Dress for Less in Arlington, a door kept binding and hitting the frame, so it would not close all the way. We put on a continuous hinge and reset the door. See the before and after photos.
Is it always the hinge?
Not always. A door that won't close can also be caused by a weak door closer or a bent frame. That's why we check the frame and closer first, so you pay for the right fix.
Next step
Send us a photo of the door, top and bottom, and we'll tell you what we think is wrong. You get the price before we start. Or call (682) 324-6688, Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 6 PM.
Quick answers
Why does my commercial door sag?
Heavy doors hang on only 3 or 4 hinges. Over time, the weight and daily use pull the screws loose and wear the hinges, so the door drops and starts to drag or rub.
What is a continuous hinge?
It is one long hinge that runs the full height of the door. It spreads the door's weight along the whole edge, so the door stops sagging.
Will a continuous hinge fix my sagging door?
In most cases, yes. We check the frame and the door closer first to make sure the hinge is the right fix.