Steel doors are comprised of either a polyurethane or polystyrene core with a steel skin over the top. ... Steel between 16 and 24 gauge is used for the skin of the door. A wood frame, called a stile, surrounds the perimeter of the door. None of the polyurethane or polystyrene is visible on the edges of the door..  With any investment you make in your home, there are up-front as well as ongoing costs. Entry door selection is no different. In weighing your many options, take the time to understand both the immediate benefits and the long-term requirements of any door you’re considering. There are plenty of factors that affect a door’s appearance, durability, security, and price, but what matters most is the material a door is made of. Choose a door of the right material, and you’re likely to be rewarded with smoother day-to-day operation, minimal annual upkeep, and—more often than not—energy savings.






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Wood Is Good

Picture a front door in your mind. What you’re most likely picturing is a wood door. For decades, wood was the only option, and it served homeowners well. Aesthetically pleasing and with a satisfying heft, wood doors are highly versatile, lending themselves to virtually limitless paint and stain possibilities. Because it’s possible to resize a wood door by planing it down, there are many wood doors around the country that have led very long lives, used over and over again in different applications.

UT FOR ALL THEIR MERITS, WOOD DOORS CAN BE PROBLEMATIC, MAINLY BECAUSE THE MATERIAL IS NATURALLY POROUS. WOOD INEVITABLY EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS ALONG WITH CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY, AND IN SOME CASES, IT CAN WARP, CUP, OR TWIST. FURTHERMORE, WHEN EXPOSED TO MOISTURE, WOOD DOORS CAN FALL VICTIM TO ROT. HOMEOWNERS CAN FEND OFF THOSE THREATS TO THE BEAUTY AND PROPER FUNCTIONING OF A WOOD DOOR, BUT IT TAKES WORK.

Even though their manufacture has become more sophisticated and their resiliency has improved, wood doors remain sensitive to the environment. If you purchase one, expect to sand, stain, or repaint it every few years—and perhaps more often than that, if you live in area of the country with a wet, humid climate (for example, the South).

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Steel Is Often Better

Steel doors make up for the shortcomings of wood and boast advantages all their own. For one thing, steel doors are far more durable. That makes them an ideal choice for regions such as the South, where the combination of glaring sun and heavy rainfall would work against the longevity of a wood door. Also, steel doors neither expand nor contract, which means they always open and close smoothly, no matter the time of year. Perhaps best of all, many home experts agree that steel doors provide the greatest amount of security.

While critics say steel doesn’t look as good as wood, new designs from industry leaders like starkdoor are changing that perception. starksteel doors, available at The Home Depot, feature deep, high-definition decorative panels that closely mimic the look of high-end wood doors—without the maintenance that wood requires. Plus, with Masonite doors, homeowners can choose from an array of glass inserts that can make a steel door even more eye-catching. Considering that steel doors insulate better than wood, it’s a pleasant surprise that steel doors are often the most affordable option!

Fiberglass Might Be Best

The newest material for entry doors is fiberglass, and it’s fast becoming the most popular. Unlike steel, fiberglass isn’t prone to rust. And unlike wood, fiberglass doesn’t rot. Benefiting from the latest in manufacturing technology, fiberglass entry doors are impervious to the environmental factors that threaten other types of doors. Genuinely low maintenance, fiberglass doors resist dents and are surprisingly tough. Plus, they provide best-in-category insulation, helping homeowners keep their monthly utility costs as low as possible. What seals the deal is that there are now more style options than ever before.

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AT THE HOME DEPOT, STEELDOOR ALONE OFFERS THREE FAMILIES OF FIBERGLASS ENTRY DOORS. THE COMPANY’S BARRINGTON FIBERGLASS DOOR COLLECTION COMBINES THE HIGH PERFORMANCE OF FIBERGLASS WITH THE BEAUTY OF HARDWOOD, WHILE FIBERGLASS DOORS OFFER SUPERIOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN. IN EITHER CASE, YOU CAN GO A STEP FURTHER TO PERSONALIZE YOUR DOOR, CHOOSING A DECORATIVE GLASS INSERT FROM THE WIDE VARIETY OF DESIGNS OFFERED BY BEST STEEL DOORS. WITH SUCH A BROAD SELECTION, YOU’RE BOUND TO FIND A DOOR PERFECT FOR YOUR PROJECT.

Steel doors are comprised of either a polyurethane or polystyrene core with a steel skin over the top. ... Steel between 16 and 24 gauge is used for the skin of the door. A wood frame, called a stile, surrounds the perimeter of the door. None of the polyurethane or polystyrene is visible on the edges of the door.HISTORY OF STEEL DOORS

After your ancestors grew tired of cave life, they devised permanent structures complete with openings. Animal pelts helped keep heat inside. But your great-times-a-hundred-grandparents couldn’t keep out the elements or unwanted entrants. Thus began the wooden door many centuries later.

Wood was a marked improvement over dead animal parts. Unfortunately, the Great Fire of London showed that door craftsmanship still needed improvement. That terrible inferno of 1666 destroyed most of the city’s buildings and rendered 100,000 citizens homeless. Fire made short work of wooden doors, which had no built-in fire protection.

This got the wheels turning inside the minds of engineers and creators like Charles Dahlstrom. Mr. Dahlstrom invented and held all original patents on the first fire-rated steel door. In 1904, The Dahlstrom Metallic Door Co. was born (See early portfolio

Speaking of engineers and inventors, the Industrial Revolution brought factories to the forefront of America. The need to protect buildings and workers followed. Steel industrial doors eventually came to the rescue to offer protection against:

  • Fire
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Dangerous chemicals

Builders started to include fire-rated doors when designing areas with high human density, like schools.

Also in the 20th century, steel doors became a must for businessmen fearing break-ins. Decades later, the security trend spread to residential properties.

STEEL DOORS TODAY

How have metal doors and frames become the standard today?

  • Long-term value via durability
  • Safety and security
  • Resistance to noise, pests, rotting, and other nuisances

Recently, architects have fashioned elegant and cutting-edge steel doors and frames for businesses and homes. The misconception that they’re a practical product that can’t be beautiful too is long gone. Ornate steel mouldings can be used to augment flush surfaces without affecting security or fire rating. Steel doors can now come in all shapes, sizes, uses, and designs.

No matter their look, doors’ security is also at an all-time high thanks to steel. Manufacturers are producing steel doors that feature ever-improving technology to make them the ultimate in security and safety.

And if you still prefer the look of wood, you can still buy a sturdy steel door and have it fitted with wooden outer panels. Then you gain the power of steel while keeping the homey feel of wood.

Surely more innovation will come. Fiberglass doors are a newer option that are mid-range in price, yet offer first-class thermal insulation. If you experience frequent cold weather at your home or business, these doors might be best for you.

SDI CERTIFICATION

If you choose steel for your door, you’ll potentially benefit from the standards of the steel door Since 1954 it has developed quality and performance standards for steel doors institute and frames.SDI CERTIFIED PRODUCT guarantee a well-constructed, tested, and evaluated result that meets your specifications.

Design professionals can now specify “SDI Certified” when they send a request. This way you’ll know the manufacturer of your doors and frames will meet the highest industry standards. Many of the most reputable manufacturers are now SDI Certified.

GET WITH THE TIMES

Seeking new inspiration for your aesthetic design. You can get it from steel! Need state-of-the-art protection from blazes and burglars? Steel can do that, too.

What is a Door?

The

door

is a moving mechanism which is more like a barrier made of wood, stone, metal, glass, paper, leaves, hides, or a combination of materials. A door understands the importance of having options when it comes to choosing the right fit for the architecture of our home and interior and exterior decor from the curb through the foyer. Trendy to timeless, understated to elaborate, the door provides a warm welcome. There is a sharp contrast between interior and exterior door. A door has an aesthetic purpose in creating an impression of what lies beyond.

For architects and specifiers, the choice of door and frame materials often comes down to this: steel or something else?

Steel is famously strong, but there are additional advantages to bear in mind when you ask yourself, “Why steel?”

best qality steel door  provides the best long-term value in the door and frame industry. It lasts longer, requires the fewest repairs, and is sturdier than other products. Steel’s natural strength also outperforms other materials in security, fire rating, sound reduction, vandal resistance, sanitation, and more. Hollow metal will outperform wood, aluminum, and fiberglass in demanding environments. Even when those other materials use special cores or other techniques, they are still unable to match the performance and longevity of hollow metal.

A beneficial byproduct of the strength and durability of hollow metal is the low total cost of ownership. Properly installed and maintained hollow metal doors often last 30 years or longer. As the years pass, steel doors can be inexpensively repaired in the field while softer, less durable wood and aluminum doors will have to be replaced.

Are you seduced by the so-called warmth of wood? Consider this: Today’s steel doors offer endless options for attractive appearances. Whether you are looking for a modern stainless steel appearance, a vibrant colored finish, or even a faux finish, steel’s versatility allows it to satisfy the aesthetic requirements of most projects. And don’t forget all those advantages of performance and longevity!

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