Hollow Metal Door Repair

What Hollow Metal Door Problems Do We Fix?

Rust, dents, hinge tear-out, lock cutout damage, and frame spread. Hollow metal doors are the workhorses of commercial buildings. Stairwell doors, mechanical room doors, warehouse entries, and back-of-house exits. They take a beating and they rust in South Florida's humid, salt-air environment.

The most common issue is rust at the bottom edge where water sits. We cut out the rusted section, weld or patch a new steel plate, prime, and paint. It's far cheaper than a full door replacement. According to the Steel Door Institute, a properly maintained hollow metal door should last 30+ years. But 'properly maintained' rarely happens in practice.

What Is a Hollow Metal Door?

Hollow metal doors are steel doors made from two steel sheets with a reinforced core. They are the standard commercial door in offices, stairwells, mechanical rooms, and any application requiring a fire-rated door assembly. The steel sheets are 16-gauge to 20-gauge depending on the security and fire rating requirements. The core may be honeycomb cardboard (standard), polystyrene (insulated), or mineral wool (fire-rated).

Common Hollow Metal Door Problems

• Rust and corrosion: The #1 problem in South Florida. Humidity and salt air attack the steel, especially at the bottom edge, hinge pockets, and lock cutouts. Coastal properties in Deerfield Beach and Pompano Beach see accelerated corrosion.
• Dents and impact damage: Forklifts, carts, and foot traffic dent the door face. Minor dents are cosmetic. Deep dents can affect lock operation and fire rating.
• Edge damage: The door edge where the latch pocket and hinges are gets the most wear. Steel separates at the seam, exposing the core.
• Warping: Heat exposure (even from direct sunlight on a south-facing exterior door) can warp a hollow metal door. A warped door does not latch properly and may fail fire inspection.
• Lock prep damage: Previous lock installations that left oversized or misaligned cutouts. We install reinforcement plates and new lock preps.

How Does Triton Locksmith Repair Hollow Metal Doors?

• Rust repair: Grind out the rust, treat with rust converter, weld patch steel if needed, apply primer and paint. For bottom edges, we install a stainless steel cap that prevents future corrosion.
• Dent repair: Minor dents can be filled with body filler and painted. Deep dents may require cutting out the damaged section and welding in new steel.
• Edge repair: We weld the separated seam, reinforce the edge, and refinish. For lock prep areas, we install steel reinforcement plates behind the lock.
• Frame repair: Hollow metal doors are typically paired with hollow metal frames. We repair both together for a complete assembly.
• Door replacement: When a door is too corroded, warped, or damaged to repair, we install a new hollow metal door matched to the existing frame and hardware prep.

How Much Does Hollow Metal Door Repair Cost?

• Rust repair and repaint (minor): $150-$300
• Bottom edge stainless cap: $100-$200
• Dent repair and refinish: $150-$350
• Edge/seam weld repair: $150-$300
• Lock prep reinforcement: $100-$200
• Full door replacement (standard): $500-$1,200
• Full door replacement (fire-rated): $800-$2,000

Where Does Triton Locksmith Repair Hollow Metal Doors?

Office buildings, stairwells, mechanical rooms, hospitals, schools, and any building with commercial steel doors. Boca Raton, Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach. Same-day service for security-critical repairs. Call (561) 524-8500.

Hollow Metal Door Maintenance for South Florida

The single most effective maintenance step for hollow metal doors in South Florida is keeping the bottom edge sealed. A stainless steel bottom cap ($100-$200) prevents water contact with raw steel. Combined with annual touch-up painting of any scratches or chips, this simple maintenance extends door life from 10 years to 20+ years. Triton Locksmith installs bottom caps and performs door condition assessments as part of our maintenance contracts for buildings across Boca Raton, Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach.

For property managers, Triton Locksmith provides building-wide hollow metal door assessments. We inspect every door for rust, dent damage, hinge condition, closer operation, and fire label integrity. The written report helps you budget for repairs and prioritize the most critical doors. Call (561) 524-8500.

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