How to Prevent Door Damage and Avoid Costly Repairs

The Causes and Consequences of Door Damage

• Weather: Extreme weather conditions can warp, crack, rot, fade, or rust your doors over time. This can make your doors misaligned, unfit, and unsealed, and harder to operate.
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• Wear and tear: Frequent use, especially by heavy traffic, can wear out, loosen, or break your doors. This can affect the hardware and functionality of your doors, and make them less secure.
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• Vandalism: Graffiti, scratches, dents, or holes can ruin the surface and look of your doors, and make them unprofessional and ugly. This can also lower the value and reputation of your property, and discourage potential customers or visitors.
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• Accidents: Collisions, impacts, or falls can dent, crack, shatter, or knock off your doors. This can affect the structure, stability, and safety of your doors, and expose your property to external threats.

• Security risks: Damaged doors can make your property more prone to burglaries, thefts, vandalism, or intrusions. This can risk your assets, data, and people, and cause losses, liabilities, or lawsuits.
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• Safety hazards: Damaged doors can pose a danger of injury or harm to anyone who uses them. This can include cuts, bruises, sprains, or fractures from sharp edges, loose parts, or falling doors. This can also include fire, smoke, or gas hazards from faulty or broken doors that block escape or ventilation.
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• Energy waste: Damaged doors can cause air leaks, drafts, or heat loss in your property. This can affect the indoor climate, comfort, and air quality of your property, and raise your energy bills and carbon footprint.
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• Aesthetic issues: Damaged doors can spoil the curb appeal and design of your property. This can affect the impression and satisfaction of your customers, visitors, or employees, and reduce your sales, retention, or productivity.

How to Inspect and Maintain Your Doors Regularly

• Clean your doors: Use a soft cloth and a mild detergent to wipe down your doors and remove any dirt, dust, or stains. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or tools that can scratch or damage your doors. Pay attention to the edges, corners, and crevices where dirt can accumulate. For glass doors, use a glass cleaner and a squeegee to remove any smudges or fingerprints.
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• Lubricate your doors: Apply a suitable lubricant to the hinges, locks, rollers, and tracks of your doors to ensure smooth and quiet operation. Avoid using oil or grease that can attract dirt and cause buildup. Use a silicone spray or a graphite powder for metal parts, and a wax or a paraffin for wooden parts.
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• Tighten your doors: Check the screws, bolts, nuts, and other fasteners of your doors and make sure they are tight and secure. Loose or missing parts can cause your doors to sag, rattle, or fall off. Use a screwdriver, a wrench, or a plier to tighten or replace any loose or missing parts.
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• Adjust your doors: Check the alignment, fit, and seal of your doors and make sure they are level and balanced. Misaligned or unbalanced doors can cause gaps, cracks, or drafts in your doors, and make them hard to open and close. Use a level, a tape measure, or a shim to adjust or level your doors as needed.
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• Inspect your doors: Look for any signs of damage, wear, or deterioration on your doors and their components. Look for any cracks, chips, dents, holes, or rust on your doors. Look for any bends, breaks, or splits on your hinges, handles, locks, or other hardware. Look for any tears, cuts, or holes on your weatherstripping, seals, or gaskets. If you find any damage, wear, or deterioration, you may need to repair or replace the affected parts.