McDonald’s Restaurants Case Study

High‑use public environments demand door systems that can withstand impact, moisture, cleaning regimes and constant operation — without degrading over time. For McDonald’s restaurants, recurring issues with traditional timber bathroom doors and jambs had become an accepted (and costly) reality.

Parkwood was engaged to rethink this system — not to repair it, but to replace it with one designed for longevity.

Bathroom doors across McDonald’s restaurants were experiencing premature failure due to a combination of heavy public use and aggressive cleaning practices. Custom timber doors, while visually acceptable at install, quickly deteriorated in service.

Common issues included:

• Door swelling from moisture exposure
• Facings detaching from the door leaf
• Paint flaking, scratches, chips and impact damage
• Hardware loosening or pulling free
• Hinges tearing out of the door and jamb
• Repeated reactive maintenance — often accepted as unavoidable

Timber jambs amplified the problem. Moisture ingress led to mould growth, rot at floor level, chipped edges and compromised fixing points from repeated repairs. Hygiene suffered, and maintenance costs compounded.

The underlying issue was clear: the material choice was no longer fit for the environment.

Rather than treating doors and frames as separate problems, Parkwood proposed a fully resolved interior door system — designed specifically for high‑traffic, moisture‑prone interiors.

The door: Resolute

Parkwood specified the Resolute door, selected for its stability, durability and total resistance to moisture.

Key features include:

• Entirely waterproof construction, eliminating swelling and substrate breakdown
• Pultrusion technology integrated within the door, delivering exceptional structural stability
• GRP (glass‑reinforced plastic) skin, highly impact‑resistant and ideal for secure hardware fixing

To further enhance durability and appearance, the door was finished with high‑pressure laminate (HPL). This surface is approximately ten times more scratch‑resistant than paint, maintaining a clean, consistent finish in demanding environments. Over 300 HPL colour options provide flexibility for brand alignment and interior design intent.

For edge protection and a refined finish, powder‑coated aluminium capping was incorporated — completing a door solution capable of withstanding years of use without compromise.

The jamb: Resolute aluminium

Timber jambs were identified as a critical failure point. Rather than continuing cycles of patching and repainting, Parkwood developed the Resolute aluminium jamb.

This solution features:

• Robust aluminium construction, immune to moisture, rot and mould
• Architraves moulded into the jamb profile, eliminating separate trims
• A two‑part adjustable system, accommodating wall thicknesses up to 200mm
• Powder‑coated finish for long‑term durability and cleanability

Fixings are concealed behind the rubber door seal, allowing installation after walls are completed and flooring laid — reducing damage risk, subcontractor labour and program pressure.

Designed to tolerate impact and remain stable over time, the Resolute aluminium jamb addresses both hygiene and maintenance at their root.

The combined Resolute door and aluminium jamb system delivers:

• Dramatically reduced maintenance requirements
• Improved hygiene outcomes in wet, public environments
• Consistent performance under heavy daily use
• A refined, durable aesthetic aligned with modern interiors
• Long‑term cost certainty for owners and operators

What was once a recurring maintenance issue is now a resolved, future‑proofed system.

For architects and commercial builders, this project demonstrates the value of selecting systems, not just components. In high‑usage interior environments, durability, cleanability and material integrity must be designed in — not managed later.

The Resolute system offers a considered alternative for any interior door application where moisture, impact and frequency of use are critical design factors.

Contact Parkwood for support on your next commercial project.