Emergency commercial door repair
A door stuck open at closing time, or shut with trucks waiting, can't wait. Tell us it's urgent and we'll connect you with a local commercial door company that takes urgent jobs.
Request service- Free to use: the repair company pays us, not you
- Independent local companies that work on commercial doors and docks
- You get the quote directly from the company doing the work
When it's an emergency
- The building can't be secured because a door won't close.
- Shipping or receiving has stopped because a door won't open.
- A door has been hit and is hanging, leaning or out of its tracks.
- A spring or cable has snapped.
- A fire door has dropped and won't reset.
What to do while you wait
- Keep people and vehicles away from the opening.
- Don't try to force the door up or down.
- Switch off the operator at its disconnect if it is straining.
- Take a photo of the damage; it helps the technician bring the right parts.
About response times
Response time and after-hours rates are set by the repair company, not by us. Ask for both when they call you back.
Securing the building while you wait
If a door is stuck open and the building can't be locked:
- Park a trailer or a truck tight against the outside of the opening if one is available.
- Move high-value stock away from the opening.
- Keep the area lit, and make sure alarms and cameras covering the door are working.
- If the site will be unattended, consider having someone stay until the door is secured.
Don't prop, chain or wedge a damaged door in a way that puts load on it. A door that is hanging from one cable or a bent track can fall.
What to tell the repair company
The more the technician knows before leaving, the better the chance of a fix in one trip:
- Is the door stuck open, stuck closed, or part-way?
- What kind of door: sectional panels, or a rolling slatted curtain? Is it a fire door?
- Rough width and height of the opening.
- What happened: was it hit, did you hear a bang, or did it simply stop?
- Is there a second way in and out of the area for the technician?
- A photo of the damage and of any label on the door or operator.
- Who will meet the technician, and a phone number that will be answered.
Temporary and permanent repairs
An emergency visit has one aim: make the opening safe and the building secure. Sometimes that is the full repair. Often, especially after impact damage or when a special part is needed, the technician will make a temporary repair, such as securing the door closed, and return with parts to finish.
Ask the technician to separate the two on the quote: what is being done now, what remains, and when the parts are expected.
What emergency service costs
Expect to pay more than for a scheduled visit. After-hours, weekend and holiday calls usually carry a higher hourly rate, a minimum charge, or both. Ask for the after-hours rate and the minimum when the repair company calls you back, and ask whether waiting until normal hours would reduce the cost. If the building is secure and you have another door to ship from, it often does.
After the emergency
- Have the door fully inspected, since an impact or spring failure often damages more than the obvious part.
- Report vehicle damage to your insurer and keep the technician's report and photos.
- Ask what would have prevented it. Track guards, bollards, high-cycle springs and planned maintenance each address a common cause.
- Check the other doors of the same age; they have done the same work.
Emergency door repair: common questions
Is a door that won't close an emergency?
If it leaves the building unsecured, exposes stock to weather, or is a fire door that must be operable, yes. If the building can be secured another way, it may be cheaper to wait for normal hours.
Can I close a broken door by hand?
Not if a spring or cable has failed or the door is out of its tracks. The door may be far heavier than it looks and can drop. Keep people clear and wait for a technician.
How quickly can someone get here?
Response time is set by the repair company and depends on the time of day and how busy they are. Ask for an estimated arrival time when they contact you.
Will the repair be finished in one visit?
Often, for common failures like springs and cables. Impact damage and unusual doors may need parts ordered, in which case the technician makes the door safe and returns.
A forklift hit the door. Can we still use it?
Not until it has been checked. Impact can bend tracks and strain cables in ways that aren't obvious, and the door may fail the next time it is operated.
Do you send your own technicians?
No. Commercial Door Repair Now connects you with an independent local repair company that handles urgent work. They contact you, quote and do the repair.
Need a door or dock fixed?
Use the form at the top of this page.