Commercial glass doors are built to withstand the constant daily grind, maintaining their security, safety and looking sharp while doing it. One of the most critical – yet often completely overlooked – factors in these door systems is the pivot hinge. Pivot hinges take on the weight of heavy glass or aluminium doors and make sure they swing open and shut smoothly. When these hinges start to wear out or just give up the ghost, businesses can find themselves facing a whole range of costly problems that’ll impact both operations and property safety.
Loads of property owners ignore the early warning signs of a pivot hinge about to go south – till the damage gets bad enough to be impossible to ignore. But letting a pro fix the problem can stop door replacements from being a wallet-buster, reduce the risk of costly claims, and extend the life of those pricey commercial entry systems. Getting to grips with how important early fixes can be should help businesses avoid unnecessary expenses and create a safe environment for staff and customers.
What Exactly Are Pivot Hinges?
Pivot hinges are special bits of kit you’ll find fitted at the top and bottom of commercial doors. Unlike your run-of-the-mill hinged doors, pivot hinges let the door swing open smoothly on a pivot point. These systems are super common in storefront glass doors, office buildings, shopping malls, hotels and other commercial properties because they’re so tough and give a really clean, modern look.
Since pivot hinges are carrying the whole weight of the door, they get a pounding over time. Opening and shutting the thing, getting the installation wrong, being exposed to the elements and poor maintenance can all cause them to start to wear out and get damaged.
Common Signs Your Pivot Hinges are on the Way Out
Business owners are often shocked to discover pivot hinge problems till their door becomes as useful as a chocolate teapot. Spotting the early warning signs can help prevent much bigger problems and a huge repair bill down the line.
Some common signs of pivot hinge failure include:\
- Doors dragging along the floor
- Difficulty opening or closing the door
- Glass doors that are no longer perfectly aligned
- Squeaky or grinding noises
- Loosely hanging doors that are hard to control
- Visible rust or damaged hardware
- Gaps appearing around the door frame
Leave these problems unattended and they can start to put extra pressure on nearby components like door closers, locks, frames and glass panels.
What Happens If You Keep Putting Off Repairing the Damage?
At first a damaged pivot hinge may just seem like a minor nuisance, but if you keep on putting off getting it fixed you’ll soon find you’ve got a big problem on your hands. As the hinge gets weaker the heavy commercial door may start to sag, putting stress on the surrounding hardware and glass.
Over time this can result in cracked glass, damaged frames, busted locks, and malfunctioning panic bars. In the worst scenarios the entire door system may need replacing – rather than a simple repair.
Commercial door hardware repair specialists can help businesses sort out these problems before they get completely out of hand. Getting in early will significantly reduce the cost of repairs and stop your business from grinding to a near-halt.
Protecting Your Commercial Glass Doors
Modern storefronts rely on big, eye-catching glass doors to create a welcoming appearance. But these glass doors are only as good as the pivot hinges that support them. When the hinges go get damaged, uneven pressure can build up across the glass. And that can result in chips, cracks or even complete glass failure. Replacing commercial glass doors is an absolute fortune compared to just sorting the hinges.
That’s why loads of businesses schedule glass repairs at the same time as fixing their pivot hinges. Taking a closer look at both the hardware and the glass will make sure the whole entry system stays safe, secure and looking sharp.
Making Sure Your Business is Safe and Secure
Faulty pivot hinges are a right old problem – but they’re also a safety risk. A door that suddenly jams shut or falls out of alignment can cause serious injury to your employees, customers or visitors.
And if your doors don’t lock properly because the hinges are knackered, you’re at risk of theft or unauthorised access. For businesses that depend on super-safe entrances, damaged door hardware can put everything in jeopardy.
Pro technicians know just what it takes to adjust, repair and reinforce pivot hinge systems to get them working smoothly and reliably again. Regular commercial door hardware repairs will also keep you compliant with building safety regulations.
Keeping Your Business Running Smoothly
If your door suddenly decides to pack in, it can bring your business to a grinding halt. A malfunctioning entrance can cause customer frustration and make emergency exits impossible.
For shops, office blocks, restaurants and healthcare facilities alike, even a short interruption to business can have a serious impact on customer experience and productivity. Emergency repairs can cost a small fortune because you’ll need someone to come and fix the problem ASAP, and you may have to fork out for a whole new door.
By getting into the habit of regular inspections and preventative maintenance, you can avoid those nasty surprises and costly downtime altogether. A small adjustment or an early repair is always going to be cheaper than a complete replacement.
The Value of Calling in the Experts
Some property owners will try to fiddle with the problem themselves or do a quick fix when the pivot hinges go wrong. Unfortunately, a half-baked repair can just make things worse and even damage the glass door even further.
Pro technicians have got the right tools, training and experience to get to the root of the problem and fix it properly. They can spot issues like frame movement, worn bearings, damaged pivots or alignment problems that you might miss. And because they know how all the different components of the door system interact, they can give you a complete solution – not just a sticking plaster to sort the problem out.
Keeping Your Commercial Doors Going for YearsCommercial Glass Doors – A Big Investment for Any Business
Putting a new storefront in is quite pricey for most businesses – and that’s not even counting the cost of replacing multiple doors or custom glass panels.
Keeping on top of maintenance and fixing things when they go wrong is what really keeps a storefront system in good nick for years to come. And that means keeping hinges well lubricated, tightening loose hardware, making sure everything is properly aligned, and swapping out worn out parts on time can make a real difference.
Lots of places see sense in pairing up pivot hinge maintenance with commercial glass repair – so that all their entrance bits and bobs stay nice and in good condition, and keep working properly for years to come.
Choosing the Right Repair Company
Not all handymen and repair guys have a clue about commercial pivot hinge systems – so business owners need to seek out people who do. That means finding contractors who have a lot of experience mending commercial storefronts, heavy glass systems – and the dodgy door hardware that seems to always go wrong.
If you get a repair company that really knows what they’re doing you can expect them to give you an honest assessment, fix things quickly and do the job in a way that will mean you won’t need to call them back, ever. They can also give you advice on how to keep your doors and entrances in good nick by doing regular maintenance work, which will save you a fortune in the long run.
Final Thoughts
Pivot hinges are pretty darn important when it comes to getting a commercial glass door to work properly, and keeping it safe too. Of course, they are built to take a battering, but if you don’t keep on top of maintenance and fix any problems as soon as they appear, before too long you’ll be facing major structural damage and a nice big repair bill.
Getting a professional to sort out the hardware on your commercial doors can help prevent costly emergencies, keep your doors working smoothly and safely, and keep your shopfront looking its best – all at the same time. And if you do it in conjunction with a bit of routine glass repair, you can bet your bottom dollar that your shop will keep looking and working its absolute best.
By getting a professional to sort out the pivot hinges in your commercial door you could save yourself a small fortune in future repair costs, and give yourself and your customers a more reliable and safe place to be.