Commercial steel doors are becoming increasingly popular because they offer owners many benefits. These types of doors are very tough and can take a beating. Hence, they are great for businesses where heavy machinery and big vehicles are in operation. This way, the doors can take a few bumps when the rookies are still learning the ropes. Steel doors require less maintenance in the long run and just needs a little grease every so often and you are basically good to go. In this article, you will learn the gist of installing commercial steel doors.
Before the installation
Before the door can be installed, the first step is to paint it and the jamb for finish installation. You also have to keep in mind that unlike wooden doors, there isn’t any areas or adjustments you can plane down for a perfect fit. Also, there is no way to paint the door when it is in place after installation. Next, you need to get door horses, which are vital to allow the door to pivot for east access to both sides at the same time – allowing you to lay it flat for drying purposes. Try to use oil-based paint and use a HVLP sprayer to give it a smooth finish.
Next, install a lockset, panic bar and kick plate before bringing it to the installation site. When you cut the jambs, use a grinder to do the job and cut about half or an inch off the bottom of each jamb – do this before painting it. This will allow you to slide the threshold beneath it.
Prepare the opening
When you arrive at your installation site, remove the old door and prepare the opening for the new one. You can start by removing the interior and exterior mouldings without damaging the interior wall. Use a circular saw to cut the bottom of one side, which makes the removal of the old jamb much easier. Remove all the old glue with a flat bar from the sill. Next, ensure that there is ample clearance on either side to slip the jamb over the interior and exterior sheathings.
After that, you should apply the waterproofing sill membrane and ensure that the sill is pitched toward the outside for drainage purposes. If you wish to add insulation on the jambs, consider fibreglass batt insulation that can be cut from the roll. You may apply spray contact adhesive to the inside of the jamb and set the fibreglass pieces in place. Once the fibreglass pieces are in place, trim the threshold down to an appropriate length with a track-saw. There you go, the jamb is finally installed. When you install the jamb legs, do it one at a time.
Install the hinge on the jamb
For the next step, you will be installing the hinge on the jamb. Remove the cover that obscures the exterior fasteners before attaching the hinge to the frame. Use a shim to lift the hinge up about one-eighth of an inch from the threshold and mark all the centers of the pilot holes with a fine point nail set. Install a few screws at the top, middle and some at the bottom as well.
Install the door on the hinge
When it is time to install the door, use a small center punch to mark locations for the drilled pilot holes and small self-tapping pan-head screws. Use minimal number of those screws to secure the door temporarily, for it to hang properly with adequate reveal. Next, remove the small screws and lay it on a set of sawhorses. After you remove the hinge from the jamb, place the hinge on the door so you can locate the through-holes that need to be drilled for each sex bolt. If you have a step bit by your side, it is going to be very handy during your commercial steel door installation as it does not dull quickly compared to other types of bits. This bit works well for boring big holes into thin sheets of metal. Never drill the last through bolt if you plan to fit a kick plate on the inside of the door – instead use a self-tapping screw.
When drilling, shards of metal are unavoidable and you may use a paintbrush to wipe off the tiny pieces. After the hinge is settled, you can proceed to glaze the window to the exterior side of the flange. Next, you need to set the strike plate and if it is a 12-24 bolt, you will need to drill and tap it. Once you have successfully screwed the sweep seal in place, cut the rubber so it can go behind the hinge. By securing the rubber at the back, you can prevent any unsecured rubber flaps from ripping off over time. Remove some of the lower screws on the hinge and pry the hinge up a little to tuck the rubber beneath it.
Finish the interior
Most walls vary in thickness and you should order metal frames that are wide enough to cover the widest portion of your walls. Next, you must shim any gap between the wall and the jamb before securing the jamb to the interior wall. The last step is to install the door closer and apply weather-stripping for the jamb. Make necessary adjustments until the door swings clean and clear to the jamb and slows slightly and latches securely without slamming.
At Express Locksmith, we offer commercial steel door hardware. Drop us an enquiry if you require any help with doors, or any locksmith service in Montreal.