Why steel doors are great: security, insulation, and long-term durability
Steel doors
It is impossible to imagine an apartment, an office, or a summer house without an entrance door. A door symbolizes the security of our personal space — whether living or working. And of all the "guardians", the most reliable are the double-leaf entrance doors.
A sturdy steel door will serve you for many years. But it needs to be truly sturdy and of high quality. Therefore, when choosing one, it is important to consider a number of characteristics. First, the door must reliably perform its function, and second, it should still please you with its appearance a decade from now. The door's purpose is not simple: to protect against intruders, unwanted noise and cold — in short, to be the boundary between your world and the outside world.
Door specialists use a concept called burglary resistance level. This refers to the characteristics of a door that provide security to its owner. There are 13 levels, or classes, of burglary resistance. To give an idea, bank vault doors are class 6–7. Class 5 is almost the stuff of dreams for most of us. Considering that the majority of metal doors have a zero security class — these are rudimentary handmade doors, and they cost accordingly — $200–$250. Breaking into them is not difficult, not only for an experienced burglar but even for an amateur. Therefore, it is hardly wise to skimp on an entrance door — it can result in very large losses.
Besides providing security, a door must ensure thermal and sound insulation. Usually, to achieve this effect a seal is attached to the frame and the door leaf. The door leaf has a hollow interior that is filled with a special insulating material — a fire-resistant insulator. Professionals have concluded that mineral wool suits this role well — it is very practical and is considered an eco-friendly material.
One must not forget that in addition to functionality, a steel door should meet aesthetic requirements, since the door is the first thing a guest or visitor sees. And it is the first thing you see when returning from the outside world to your protected personal space. Therefore the door and its appearance should be pleasing to the eye. Decoration and cladding are by no means minor issues.
There are many options: vinyl leather is very cozy, and eco-friendly panels made from various types of wood look excellent. But you may prefer more "modern" options — plywood, plastic, or MDF-based coverings. You can simply paint the door with a special powder coating or with traditional enamel. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Doors turn out very different and vary widely in price; the finish can sometimes account for up to 70% of the overall cost.
On the Russian market for metal doors, the sales leaders are those manufacturers who meet people's needs for high quality while maintaining a sensible pricing policy. For the consumer, it is important that price and quality be optimally balanced; steel doors can be chosen in any specialized showroom. All manufacturers strive for this, saturating and diversifying the market, and the installation of metal doors is usually also carried out by the door seller.
Today one can encounter both small artisanal workshops and large factories producing steel doors of the highest quality. In addition to domestic manufacturers, the steel door market is represented by Western companies. Entrance doors from ubiquitous China are also gaining popularity. Of decent quality, they attract buyers with their low price.