Steel doors are slowly becoming more popular in homes, but many people still aren’t sure whether they should get one for themselves—what if it’s too heavy? What if it requires too much maintenance? We’re here to help you find answers to those questions!
Here’s everything you need to know about steel doors:
What are steel doors?
Steel doors aren’t comprised of solid steel—they’re made up of a polystyrene or polyurethane core that acts as a thermal barrier, with a steel cover on the top. A door made of solid steel would definitely be too heavy—probably enough to tear the hinges out. The steel skin used in steel doors is usually between 16 to 24 gauge, though some manufacturers can go lower. The lower the number, the thicker the steel.
A stile—wooden frame—surrounds the door’s perimeter to cover all of the polystyrene and polyurethane around the edges.
Where can you install steel doors?
Steel doors are perfect for both exterior and interior use due to their level of customizability and a large number of available designs. Many people use steel doors in areas where they need fire protection.
How do you maintain a steel door?
The frame and the door itself need almost no maintenance—most of it is associated with the hardware that’s attached to them. It’s important to maintain any product properly to get the most out of your purchase. Here are some of the areas that you should inspect on a regular basis:
Hinges
Check the hinges for any hinge pin wear, loose attaching screws, or other defects. Remove the defective parts according to the manufacturer’s recommendation and provide service to the hinges so that the door swings smoothly without any issues from its open to latched position.
Make sure to lubricate the hinges whenever the seasons change, as lubricants can change their properties at different temperatures.
Fire exit hardware, panic devices, and locksets
Check for loose latch wear and attaching screws as well as any other defects of note. Remove and replace the defective parts and fix what you can. The door should be able to be latched without any kind of obstruction, and self-latching devices should function smoothly and without needing any additional force when the door is closed.
Door gasket
The rubber gaskets and seals on a steel door are extremely vulnerable places. The door can let in unpleasant odors or drafts from outside if there’s too much wear and tear. Treat them with some silicon grease every 1-2 months and keep the gasket clean of dirt and grease to get proper sealing.
Looking for gorgeous steel doors?
A high-quality steel door can last a very long time, especially with proper maintenance. Pinky’s Iron Doors has professional and experienced door designers that can create high-quality steel doors in a wide variety of styles and designs. Our large collection of doors includes sliding doors, French doors, Dutch doors, pocket doors, and wine cellar doors at affordable prices. With decades of experience in the industry, we have intimate knowledge about creating and maintaining the best steel doors in the USA!
Leave us a message or call (844) 843-6677 to learn more about our products.
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