Is it time for an industrial door replacement?

Good quality industrial doors last a long time. Decades if not more.

You can improve their longevity by investing in maintenance. And by arranging timely door repairs when something goes wrong.

But nothing lasts forever. Doors that are in constant use experience wear and tear. They may also end up experiencing:

• Collision with a vehicle
• Vandalism
• Extreme weather
• Improper usage

All of these things put pressure on your doors. And at some point, you’ll need to replace them.

So how do you know if now is the time for an industrial door replacement? Here are 7 common signs that you need a new industrial door.

7 signs you need an industrial door replacement

The door is letting in cold air

Draughty doors make it harder to maintain the right air temperature in your building. They can make the work environment uncomfortable for staff. And impact your energy bills too.

But it’s not just a problem of cold air. If gaps have appeared around your industrial door, it’s easier for all sorts of things to get in and out of your building.

Pests, dust and draughts can get in. Noise pollution and warm air can get out. So if your industrial doors are letting in cold draughts, it may be time for a replacement.

The door makes squeaking or grinding noises

No doors operate noiselessly. But if your industrial door has started making squeaking, grinding or banging noises, this is a sure sign that something is wrong.

The culprit may be a build-up of dust or dirt. Or a bit of grease might solve the problem. But strange noises can be a sign of something more serious – like door misalignment or a faulty part.

You may get away with a repair. But if this is a problem that has gone on for a while, you might be better off replacing your industrial door altogether.

The door is rusty

With protective coating and regular maintenance, metal doors shouldn’t get rusty. But if you spot patches of rust on your industrial doors, it’s time to take action.

Rust weakens the door structure and may also weaken door hardware, like locks. As a result, rust makes your doors more vulnerable to break-ins. And, let’s be honest, it doesn’t look great either.

If you spot and repair rust quickly you may be able to stick with your existing door. But leave rust for a long time and it’s more likely that you’ll need to replace your industrial doors.

The door doesn’t lock properly

Industrial doors are designed to be secure. With strong materials and top-notch locks, they stop thieves in their tracks.

So if your industrial door has stopped closing or locking properly, it definitely needs immediate attention.

A technician may be able to repair the lock mechanism. But if this isn’t the case, replacing your industrial doors will make your business premises safe again.

You may also find that both doors and locks are more secure than they used to be. So if you’ve experienced repeated break-ins, a new door could help to deter thieves in future.

The door is moving more slowly

The best industrial doors open and close quickly, supporting rather than disrupting the flow of people, vehicles and goods through your workplace.

If you’ve noticed that your high speed door is opening and closing more slowly than it once did, it may be time for an industrial door replacement.

Remember that those seconds add up. And the extra time your team spends waiting for a door to do its thing equates to wasted time and lost productivity.

The door isn’t energy efficient

Industrial door designs have moved with the times. It’s now much easier to find insulated industrial doors. And doors with super-fast open and close speeds that help to minimise heat loss.

So if you want to lower your company’s carbon footprint or if rising energy bills are causing you concern, it’s worth exploring new industrial door options.

You may even find that a new door could save you money in the long run because better insulation means better energy efficiency and lower energy bills.

The door looks old

Take a good look at your doors. Do they show your business in the best light? Or have they seen better days?

If your doors are old and battered, it gives a bad impression of your company to anyone who visits – whether that’s employees, customers or suppliers.

It can also give the green light to thieves. When your doors look flimsy and in need of repair, criminals are more likely to see your business as an easy target.

A lick of paint and a few repairs may do the trick. But if your doors still don’t look great, a replacement might be the better option.

Industrial door replacement or repair?

Some of the door problems listed above can be solved without getting a completely new door system.

A new part. A bit of grease. A quick clean. This may be all it takes to have your doors operating as well as they once did.

But it can be tricky to tell whether repair or replacement is needed. And when you ignore an issue with your doors, it’s only likely to get worse.

So it’s wise to get an expert opinion sooner rather than later.

Here at Secure Door Systems we manufacture, install, maintain, replace and repair industrial doors. So as industrial door all-rounders, our team can give you the very best advice.

Find out whether your doors need repairing or replacing by getting in touch with the SDS team today.