Steel Door Problem

wmerrell

guys,

I am hoping someone here can help me with a steel door problem. I have a building with double steel doors mounted to steel jambs. The doors are sagging so they will not close because they hit each other at the top of the door. A month ago I took a sledge to the top hinges and knocked them back into alignment. I thought I was the man until I was back there today. The sagging is starting again. I would really like to find a fix for this. There are windows on both sides of the doorway so there is not anything to use to pull the hinge in. I think this is really metal fatigue. ?????????????????????

joasis

I seriously doubt what you are describing is "metal fatigue" unless it is very light gauge jamb material, and is actually cracking around the hing recesses....more likely, someone installed the jambs with light fasteners, and they are working loose...hammering the hinges back into place may indicate the threaded holes for the hing screws are "worked out"....heavy commercial doors very often will "work" on the hinge recesses....

I would remove the doors, and look the jambs over carefully...see if you can determine how they were installed, and then fix it right.

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wmerrell

I do agree that some of the issue is or was the hinge screws. I did replace all of them in the top and middle hinges a month ago. I did have to tighten the new screws about a quarter turn. The door is sagging about 3/16". I can see where the top hinge has pulled out or away from the jamb. I will have to follow your advice and remove the door to see what the problem really is. Any tricks or not obvious things I might look for?

Teetorbilt

Assuming that they once worked properly and the jambs haven't moved, I'd anchor them once and for all. How is the building built? Frame? Concrete?

Forget the jamb attachment, go for something solid.

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mdshunk

I don't understand the "windows on each side... not anything to pull the hinges in" wording. Are these really normal steel doors? Or is this storefront/curtainwall type extrusion system, where the window and door openings are part of a system?

PJB

I hang lot of steel (hollow metal) doors. If the hinge is pulling away from the frame, it sounds like the butt screws are stripped, or the screw holes in the frame are stripped. What I have done in the past is drill and tap the frame backing plate for the next larger size screw and counter sink the screw holes on the hinge bigger.

JPF

Could probably put a small tack weld at the top and bottom of the hinge, grind it smooth....then if it ever needed to be replaced, just a quick hit with a grinder to the tack to remove.....just a thought

mdshunk

That's how they did the 'file room' on a recent new jobsite. I have no idea why. I guessed security at the time. Now, I'm wondering if it wasn't a defective door that they were patching up. The finished result looked fine to me, though. Just a couple little lines.

wmerrell

These are heavy steel doors which are the main entry into the building. The walls on both sides of the doors are actuall floor to ceiling glass set into steel frames. The funny thing is that there is only one door that is sagging, and it really is the least used one.
I replaced the hinge screws in the jamb and the door. I tried to pull the hinge in but it was protruding away from the jamb by almost 1/4". I could not see what was really going on with the jamb because it is "wrapped" with a steel piece. This steel wrap is cut out for the hinges which gives a morticed look. I took my sledge and popped the hinge back into line, double checked the screws and called it a day.
The problem is back. I could go and smack it a few times again, but I would rather fix or advise on a correct plan of action.

JPF

wmerrel....if you in fact are able to hit the hinge back into place, and the door seems fine at that point, but it keeps sagging back in, it seems as if it's the screws are stripped in the butt plate, or something of the like. We've given you what i think are a couple of relatively simple solutions......do you not think some of these methods are of any use....they seem better to me than " beating it back with a sledge hammer"...

wmerrell

these suggestions are definitely appreciated. I took the door down yesterday and found that the hinge is tight against the jamb. The jamb is actually twisting which is allowing the door to sag. The hinges are tight againt it. I will be in touch with the property owner. I believe that they will have to replace the jamb to fix this properly. Thanks to everyone for their ideas.

Pearce Services

Instead of the sledge hammer, you can try this tool for your next hinge adjustment http://www.hawleylock.com/hingedoctor/

AtlanticWBConst

Wow, that looks like a kewl tool!

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