You should consider the door's purpose when deciding the size and design. The purpose of these doors is to protect your home. They can also be used as security doors. Since they are tough to break, they are not as vulnerable to burglars as wood doors. Also, steel doors can withstand the wear and tear of regular use, lasting more than 30 years. For these reasons, steel doors are a popular choice for many people.
Factors You Need to Consider
- To choose the right size for a steel door, first determine the entrance size. An entry door's rough opening should be about three and four inches wide, and a double door's rough opening should be six and four inches wide. This measurement should allow for a one-quarter-inch shimmy on either side. Then, measure the rough finished opening from the floor to the bottom header and up to the top of the door.
- Steel might be to go forward if you're looking for an affordable but elegant door. You can find doors with decorative finishes and embossed textures or even vinyl. You can even find doors that are covered in vinyl to resemble wood grain. If you have a staining problem, vinyl doors are a great choice. They will last longer than wood doors and can be used in commercial buildings.
- Another aspect to consider when choosing a steel door is its thickness. A door with a lower gauge will have a lower performance rating. The thickness of a steel door skin is measured in gauges, and gauges range from four to 28. The lowest number refers to the thinnest steel, while the highest indicates the thickest material. While many industry professionals no longer use gauges, most consumers will find that the most commonly used steel door size is twenty-four-gauge, weighing around one-half-inch thick and one pound per square foot.
What is the Standard Size of Steel Doors?
When installing a steel door, a homeowner needs to know the standard sizes for these doors. They should be 16 gauge or 18 gauge and meet all the requirements of local building and fire codes. Standard steel doors are also rated for sound attenuation and insulation. ANSI/SDI A250.8: Standard Steel Door Specification (SDI 100) covers the terms and specifications used to describe a steel door.
Flush steel doors are another choice. These doors don't have any cutouts for glass windows or vented louvers. They are primer gray and baked to prevent dents. These doors are commonly used in entrance, passage, exit, and storeroom applications. The thickness of a steel door's shell largely depends on its application. The thinner the gauge, the more vulnerable it will be to denting. You can use kick plates or armor plates if you're looking for a more durable steel door.
Interior doors have minimum height requirements and must be at least 80 inches tall. However, some codes only permit doors with a height of 78 inches, also known as a 6/6 door. Exterior doors, on the other hand, can be much larger. These doors typically measure 36 inches wide but are also available in smaller sizes. In addition, some interior doors can be as wide as eight feet. Consider a one-third-inch-thick steel door if you're looking for a larger door.