Choosing the right commercial door for your business!
The old phrase, “You get what you pay for” couldn’t be more fitting for the selection of commercial doors throughout your business. Selecting the proper, high-functioning commercial doors for your business is a vital part of maintaining the necessary productivity and flow of employees and customers moving throughout your building. From rear entry fire and security doors, internal production facility doors to high-traffic entry commercial doors and structural glass interior doors, the proper selection and style of your commercial doors is key to your overall operations. To ensure your commercial doors hold up to everyday abuse and provide the necessary access, security and visible appearance you’d expect, Dubuque Glass & Aluminum is here to help with over three generations of experience in sales, design, installation and service of quality commercial doors with a wide selection of color, sizes, styles and designs to choose from. Luckily for our customers, we provide one of the most versatile collections of interior and exterior commercial door collections in the area. When considering new commercial doors or replacement commercial doors for your business, there are a few decisions which need to be made to help determine the best material and style of commercial doors needed to achieve the results you are expecting.
5 Things to Consider for Your New Commercial Doors or Replacement Commercial Doors
Commercial Door Material
The most crucial decision is the selection of the material your commercial door is made of. In many situations, business owners will opt for steel, wood or aluminum doors because they’re resilient, sturdy and provide various degrees of security. However, each material has pros and cons. A less expensive commercial door found at a big-box store can easily stain, crack, discolor and provide minimal security strength for an exterior commercial door. Often times these mass-produced doors are manufactured with less quality materials and attention to durability and longevity. Aluminum and steel are often preferred exterior doors due to their strength and ability to withstand more abuse and the harsh Midwest winters. However, steel doors will easily rust overtime if not properly maintained (see the below image). Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer, aka FRP doors provide exceptional security, are maintenance-free and designed to take extreme punishment in even the harshest corrosive environments.
Commercial Door Safety Features
When selecting commercial doors, it is also important to consider the level of safety and security a door provides your employees and customers. Do your interior or exterior doors need to meet a specific fire rating? Is there a specific type of high-tech security features you need to have installed such as a motion detector, magnetic security lock or specific security mounted hardware? If you are considering interior commercial structural glass doors for an entryway, boardroom or break area, does the glass need to be privacy glass? What is the building code in your area regarding interior laminated or tempered safety glass? Does your commercial door need a window?
Commercial Door Insulation Options
Commercial doors can also be insulated to provide greater performance for businesses seeking to protect their facility from exterior temperatures. Often times we consider insulated doors to protect the interior of the space from cold winter temperatures, but you should also consider extreme temperatures during the heat of summer. Is the exterior door on a south-facing portion of your building? Does your interior door serve as a barrier between a cooler office space and a warmer production warehouse area?
Commercial Door Removable Mullions
Both interior and exterior commercial door sets can also serve as a larger entry point providing access for larger deliveries, furniture, vehicles and warehouse equipment throughout the building. By incorporating a removable mullion, your commercial doors now become a viable gateway between segmented areas of your business. However, not all removable mullions are equal. Traditional removable mullions are unsightly and do not adequately fix air and water infiltration concerns. Dubuque Glass & Aluminum provides visually appealing, keyed removable mullions which offer optimal efficiency by creating an element barrier all around the door.
Commercial Door Hardware, Style and Color
Last but not least is the selection of your commercial door hardware, style and colors. After selection of the commercial door material, security features, insultation and access options; determining the visual appearance of your commercial door(s) is the final step. A wide variety of door handle shapes and finishes are available to choose from in the marketplace. Dubuque Glass & Aluminum offers a wide selection of in-stock and custom order commercial door hardware for both interior and exterior applications to fit any décor imaginable. We can also custom match colors used in the décor of your building or your business branding colors.
In summary, choosing your new or replacement commercial doors should be a decision made with some thought given to several factors outlined in this article to help provide the best value and outcome for your business. New doors can be a significant investment for your business. They can also save you money in the long run by improving energy efficiency and productivity and increasing the safety and security of your facility. Choosing the right company is equally as important. Dubuque Glass & Aluminum provides high-quality commercial door products, professional installation and reliable service after the sale. Working with the right team of professionals will ensure you get the right door for your commercial space tailored to your specific needs for years to come.
