Three Questions You Need to Ask Before Ordering Your Steel Doors

Whenever you’re planning to make home improvements, a little knowledge goes a long way. You don’t have to know how to apply exterior paint seamlessly, but you need to know how to ask about the right paint for your region’s weather. You don’t need to know how to assess foundations before you buy a house, but you need to know how to request a full history of the house’s repairs. When it comes to buying custom steel doors and windows, the same rules apply: you don’t need to be an expert, but you need to know what to look for. Here are three invisible things to add to your list:

1. Is the steel hot-rolled or cold-rolled?

Thermally broken steel doors are designed to keep moisture out and maintain your home’s internal temperature without much heat transfer. It might seem like your questions about the materials could stop there. But there are two general processes for manufacturing the doors: hot-rolling and cold-rolling the steel. Cold-rolled steel is hot-rolled steel with an extra processing step to make sure the dimensions and the final details are as precise as possible.

Because you want to minimize drafts and ill-fitting angles, confirm that the doors are cold-rolled.

2. How well do the doors stop condensation buildup?

Anytime there’s a stark temperature difference between two surfaces, condensation is going to build up. Think about how moisture beads up on the outside of the cold drink or how your breath turns visible if you exhale over the ice.

But you don’t want that moisture buildup on your doors. Not only can it be frustrating when you want to turn the doorknob, more moisture means a greater risk of corrosion.

3. What maintenance requirements will the doors requirement long-term?

You shouldn’t have to think about your doors. That’s one of the biggest draws of steel doors with narrow profiles: they don’t get in the way. Make sure the maintenance needs of your potential doors and windows don’t get in the way, either. They should just need the occasional wash with nonabrasive soap to stay in great condition.

If you’re looking for thermally broken steel doors but you want to make sure you’re getting a good investment, contact our team at Metro Steel Windows & Doors. We can answer all of your questions.