Commercial Double Door Repair Toronto: Astragals, Flush Bolts, Coordinators & Panic Bars (2026)

Most commercial double doors have an active leaf, the one people normally push or pull, and an inactive leaf that stays shut most of the time and only opens for deliveries, equipment or a wide emergency exit. The two leaves meet in the middle, and how they meet decides whether the pair latches, seals and locks.

The astragal

An astragal is the metal strip fastened along the edge of one leaf that covers the gap where the two doors meet. It blocks drafts, light and prying tools, and on fire-rated pairs it is often a required part of the assembly. A bent or loose astragal is one of the most common reasons a pair suddenly stops closing.

Flush bolts

Flush bolts are set into the edge of the inactive leaf, one at the top and one at the bottom. When they are thrown, the inactive leaf is locked into the frame head and the floor, and the active leaf latches against it. Manual flush bolts are slid by hand; automatic and constant-latching flush bolts throw themselves when the door closes.

The coordinator

If both leaves have closers and there is an overlapping astragal, the inactive leaf must close first. A coordinator is the bar mounted under the frame head that holds the active leaf open until the inactive leaf has closed. Without a working coordinator, the active leaf closes first, the astragal hits, and the pair is left open.

Exit devices on a pair

Exit doors in pairs use either two vertical rod devices, a vertical rod and a rim device with a removable mullion, or a mullion with two rim devices. Each setup has its own adjustments, and a pair that worked for years can start failing when one rod or latch wears.

Weight and hinges

Each leaf of a commercial pair is heavy, and its hinges carry that weight on every swing. Over time the screws loosen and the hinges wear, the leaf drops, and the two doors stop meeting evenly in the middle. A small drop on one leaf is enough to stop the astragal clearing or the top bolt lining up with its strike.

Traffic and abuse

Back and side pairs at plazas, restaurants and warehouses get pushed open with carts, pallets and hand trucks. The astragal takes the hit, the inactive leaf gets forced while its bolts are thrown, and the floor strike gets damaged. Read more on commercial back doors.

Winter

Salt and slush fill the bottom flush bolt strike, so the bolt can't drop. Cold thickens closer fluid so leaves close slower, which upsets the timing between the two leaves. Steel frames move with temperature. A pair that was fine in September can stop latching in January. See winter-proofing commercial doors.

Someone adjusted one door

A common one: a closer gets sped up on one leaf to stop a draft, and now the active leaf beats the inactive leaf every time. On a pair, both closers and the coordinator have to be set together.

If the inactive leaf of your pair is meant to be used as an exit, manual bolts may not be the right hardware for it. Exit requirements depend on the building and the door, so we look at how the opening is used before recommending a change. For exit hardware in general, see panic bar repair and fire exit doors.

Steel and hollow metal pairs

Found on back exits, mechanical rooms, warehouses and stairwells. They are heavy, so hinges and frames take a lot of load. Bent edges, rusted bottoms and torn-out hinge screws are common. When the frame itself is damaged, see hollow metal door and frame replacement.

Aluminum storefront pairs

Common at plaza and retail entrances. Many hang on pivots or continuous hinges, use narrow-stile locks, and close with overhead or floor closers. See storefront floor pivot repair and storefront door hinge repair.

Fire-rated pairs

Corridor and stairwell pairs in many buildings are fire-rated assemblies. The doors have to close and latch on their own, and the astragal, coordinator and bolts are part of how they're tested. Replacement parts have to suit the rating. See fire-rated door requirements.

For pricing factors, see the commercial door repair cost guide. For ongoing upkeep across a building, see commercial door maintenance.

Also useful: door won't latch, door won't close or lock, commercial door closer adjustment, door hardware grades, rekeying and master keys and commercial back doors. Services: pivot hinge replacement, storefront entry doors, aluminum and glass doors and emergency door repair.