Doors are more than just for keeping your home or business safe and secure. While one of its primary purposes is to keep unwanted elements out of your property, a door can also be an inviting factor to those you wish to welcome into your home or business. Especially for commercial establishments, a well-designed front door can attract customers in – hence, the importance of choosing the right types of commercial doors for your business.
Throughout history there have been many different types of doors and these doors have been defined by how they operate or what material they are made from. Here are some examples:
A Brief History About Wooden and Symbolic Doors
The first decorated or symbolic doors were created by the ancient Chinese and ancient Egyptians, who decorated them with symbols of the gods. Then in the 12th and 13th centuries, thick wooden doors made from hardy wood like oak began to appear. These wooden doors would feature a wooden or metal symbol denoting a family crest and strong iron bars, which made them sturdy and impact resistant.
Different Types of Modern Wooden Doors for Commercial Use
Here are some more modern types of commercial doors categorized by design.
The Dutch Door
A Dutch door, alternatively known as a stable door, a half door, or a double-hung door, is a door split horizontally, allowing one half to open while the other half remains closed. The Dutch Door originated in New England during colonial times, and its practical design allowed the breeze and sunlight to enter when the door’s top half was open. At the same time, it kept children, pets, and debris out while the bottom half remained closed.
The French Door
French doors are double doors composed of wood and glass that open inwardly and independently. The purpose of French doors is both decorative and practical. On a decorative level, they are one of the most aesthetically pleasing types of commercial doors. On a practical level, they let plenty of extra light into the room while taking up a minimal amount of space. French doors are a perfect example of aesthetics and practicality combined.
The Bi-fold Doors
Bi-folding doors, also called folding panel doors and concertina doors, are made from several separate wooden panels that fold together. The folding and unfolding action is similar to that of a concertina, hence the name, concertina doors.
Bi-fold doors are typically made from wood and used as closet, kitchen, and utility room doors. In recent years Bi-fold doors made of glass and steel have begun to appear on the market, proving a popular choice among consumers.
Other popular types of commercial doors include:
- Hinged Door
- Sliding Doors
- Pocket Doors
- Barn Doors
- Pivot doors
Commercial Glass Door
Glass doors are a specialty item and people often wonder, how much is a commercial glass door? Many factors influence the price of a glass door, including: what the frame is made of, the glass panel size, whether it’s a single or double door, where and how it’s installed, and how many glass panels are used.
The least expensive form of the glass door is the single shower door. A glass door will cost anywhere from $500 on the low end to $4,000 on the high end. On average, a glass shower room door will cost between 1 and 2 thousand dollars.
For commercial purposes, the glass door is a favorite among retail stores and restaurants. It’s because it allows plenty of natural light into the establishment while providing passersby with a clear and enticing view of the store’s interiors.
How to Install a Commercial Door
When installing a door, you are installing the door frame first and then the door. If you are looking to install a commercial door yourself, here are some steps you can follow:
- Step 1: Place the door frame in the opening where the door will be installed.
- Step 2: Look at the building schematics and make sure the frame opening number corresponds with the location number.
- Step 3: Compare the shape and dimensions of the frame to the schematics.
- Step 4: Make sure that adequate reinforcement hardware is attached to the frame. Check the size of the hinges, the size of the closer mounting and the strike type.
- Step 5: Verify what the floor surface will be by comparing them to the drawn plans before setting the door frame.
- Step 6: Adjust the door frame so the door does not drag on the floor when opened or shut.
- Step 7: Most door frames come pre-assembled. Install base anchors to the pre-assembled frame.
- Step 8: Remove the shipping bar using a grinder.
- Step 9: Stand the door frame up in the designated location.
- Step 10: Place a spreader between the lower inner sides of the door frame. This helps align the door jams as they are anchored to the floor.
- Step 11: Anchor the base anchors on each door jam using screws suitable for concrete. Use six anchors, placing three on the hinge jam and three on the strike jam.
- Step 12: Place a second spreader between the hinge and the strike jam in the middle of the frame.
- Step 13: Move the studding into place and screw the studs to the track at the bottom of the door frame
- Step 14: Secure the top of the studding by screwing it into the top steel plate.
- Step 15: Place the third spreader above the frame.
- Step 16: Anchor the frame to the stud.
- Step 17: Install drywall.
Types of Commercial Door Lock
Typically, commercial locks are divided into 4 different types, including:
- Commercial strike lock – The commercial strike lock is composed of a metal plate and bolt. The metal plate is fastened to the door frame, and the bolt slides into the plate lying against the door.
- Keyless entry – A keyless entry locking system operates electronically and can only be opened with a pre-programmed password or numerical sequence typed into an electronic keypad.
- Restricted key system – All keys have an identification number recorded on a locksmith’s database. Each time a key is copied, it is recorded on this database. A normal key can be copied multiple times, but a restricted key has strict limitations on how many times it is copied, and it can only be copied by the locksmiths authorized to do so.
- Magnetic locks – Magnetic locks are powered by an electric current that passes through an electromagnet. This creates a magnetic charge that locks the metal plate against the door frame and prevents the door from being opened. To unlock the door the electrical current has to be removed or stopped temporarily.
Commercial Door Repair
In a commercial enterprise with a physical building, the first thing visitors and customers see is that building’s door. Doors are exposed to outside elements, which can cause wear and tear, cracks, and peeling of paint, varnish, or an outer layer of wood. Doors can also become jammed and stuck in one position, or the locks can break, and the door frame begins to sag.
Fixing a broken or damaged door can be deceptively tricky, and it will often require a professional technician with the necessary experience, specialized tools, and access to replacement parts. Hiring a professional to fix your damaged or broken door means that the job is done correctly, and your security will remain un-compromised.
Conclusion
There are many different types of doors and they are categorized by the material they are made from or how they operate. For example, in the how they work category, you can find French, bi-fold, hinged, sliding, pocket, barn, and pivot doors. You can find wooden, metal, fiberglass, and glass doors in the material category.
The primary purpose of a door is to shield or protect the area behind it, and to do this, a door requires a lock. There are several types of commercial locks, including the commercial strike lock, the keyless entry lock, restricted key locks, and magnetic locks.
Connect with the professional locksmith company like Alexius Denver’s Locksmiths for all your concerns about commercial doors and locks.
Doors and locks may look simple, but this appearance is misleading, and should you experience a broken or damaged door or lock, it is a good idea to call in the experts like Alexius Denver’s Locksmiths, one of the top company that provides expert locksmiths in Aurora.
A professional locksmith will have the experience, training, expertise, and of course, the necessary tools to repair or replace damaged or broken locks, ensuring that your doors can still perform their primary function of protection and security.
