When an opening in your home requires more durability, strength or fire resistance in the perfect combination, steel frame door types can often be your best choice. Steel doors were primarily popular for their exceptional utilitarian function and have since evolved into the ultimate in fenestratative fashion for your home office .
In recent times, they have been popular for their aesthetic qualities, excellent functions, more durability and better strength. In this post, we have discussed different ways in which steel frame doors have been changing the construction and home renovation industry.
Brief Overview of Steel Frame Doors
It takes a lot more than a standard door to close an opening in your home. You need the perfect combination of frame, hardware and door to complete a system. It should be designed specifically to meet some often overlooked objectives. Although door frames are available in aluminium and wood, steel is the better material when it comes to durability, strength and more importantly to some- style.
The growing need for life safety and security are some other reasons why steel may be chosen over other materials. Steel not only offers a high degree of rigidity, but also makes construction easy when done right. It is very easy to install, and meets current life safety and security standards of the industry.
It’s important to understand that most steel frame door types are hand welded and assembled together before they are delivered to the job site. Other steel doors are assembled right at the jobsite. The design and construction make it easier to accommodate wiring for monitors, electric strikes and other security equipment to the locking mechanism.
Steel frame doors provide you with the perfect combination of maximum strength and durability. Some homeowners even use steel frames with wood doors. However, steel doors are perfect with steel frames. Steel frame doors are used for their fire ratings, flexibility and durability. An additional benefit is that these doors can accommodate newer generation electric hardware.
Steel Frame Door Types
Manufacturers use three different types of steel frame doors, including cold-rolled steel, galvanized steel and stainless steel. The first one is used to manufacture door panels. The second one is used when you need greater rust and corrosion resistance. The third one is used in some areas with worse corrosion problems. Stainless steel frame doors are primarily used in swimming pools, food service areas, coastal areas, pharmaceutical areas and industrial areas.
There are many different alloys of stainless steel easily available in the market. Your choice will depend on the particular corrosion protection you need. Moreover, you will also have to use stainless steel reinforcements and fittings.
Most steel frame doors are manufactured from 18 gauge materials. The corresponding frame of the door is manufactured from 16 gauge steel. For light duty applications, 20 gauge steel doors are also available. On the other hand, heavy duty applications need 14 or 16 gauge doors with 14 or 12 gauge frames.
Steel frames and doors are mostly available to easily accommodate fire listings. They can withstand fires and extreme temperatures. However, the fire listings will be determined by the fire code and the location of the steel door in the building.
A lot of different reinforcements and prep options are easily available, from basic hinges and locksets to specially designed combinations of multiple newer generation hardware. With close partnership between hardware and door manufacturers, architects and distributors, the perfect combination of reinforcements can be easily obtained.
Many different steel frame door types can be manufactured in various ways. Most of them can easily accommodate high end, electrified hardware with specific modifications. Conduits can also be easily placed inside the door for more strength.
Emerging Trends in the Industry
We can now also call this ‘The Block Factor‘. Improved finishes are one of the areas that have become more important. Many manufacturers focus on creating broader and wider acceptance of steel frame door types. Traditionally, wood is chosen for its aesthetic qualities. Similarly, aluminium has been famous for its decorative extrusions and anodized finishes to achieve excellent architectural objectives.
As mentioned earlier, steel applications are related to utilitarian roots. In the last few years, advancements in the industry have taken Steel Frame Door Types way beyond their standard origins to deliver exceptional finishes, and versatile design options.
Finishes offered with steel frame and doors have constantly improved. From finish coats to primers and application methods, everything has changed. Manufacturers have been constantly turning toward new generation finishes and designs to improve both durability and appearance. Newer designs and finishes even minimize atmospheric pollution.
Some other aesthetic features of various steel frame door types include beveled or engraved glass designs. They are tempered and insulated to meet various environmental and safety standard. They make it possible to effortlessly incorporate logos and designs to make architectural statements.
In addition to Steel Frame Door Types, glass shapes also go beyond conventional half lites or narrow shapes to full and modified glass, oval and other shapes. Such measures improve the functionality and performance of steel doors.
Embossed panels in some high quality steel doors can offer the same effect as wood doors. However, you will enjoy the additional stability of steel, and great security and safety protection. There are many manufacturers who offer an engraining process. It presses authentic wood grain prints and designs into the steel surface. Specially formulated primers are used for the finish.
Wood finished Steel Frame Door Types make it possible for manufacturers to meet fire cold and building requirements without compromising design integrity. In recent years, all these factors have made various steel frame door types extremely popular. Most homeowners prefer steel doors over other materials.
Choose Professionals for Installation
Regardless of the Steel Frame Door Types you choose, steel doors won’t look perfect until they have been properly installed and finally glazed. The Steelframe team offer a truly unique service- we can supply, install and more importantly glaze and finish your once-off creations. At steelframe, its all part of the service.
Thanks for sharing such an informative post on steel frame door types. Looking forward to more, cheers.
Cheers @Bmisteel! Happy we could help.
Hi, Do you offer any ‘Stacker’ type 4 panel solutions (approx. 6 mt span) for residential use? Been looking everywhere for an example.
can you do a round ‘Hobbit like’ door either hinged on the side or on a central pivot?
Hi Karen. A few of our team are big LotR fans and could certainly make something like that work. Feel free to reach out and get in touch for more information.
We have issues with ground movement distorting our rear timber double door frame, in our place in Brunswick. Consequently the doors and security screens open and close poorly, and require frequent adjustment.
Do you have a guaranteed solution?
Hi Ron, I’ve sent you an email directly, cheers.