At this point, we’ve probably covered all of the essential things you need to look for when looking for a good, sturdy door for your property. As is the case with most things in life, though, there are always little details that are going to fall through the cracks: things that may not seem all that important. And you’d probably be right in that assumption — at first. But time and the occasional spot of bad luck can make those throwaway choices suddenly matter a great deal if they were made poorly, so our goal this week is to remind you of those parts and pieces that you should make sure you don’t overlook.
1. The Proper Material-to-Size Ratio
Most security doors are made of steel, aluminum, or another metal alloy. All are decent choices and can create a solidly built, sturdy frame, but they are not all made equal, and design decisions must incorporate such differences. Steel will always be your strongest option, and subsequently only needs to be between two and three inches wide to get the job done. Aluminum and alloys, however, are not quite so dense: as a result, doors made from them will need to be almost double the width to compensate. Make sure the model you’re considering isn’t cutting corners and trying to sell you both weaker materials and less of them for the sake of a minor price cut.
2. Decoration Built to Last
Frames can be either painted or powder coated to give it color and some measure of protection from damage. Paint is typically not heat-tested or resistant, which means it won’t hold up very long over gradual use, even if you’re careful with it. This is especially true if you live in an area that’s sunny for much of the year: the constant heat and direct light will erode it even faster. Powder coating doesn’t require a solvent to keep its bind to metal and is more resistant to wear, and it being hot-dip galvanized before application will prevent rusting.
3. Possibles Holes in Protection
What fills the space between the frame while still allowing it to be seen through? There are usually a lot of options to choose from, and you’ll want to make sure you’re careful because the quality can vary a great deal. Again, anything made of steel — whether it be bars, grills, mesh — will be the most secure, but the relatively new-to-the-market aluminum perforated sheet is also a good choice for optimal durability. They are meant to be just as dependable as steel but come at a cheaper price. Other than this option, however, you’ll want to avoid most aluminum designs, as they tend to be little more than flimsy fly screens that can tear easily, whether it’s on purpose or done accidentally.
4. Secure Holding
Following up on the previous point is the fact that, no matter what the grille (or otherwise) is made of, its quality will mean little if it isn’t fixed to the door frame properly. Having it welded or riveted is your best bet (avoid plastic screws!), and in either case, make sure that the fixing points aren’t too far apart (no more than 25 cm) or improperly aligned: something that can easily happen with mass-produced products.
5. Quality Hinging
A final point of security to keep track of are the hinges. Don’t skimp on these! Your doors should use a weld-on pin hinge, which are attached directly to the frame and cannot be removed, as some cheaper models can be. It’s best to have a design that uses either three separate joints or a single one that runs along the full length of the door, as spreading the pressure in this way will keep them from breaking when under stress. And, of course, the bigger they are, the better!
With these concerns in the back of your mind, you should have little trouble making a purchase that you can feel confident about for years to come. A bit of extra thought now means a better value and money saved down the line, so don’t be afraid to be picky! Your future self will thank you.
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