Pros Answer Your Questions About Metal-Frame Doors
Find out what to consider when adding these chic, industrial-style interior and exterior doors
Metal-framed doors are pretty and versatile: They can channel an industrial chic style, offer a barely-there minimalist statement or open out in bifold form to bridge inside and out. These pieces are an investment, and there’s a lot to consider if you’re interested in adding a metal-framed door. To get you started, we asked three architecture professionals — Federica Vasetti of DHV Architects, Dominic McKenzie of Dominic McKenzie Architects and Karenna Wilford of Karenna Wilford Architects — to share their expertise on when, where and why a metal-framed door might be a good fit for your project.
How Much Do Metal-Framed Doors Cost?
The cost of wooden and metal doors will depend on the specification. “However, generally, entry-level prices are comparable,” Vasetti says. “[Vinyl] doors are considerably cheaper — approximately half the cost of metal or wooden ones — but have downsides, including chunky frames [and] restricted opening sizes.”
There are many different door systems available, so it’s wise to shop around, say our experts. “Top-of-the-range aluminum doors have slender, minimal frames and highly efficient, triple-glazed units,” Vasetti says. “As a rule, the slimmer the frame, the higher the cost. There used to be only a handful of suppliers offering these, but now several companies have started to produce slim-framed doors, so it’s worth looking out for them.”
Budget will normally determine which manufacturer to go with, she adds. “Ask your builder whether they would recommend a particular manufacturer and whether they can obtain any discounts with a company they frequently order from,” she says.
The cost of wooden and metal doors will depend on the specification. “However, generally, entry-level prices are comparable,” Vasetti says. “[Vinyl] doors are considerably cheaper — approximately half the cost of metal or wooden ones — but have downsides, including chunky frames [and] restricted opening sizes.”
There are many different door systems available, so it’s wise to shop around, say our experts. “Top-of-the-range aluminum doors have slender, minimal frames and highly efficient, triple-glazed units,” Vasetti says. “As a rule, the slimmer the frame, the higher the cost. There used to be only a handful of suppliers offering these, but now several companies have started to produce slim-framed doors, so it’s worth looking out for them.”
Budget will normally determine which manufacturer to go with, she adds. “Ask your builder whether they would recommend a particular manufacturer and whether they can obtain any discounts with a company they frequently order from,” she says.
Which Types of Metal Are Used to Make Doors?
Metal-framed doors are made from aluminum or steel, and understanding the difference will help you make the right choice for your project.
“The majority of metal doors are built from aluminum extrusions, which are powder-coated for durability,” Vasetti says. “Aluminum doors are usually ‘thermally broken,’ which means a layer of insulating material separates the inner from the outer frame to make them energy-efficient.”
The fact that aluminum doors are lighter means they’re suitable for a wider range of projects. “It’s easier for people to open aluminum doors, whether they’re hinged, sliding or bifold,” Wilford says.
Steel can be used as well. “Steel doors are more robust, but they can sometimes have slight cold bridges, so the cold outside transfers to the interior,” McKenzie says. Steel doors tend to have slimmer profiles, are heavier and more expensive, and are more likely used in historic buildings rather than in new builds, according to Vasetti.
Metal-framed doors are made from aluminum or steel, and understanding the difference will help you make the right choice for your project.
“The majority of metal doors are built from aluminum extrusions, which are powder-coated for durability,” Vasetti says. “Aluminum doors are usually ‘thermally broken,’ which means a layer of insulating material separates the inner from the outer frame to make them energy-efficient.”
The fact that aluminum doors are lighter means they’re suitable for a wider range of projects. “It’s easier for people to open aluminum doors, whether they’re hinged, sliding or bifold,” Wilford says.
Steel can be used as well. “Steel doors are more robust, but they can sometimes have slight cold bridges, so the cold outside transfers to the interior,” McKenzie says. Steel doors tend to have slimmer profiles, are heavier and more expensive, and are more likely used in historic buildings rather than in new builds, according to Vasetti.
What Colors and Finishes Are Available?
Color choice is usually versatile in aluminum or steel. Most manufacturers offer their doors in a range of colors, Wilford says. “Darker colors, such as gray and black, have been the most popular with our clients for some years,” she adds. There’s also often the option of a textured finish alongside the standard smooth surface.
Color choice is usually versatile in aluminum or steel. Most manufacturers offer their doors in a range of colors, Wilford says. “Darker colors, such as gray and black, have been the most popular with our clients for some years,” she adds. There’s also often the option of a textured finish alongside the standard smooth surface.
What Sizes and Opening Types Are Possible?
Metal doors can be hinged, sliding or sliding-folding (bifold). “Bifold doors can be opened up completely, whereas with sliding doors, there will be a fixed panel,” Vasetti says. “With bifolds, we always recommend having a dominant door that will be hinged and act as your main door when you don’t want to open all of them,” she adds.
Limiting factors tend to be the size and weight of the doors, which need to be able to move properly and not feel too heavy. “Hinged and bifold doors are usually limited to 4 feet in width, whereas sliding doors can measure up to 10 feet. On a 20-foot-wide structural opening, this equates to five bifold doors or just two sliding ones,” Vasetti says. “Doors are typically limited to 10 feet or so high, though one of our projects features 16-foot-high steel-framed doors,” she adds. The widest metal sliding doors Vasetti has designed were each 8 feet across, with a total of 33 feet in glass for a large, open-plan kitchen.
McKenzie has a word of caution concerning bifold systems. “Because the leaves all need to act like doors, they tend to have wider frames,” he says. This doesn’t matter so much when the doors are open, “but those wider frames will be visible when the doors are closed,” he says.
Metal doors can be hinged, sliding or sliding-folding (bifold). “Bifold doors can be opened up completely, whereas with sliding doors, there will be a fixed panel,” Vasetti says. “With bifolds, we always recommend having a dominant door that will be hinged and act as your main door when you don’t want to open all of them,” she adds.
Limiting factors tend to be the size and weight of the doors, which need to be able to move properly and not feel too heavy. “Hinged and bifold doors are usually limited to 4 feet in width, whereas sliding doors can measure up to 10 feet. On a 20-foot-wide structural opening, this equates to five bifold doors or just two sliding ones,” Vasetti says. “Doors are typically limited to 10 feet or so high, though one of our projects features 16-foot-high steel-framed doors,” she adds. The widest metal sliding doors Vasetti has designed were each 8 feet across, with a total of 33 feet in glass for a large, open-plan kitchen.
McKenzie has a word of caution concerning bifold systems. “Because the leaves all need to act like doors, they tend to have wider frames,” he says. This doesn’t matter so much when the doors are open, “but those wider frames will be visible when the doors are closed,” he says.
What Options Are There for Glazing?
There’s a huge range of glass window options, McKenzie says. “You can have frosted, sandblasted or textured glass. We used ribbed glass recently for a music industry project,” he says, “which worked well on a brief requiring privacy in an internal meeting room.”
“Glazing units can also contain integral blinds for shading and privacy, and these could be manually or electrically operated.”
Double-glazed units usually contain an additional gas in the cavity (such as argon) to improve thermal performance. “Depending on the project’s requirements, doors can feature special glazing to help retain the heat or reduce solar gain and control glare,” Vasetti says. It’s worth noting, she says, that the glazing always has a lower U-value than the frame. “It means large, plain doors are always more efficient than smaller units with lots of glazing bars,” she says.
Most of Vasetti’s clients opt for double glazing, she says, as the difference in U-values (rate of transfer of heat) between double and triple glazing isn’t big, yet triple glazing is usually twice as expensive. “The other disadvantage of triple glazing is that the additional weight can make the doors harder to operate and cause more wear and tear on the fixtures and fittings. Hinges on a heavier door are more likely to slump over a period of time and may need frequent readjustment and replacement sooner than on a double-glazed door,” she says.
There’s a huge range of glass window options, McKenzie says. “You can have frosted, sandblasted or textured glass. We used ribbed glass recently for a music industry project,” he says, “which worked well on a brief requiring privacy in an internal meeting room.”
“Glazing units can also contain integral blinds for shading and privacy, and these could be manually or electrically operated.”
Double-glazed units usually contain an additional gas in the cavity (such as argon) to improve thermal performance. “Depending on the project’s requirements, doors can feature special glazing to help retain the heat or reduce solar gain and control glare,” Vasetti says. It’s worth noting, she says, that the glazing always has a lower U-value than the frame. “It means large, plain doors are always more efficient than smaller units with lots of glazing bars,” she says.
Most of Vasetti’s clients opt for double glazing, she says, as the difference in U-values (rate of transfer of heat) between double and triple glazing isn’t big, yet triple glazing is usually twice as expensive. “The other disadvantage of triple glazing is that the additional weight can make the doors harder to operate and cause more wear and tear on the fixtures and fittings. Hinges on a heavier door are more likely to slump over a period of time and may need frequent readjustment and replacement sooner than on a double-glazed door,” she says.
How Can I Use Metal-Framed Doors at Home?
Use the glass internally to subdivide a house, McKenzie says. “Do some research if you’re intending to use the glazing adjacent to protected stairs, though, as it’s not always easy to find steel-framed glazing that can be given fire protection.”
“Bearing in mind that fixed glazing is always cheaper than openable glazing, it’s worth exploring different door arrangements,” Vasetti says. “Several of our projects feature a combination of fixed glazing — to provide daylight and views — and openable doors — for access and ventilation.”
Use metal doors for internal windows as well as external, Vasetti says. “Having a metal glazed pocket door, where the door disappears into a recess in the wall, can be a very subtle room divider when it’s needed, as well as looking attractive when the door’s closed.”
“If the doors are bifold, we always carefully consider which direction they’ll open and where they’ll be stacked once fully opened, as this will affect the use of the adjacent internal or external space,” she adds.
Use the glass internally to subdivide a house, McKenzie says. “Do some research if you’re intending to use the glazing adjacent to protected stairs, though, as it’s not always easy to find steel-framed glazing that can be given fire protection.”
“Bearing in mind that fixed glazing is always cheaper than openable glazing, it’s worth exploring different door arrangements,” Vasetti says. “Several of our projects feature a combination of fixed glazing — to provide daylight and views — and openable doors — for access and ventilation.”
Use metal doors for internal windows as well as external, Vasetti says. “Having a metal glazed pocket door, where the door disappears into a recess in the wall, can be a very subtle room divider when it’s needed, as well as looking attractive when the door’s closed.”
“If the doors are bifold, we always carefully consider which direction they’ll open and where they’ll be stacked once fully opened, as this will affect the use of the adjacent internal or external space,” she adds.
What Should I Consider for Sourcing, Fitting, Cleaning and Maintenance?
It’s always good practice to see the type of doors you want installed in person, our experts say. Open and close them and be sure they will operate in the way you expect.
“Consider your location,” Vasetti says. “If you’re in a very windy area, we’d never recommend bifold doors, as it’s difficult to make them completely airtight due to the number of panes and the mechanisms. The last thing you want is constant whistling when there are high winds.”
For maintenance, Vasetti recommends vacuuming and cleaning out any tracks for sliding or bifold doors, as well as following the manufacturer’s specific instructions for any other maintenance of moving parts.
It’s always good practice to see the type of doors you want installed in person, our experts say. Open and close them and be sure they will operate in the way you expect.
“Consider your location,” Vasetti says. “If you’re in a very windy area, we’d never recommend bifold doors, as it’s difficult to make them completely airtight due to the number of panes and the mechanisms. The last thing you want is constant whistling when there are high winds.”
For maintenance, Vasetti recommends vacuuming and cleaning out any tracks for sliding or bifold doors, as well as following the manufacturer’s specific instructions for any other maintenance of moving parts.
What Are Your Top Tips for Anyone Considering Metal-Framed Doors?
“Think about how the doors will relate to other ones within your project,” Wilford says. “If you have solid wood internal doors, then you may prefer to follow this through to the external doors. If your project has a more traditional appearance, this may be another reason to opt for wood rather than metal. We tend to have clients who want a more modern and light feel to their glazing, and metal is the perfect option for that.
“Decide on the look you want, spend time researching various manufacturers, test the doors yourself and work with your budget,” she says.
“Consider what your choice of glazing adds to the building in terms of style and historical meaning,” McKenzie says. “Consider the color of the glazing. Should it match other doors and windows in the property or be a different color to identify the area as more contemporary? Think about accessories, such as the style and finish for handles.”
Put thought into the location, aspect and requirements of your doors, Vasetti suggests. “On a north-facing elevation, bifold doors will rarely be opened fully, so it might be better to choose sliding versions instead. Some metal-framed doors, meanwhile, have limited opening sizes and might not be suitable if your priority is a strong connection between indoors and out.” Ultimately, she says, the doors should suit the project rather than the project fitting the doors.
More on Houzz
Browse the latest exterior photos
Take a full virtual tour of homes
Shop for your home
“Think about how the doors will relate to other ones within your project,” Wilford says. “If you have solid wood internal doors, then you may prefer to follow this through to the external doors. If your project has a more traditional appearance, this may be another reason to opt for wood rather than metal. We tend to have clients who want a more modern and light feel to their glazing, and metal is the perfect option for that.
“Decide on the look you want, spend time researching various manufacturers, test the doors yourself and work with your budget,” she says.
“Consider what your choice of glazing adds to the building in terms of style and historical meaning,” McKenzie says. “Consider the color of the glazing. Should it match other doors and windows in the property or be a different color to identify the area as more contemporary? Think about accessories, such as the style and finish for handles.”
Put thought into the location, aspect and requirements of your doors, Vasetti suggests. “On a north-facing elevation, bifold doors will rarely be opened fully, so it might be better to choose sliding versions instead. Some metal-framed doors, meanwhile, have limited opening sizes and might not be suitable if your priority is a strong connection between indoors and out.” Ultimately, she says, the doors should suit the project rather than the project fitting the doors.
More on Houzz
Browse the latest exterior photos
Take a full virtual tour of homes
Shop for your home
The frames on metal doors can be thinner than wood or vinyl. “This allows you to have less obstruction to the sightlines and a greater area of glazing,” Wilford says. “The working mechanisms are usually smooth and easier to operate than [those on] heavier wooden frames,” she adds.
A metal-framed door can often be larger than a vinyl or wood one. “So with bifolds, for instance, you would need fewer doors,” Wilford says.
Another advantage of metal is that it needs minimal maintenance. “Metal doors are normally powder-coated in a factory, so there’s less work carried out on-site,” Wilford says. “Wooden doors, on the other hand, generally need to be repainted, resealed or revarnished frequently.”
Find a door or window installer on Houzz