Entry Door Closers

A quick rundown of the type of closer you have and if it can be repaired

“Is my closer bad or can it be repaired?”

I’ve been asked this question many times and I also get asked a lot if there is a way to tell that your closer has gone bad. The answer is yes, it’s actually pretty easy to tell and if your door is slamming there is a really good chance that your closer is done for. Another easy way to tell is looking around the area close to the closer for oil spots. If you can see the oil running down the door or on the ground next to it your closer is done for. The door might just swing freely, even with a closer properly installed. This is another good sign the closer is no good. If your closer doesn’t really swing the door closed right but still shuts the door in a controlled motion, it probably just needs an adjustment.

What’s the difference between a floor closer, a surface mount closer and a concealed closer?

Floor Closers

These closers are the most reliable and the most expensive. Having these can be a blessing and a curse. A lot of times an adjustment will fix this kind of closer but sometimes you have to bite the bullet and replace or convert to a surface mount or concealed closer. These closers range from $800-$2200.

Concealed Closer

This type of closer is most seen in aluminum door headers. So your typical glass aluminum entry door will use this type of closer. Typically these closers come in two types of quality, good and really good. But they do have a limited lifespan of 2-5 years no matter what the application or traffic conditions. These closers range from $90-$350.

Surface Mount Closer

This is the most common type of closer. Sometimes seen with visible cover and other times you can see the full steel hydraulic body. This closer varies greatly in cost, quality, size, and color. Each one is designed for doors of a certain weight and traffic conditions. These closers range from $75-$800 in cost.

Closer Adjustment

This type of repair shouldn’t cost more than a service call, some lube, and maybe 30-60 minutes on site, but sometimes there can be more damage to the door than the closer.

By knowing what type of closer you have and if it needs to be replaced or repaired you can get a better estimate of what it will cost.