Top Tips for Doors in High-Traffic Zones

We all know that at your place of business, some doors get used more than others. The supply closet, for instance, gets used much less often than the door to the restroom. But some doors get used multiple times every day by customers and employees alike. These doors, located in high-traffic zones, require a different quality of construction, since they’ll take a good deal more punishment over the years.

Fortunately, there are many ways that you can help to limit the wear and tear on these high-traffic doors. By taking the time to install the right equipment, you can save yourself time and money by preventing malfunctions down the road. Here are a few tips to help you to preserve your high-traffic doors.

Heavy-Duty Hinges Can Help

It helps to think of the hinges on your doors like joints in your body. The more you use that joint, the more likely it is to get tired or even injured. The same is true for door hinges. If the hinges installed on your door are too weak, they’ll get tired and start to sag. Eventually, the door may start to creak or bend, and after a while, it may not even fit properly into the jamb.

By installing heavy-duty hinges, you’ll stop that sagging and bending before it can start. Heavy-duty hinges may cost more at installation, but if your door starts to malfunction, you’ll spend more to replace the old hinges. Misaligned hinges can also cause problems with the alignment of other elements within your door, including your deadbolts to latches, so problems can quickly affect your security, too.

Don’t Cheap Out on Door Closers

If door hinges are like your body’s joints, then you can think of door closers as being like the muscles around those joints. Door closers add a level of control to your doors so that they don’t fly open when pushed too quickly and they won’t slam closed once they’re released.

Not all door closers are made equally, though. When you’re deciding on the right door closer for you, be sure to choose one that’s rated for high use. A heavy-duty door closer will stand up to excessive forces, including the strong winds that exterior doors will often face. Lighter-duty door closers usually won’t last long on high-traffic doors, and the added fatigue can put pressure on other parts of the door, misaligning hinges and deforming the door frame.

If you’re not sure what hinge/door closer combination you need, you should consult with a company that specializes in commercial doors, like CDF. We have experts available that can work with you to find the right equipment for your needs at the right price.

Install Kick Plates

Kick plates are the thin strips of metal attached to the bottom of doors. As the name suggests, kick plates are there to keep your door from being damaged from people kicking or bumping the door with their feet. Adding kick plates to your high-traffic doors isn’t just about keeping the doors scuff-free, though. Over time, they’ll keep your door from being weakened by repeated impacts, which can lead to denting, scratching, and further damage.

Installing kick plates is an easy, inexpensive way to preserve the life of your high-traffic door. Remember, the more people that pass through the door, the more chances there are that damage or scuffs can occur.

Don’t Forget Door Stops

Doorstops come in a few different forms, from floor-mounted models to varieties that are installed on the wall. Generally, a door stop involves a piece of rubber or other resilient material attached to a stainless steel fixture that prevents the door from opening too far and damaging surrounding walls.

It’s surprisingly easy to forget about doorstops. They’re small, and they seem so inconsequential—that is, until the first time the door hits the wall behind it. While devices like door closers can help, a determined customer or unthinking employee accidentally cause damage if they aren’t in place. A simple, inexpensive doorstop can prevent those moments from causing large repair expenses.

When you’re trying to decide on the right doors for your high-traffic zones, contact the experts at CDF. We’ll work with you to build the best package for your needs and get it to you fast, no matter what the size of your order may be.