When you install a commercial roll-up door in your warehouse or retail property, you expect it to function efficiently so your business can operate without interruption. The best way to prevent common commercial roll-up door issues (aside from selecting the highest-quality product) is with proper installation.

When installing any roll-up door, it’s important to follow the installation instructions provided by the door manufacturer line by line. Even with proper installation, however, there are still issues that can arise over time. Read on to learn more about how to troubleshoot common commercial roll-up door issues.

Common Commercial Roll-Up Door Issues

If your commercial roll-up door has become difficult to open and/or close, one of several components could be the cause. Check the below list of common issues to identify the root of your problem:

• Improper Leveling During Installation: It’s important to use a leveling tool when installing your door to ensure proper alignment and easy operation. Some may choose to simply “eye-ball” it during installation and trust that what they see is actually level. This creates opportunity for mistakes. 

• Incorrect Header Alignment: If installers place the header too far forward or too far back, the track won’t fall into the guides at the correct arc to ensure smooth operation. This can cause the door to drag against the guides or push toward the wall.

• Over-Turning the Door Spring: As mentioned, following the manufacturer’s instructions for tensioning commercial roll-up door springs is vital. If the spring is over-tensioned by turning the door more than the manufacturer recommends, the spring could break. Incorrect tension can also make the door more difficult to control.

• Tight Guides: If the guide strips are too tight, the door panel will drag against the guides making the door difficult to open or close. Over time, this will also scratch off the paint and cause damage to the door sheet.

• Misaligned Drum: With some older door designs, you’ll have to line up a large piece of metal around the edge of the drum to form the barrel during installation. If done incorrectly, the door won’t line up properly, causing your door to roll crooked. To prevent this, we recommend purchasing a door with a corrugated drum, like the one DBCI offers. With this design, the corrugated sheet attaches to the corrugated drum, forming a perfect barrel as it wraps. This eliminates the possibility of user error during the installation process and ensures proper door alignment.

Damage to the Door Sheet:

One common issue many commercial customers experience is damage to the sheet panels over time. In many cases with doors that only use a chain stop, people use a tractor or forklift to push the door open. This can cause the door to bang into the head stop or the ground. Over time, this will cause damage to the door and its components. It’s also common for commercial warehouse machinery to dent or scratch the doors during business operations.

To prevent these issues, make sure to operate your commercial roll-up door with care. Encourage employees to use caution when operating machinery around the doors to avoid this damage. By taking these precautions, your door can last for many years.

HOW TO CORRECT EXISTING COMMERCIAL ROLL-UP DOOR ISSUES:

If your door wasn’t recently installed but is now difficult to operate, determine which of the above issues could be the cause. While spring tension is often the culprit with older, frequently-used doors, there is the chance that the effects of a misstep during installation are now exposing themselves.

While smaller roll-up doors like those DBCI manufactures sometimes allow for the spring tension to be adjusted manually, this isn’t always an option for commercial roll-up doors. Due to their size and location, it’s often best to call a professional to help correct any issues. Mishandling door components can cause serious injury and damage to the door or nearby property. Commercial roll-up door manufacturers like DBCI should be able to provide you with a recommendation for an experienced professional who can address any issues you face.

At DBCI, we engineer our doors for ease of installation to ensure that you can quickly and safely install them. To learn more about our state-of-the-art products or for help with any issues, contact one of our experienced sales representatives.