Commercial entry doors in Calgary handle more than just opening and closing. They face constant pressure from people, weather, carts, salt, and grit. Over time, that pressure leads to early damage. In many buildings, doors are the first point of contact, and when they don’t work properly, safety and comfort decline fast.
Some business owners replace their windows first but overlook the front entrance. That’s where issues begin. We’ve seen entries with daily use wear out in under five years. While it’s tempting to blame materials, the real reasons often come down to design, climate, and maintenance. Let’s look closely at what causes these doors to fail sooner than expected.
Mechanical Stress Builds Up Quickly in Busy Entrances
High-traffic doors go through thousands of openings each week. Hinges, closers, and locks absorb all that movement. When a door opens hundreds of times each day, the stress shows early. Hinges sag, screws loosen, and locks shift out of place. Eventually, the whole door misaligns with the frame.
In large commercial spaces, we’ve found many doors that were never designed for that much use. For example, if a door rated for light traffic is used in a busy medical office, it won’t hold up. The result is more breakdowns, misfires, and safety concerns. Buildings that invest in strong entry hardware reduce these risks.
Many of the same clients also prioritize long-term performance across the structure. For those planning window replacement in Calgary, it’s smart to look at entry points too. When doors fail, the entire building’s efficiency and security suffer.
Seasonal Expansion and Contraction Shift Frames Out of Alignment
Calgary weather changes fast. Doors that sit in direct sunlight all day heat up and expand. When the temperature drops overnight, that same material contracts. Over the years, this movement warps the frame and misaligns the latch. Even heavy-duty doors struggle when the metal stretches beyond what it was built for.
We see this most on south-facing entries. Clients often report that the door sticks in the morning or won’t latch at night. This is not just a seasonal issue—it leads to permanent warping over time. Once that happens, weather seals break down, gaps let air inside, and heating bills go up.
When clients come to us after a windows replacement Calgary project, they often mention drafts near the entry. Fixing the door alignment helps seal off those issues. Adding better weather stripping and adjustable hinges helps the door flex with the building during seasonal shifts.
Salt, Moisture, and Debris Speed Up Corrosion on Door Components
In winter, salt and slush pile up near commercial entrances. That mess sticks to the base of the door and seeps into every corner. Salt activates rust. Moisture freezes and expands. Even well-built metal doors begin corroding from the bottom up.
We’ve replaced many doors that looked clean from a distance but had rusted-out hinges and pitted locks. In Calgary’s freeze-thaw cycles, this type of corrosion happens fast. By the time rust is visible on the surface, the internal parts are already damaged.
Cleaning helps but doesn’t fix poor sealing. Door sweeps and thresholds must be tight enough to block water and grit. Property owners who already focused on indoor comfort with window replacement in Calgary often overlook how much door corrosion reduces energy savings. Once cold air gets in, heating systems have to work harder.
Impact and Vandalism Damage Add Up Without Reinforcement
Doors in public buildings take hits every day. Handcarts, bikes, wheelchairs, and even rough weather can dent metal or weaken edges. It doesn’t always take a major event. Small bumps cause ripples over time. These dents lead to gaps, make locking difficult, and reduce the door’s strength.
We’ve worked with commercial buildings where carts scratched the surface daily. By year three, the interior core had shifted. Doors stopped closing properly, even though the frame looked fine. Once that happens, even small issues require full replacement. Reinforcement plates on the bottom edge help protect vulnerable spots from constant impact.
After improving insulation with window replacement in Calgary, some property owners begin noticing performance issues at the door. In most cases, adding protective guards and switching to heavy-gauge materials solves the problem.
Poor Installation Leaves Hardware Vulnerable from the Start
One of the most common reasons doors fail early is incorrect installation. If a door isn’t level or the anchors miss the solid parts of the wall, nothing else works. Closers wear out too fast. Locks slip out of position. Over time, users think the door is failing, but the root problem is hidden in the wall.
We’ve removed doors where screws were barely holding anything. Some had been shimmed with cardboard or installed over crumbling drywall. In those cases, it’s not the door’s fault. The setup was never strong enough to last.
When handling replacement work, we always examine the anchor depth and material behind the frame. Without this support, high-traffic doors begin to tilt or shake within a year. If your building is already upgrading glass, pairing that effort with secure entry framing makes the improvements last longer.
You can review options and better framing solutions through our main window replacement in Calgary service page.
Security Failures Due to Worn Locks and Loose Strike Plates
Commercial entries must stay secure. When locks wear out, even a slight misalignment causes issues. Strike plates shift, bolts don’t fully extend, or handles jam. If someone forces the door or the panic bar gets stuck, it risks a full security failure.
This happens most in shared office buildings or busy retail locations. Users assume the door is locked, but the latch didn’t click. It only takes one overlooked detail for the system to fail. To prevent this, doors must be checked regularly. Screws need tightening. Plates need inspection. Panic hardware needs testing.
If you already upgraded your windows for energy reasons, it makes sense to check if entry doors are creating gaps. We often find weak locking systems paired with strong windows, which creates an uneven security setup. With a quick review, we can make both systems support each other better.
Maintenance Gaps Turn Minor Issues into Major Repairs
Daily traffic hides the slow breakdown of parts. By the time a door sticks or squeaks, the underlying problem has likely been there for months. Maintenance is the most overlooked part of door care. Without routine checks, screws loosen, closers fail, and the sweep starts dragging.
Most building managers clean the glass but forget the frame and hinges. That’s where the problems begin. Every three to six months, hardware should be inspected and adjusted. This includes hinge bolts, frame gaps, latch depth, and closer pressure.
Maintenance routines cost less than repairs. When done correctly, they double the life of your commercial entry. If your building has already completed upgrades like window replacement in Calgary, it’s worth protecting that investment with simple door inspections.
For help scheduling a proper entry check or setup, reach out to us directly through our Contact Us form.
FAQ
How long do commercial entry doors last in high-traffic areas?
Most last five to seven years without updates. With the right materials and care, they can last over a decade.
What signs show a commercial door is failing?
Watch for misaligned locks, squeaky hinges, dragging bottoms, and visible rust on edges or frames.
Can weather affect how a door closes?
Yes. Expansion from heat and contraction from cold changes how the frame lines up, especially in metal doors.
Are heavier doors always better for commercial buildings?
Not always. It depends on traffic volume and door use. Some buildings need reinforced edges more than extra weight.
Is it better to repair or replace a commercial door?
That depends on the damage. If hinges or locks are failing due to frame issues, full replacement is usually the better choice.
