Door Frame Repair

What Door Frame Problems Do We Fix?

Spread frames (top of frame bows outward), strike pocket damage (where the latch catches), hinge pocket tear-out, and rust. Door frames take force every time the door swings. Over years, the strike side gets hammered by the latch bolt and the hinge side pulls from the weight of the door.

Frame spread is the most common problem. When the head of the frame bows outward even 1/4 inch, the latch can't reach the strike plate and the door won't latch. We straighten the frame using a porta-power or frame spreader tool and reinforce the connection points.

Types of Commercial Door Frame Damage

• Strike area damage: The most common. Repeated forced entry attempts, lock failures, or years of latch impact wear out the strike pocket. The frame metal bends, cracks, or breaks around the strike plate. The door no longer latches securely.
• Hinge area damage: Heavy doors pull hinge screws out of the frame over time. The screw holes strip out, especially in hollow metal frames. The door sags and binds.
• Impact damage: Forklifts, carts, and heavy traffic hit the frame. Dents, bends, and breaks in the frame prevent the door from closing properly.
• Corrosion: South Florida humidity and salt air corrode hollow metal frames from the inside out. Rust weakens the metal and eventually causes structural failure. Coastal properties in Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, and Fort Lauderdale are most affected.
• Fire damage: Heat warps hollow metal frames. Even minor fire exposure can compromise the frame's ability to hold a fire-rated door assembly.

How Does Triton Locksmith Repair Door Frames?

• Strike reinforcement: We weld a steel reinforcement plate behind the damaged strike area, restoring full latch engagement and kick resistance. This is the most common frame repair.
• Hinge reinforcement: We install through-bolts or heli-coil inserts to restore stripped hinge screw holes. For severely damaged hinge pockets, we weld in a reinforcement plate.
• Frame straightening: For bent or dented frames, we use hydraulic tools to straighten the metal back to plumb and square.
• Corrosion repair: We cut out the corroded section, weld in new steel, and prime/paint to match. For extensive corrosion, full frame replacement may be more cost-effective.
• Full frame replacement: When the frame is beyond repair, we install a new hollow metal frame to match the existing wall opening.

Fire-Rated Frame Repairs

Repairs to fire-rated door frames must maintain the original fire rating. NFPA 80 allows field repairs to fire-rated frames if the repairs restore the frame to its original condition and the fire rating is not compromised. Triton Locksmith documents all fire-rated frame repairs for your building records and fire door inspection compliance.

How Much Does Door Frame Repair Cost?

• Strike reinforcement: $150-$300
• Hinge pocket repair: $125-$250
• Frame straightening: $200-$400
• Corrosion patch/weld: $200-$500
• Full frame replacement: $500-$1,500

Where Does Triton Locksmith Repair Door Frames?

Any commercial building across South Florida. Boca Raton, Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach. Same-day service for security-critical frame repairs. Call (561) 524-8500.

Preventing Frame Damage in South Florida

Most commercial door frame damage is preventable with the right hardware and maintenance. Installing kick plates on doors protects the bottom rail from foot traffic damage. Using heavy-duty strike reinforcement plates from the beginning prevents strike area failure. Applying rust-inhibiting primer to bare metal during installation prevents corrosion from starting.

For South Florida coastal properties, Triton Locksmith recommends stainless steel strike plates and bottom caps on all exterior hollow metal frames. The upfront cost is $50-$100 per door more than standard steel, but it eliminates the corrosion repairs that would cost $200-$500 within a few years. Properties in Boca Raton, Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and other coastal cities benefit most from this preventive approach. Call (561) 524-8500 for a frame assessment.

Triton Locksmith carries welding equipment, reinforcement plates, through-bolts, and frame repair tools on every service van. Most frame repairs complete same-day without a second visit. For fire-rated frame repairs, we document all work to NFPA 80 standards for your building inspection records.

For emergency frame repairs where the door cannot be secured, Triton Locksmith provides priority dispatch to secure the opening immediately and complete permanent repairs as soon as possible.

Related Services