The door will not latch
Observe whether the latch reaches the strike, whether the door sits evenly in the frame, and whether lifting or pushing the door changes the relationship. Check visible hinge fasteners, clearances, contact points, seals, threshold, and floor without disassembling or defeating the hardware.
A missed latch can involve hinge wear, slab sag, frame movement, strike relationship, latch or exit-device condition, closer force, air pressure, seals, floor interference, impact, or preparation mismatch. Moving the strike may hide the cause.
- Hinge and fastener condition
- Head and jamb clearances
- Latch and strike relationship
- Closer cycle
- Threshold and seals
- Recent impact or construction
The closer slams, stalls, or never finishes the cycle
Document what happens during the entire swing: opening resistance, sweep, latch range, backcheck behavior, hold-open function where permitted, and whether the door contacts the floor, threshold, seals, frame, or another object.
Closer condition or adjustment may be involved, but hinge friction, frame geometry, door weight, wind or pressure, binding hardware, and floor or threshold interference can create similar symptoms. Do not alter a closer on a rated, egress, or accessible opening without the correct authority and procedure.
The door rubs, drags, sags, or binds
Record the contact location and whether it changes through the swing. Contact at the head, latch jamb, hinge jamb, threshold, or floor points to different relationships.
The cause can include loose or worn hinges, failed pivots, frame spread or movement, slab distortion, floor changes, threshold position, seals, impact, wall movement, or an out-of-square installation. New hardware cannot correct every geometry problem.
Access control and electrified hardware add a responsibility boundary
Electric strikes, electrified locks, power transfers, request-to-exit devices, door-position switches, readers, operators, and fire-alarm or security interfaces can affect how the opening behaves. Identify the physical symptom without bypassing or defeating the system.
A-1 may mount assigned devices and coordinate the physical opening where confirmed. Wiring, power, low voltage, programming, system integration, security design, and locksmith work remain outside scope.
When adjustment is reasonable and when replacement enters the discussion
Adjustment or confirmed component work is more promising when the door, frame, preparations, and anchors are sound and the issue is limited to alignment, fasteners, hinge or closer condition, latch relationship, threshold, or seals.
Replacement or broader opening work becomes more likely with severe door or frame damage, failed anchorage, corrosion, incompatible or destroyed preparations, recurring impact, extensive wear, or an opening requirement the existing assembly cannot meet.
What to collect before requesting service
Send the address, facility and contact, opening location or number, door and frame material, handing if known, hardware involved, symptom, traffic, security or egress concern, recent impact or work, and any available schedule or hardware information.
Photograph the complete opening from both sides, hinges or pivots, latch or exit device and strike, closer and arm, head and jamb clearances, threshold, floor, seals, labels where relevant, electrified components, and damage. Do not remove covers or defeat hardware solely for photos.
