3 Benefits of Custom Commercial Hollow Metal Doors

July 25, 2023

 

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When you’re in the planning stage of a commercial building project, it’s common to have the need for custom entryways and doors. Whether it’s a hospital, school, or another type of building, commercial projects don’t all follow a standard design. In fact, there’s often a long list of specialized spaces and rooms to support with custom doors.  

If your project needs custom doors, hollow metal is one of the best options. Join HMMA as we highlight three benefits custom commercial steel doors can offer.  

1. Custom Steel Doors Offer Energy Efficiency

When you’re planning a commercial building project, long-term costs and the durability of the materials being used are often top of mind. No matter how a custom steel door is adjusted for a specific need, the material is a great insulator. It will help keep heat from escaping during colder months, and hot air out in the summer. With the right door material, you can help lower heating and cooling costs for years to come.  

Plus, steel doors can be custom made with different cores depending on the level of insulation that’s needed. For example, you could get custom steel doors that are manufactured with a polyurethane core. This consists of foam injected into the space within the hollow door to enhance insulating properties, and in some cases, offer a three-hour fire rating.  

2. You Don’t Have to Worry About Aesthetics

A common misconception about steel doors is that they all look the same. With custom steel doors, you’ll have the flexibility to change the look of entryways to match the overall design aesthetic. Steel doors can be manufactured with embossments or panels to showcase a particular color. In fact, architects have used millwork that’s fixed to the trim of steel doors to create a striking wood finish.  

Since the initial cost of material for steel doors is often less than fiberglass, experienced manufacturers can help customize products for specific needs without going over budget. By being such a versatile material, steel doors have been used in a variety of custom applications. Steel doors can also be made to blend in, and accent antique architecture found in old buildings or be retrofitted with the latest electronic hardware technology for new military buildings.  

3. Durability and Longer Lasting Performance

Since doors are subjected to heavy usage in many commercial buildings, you’ll need to consider how they’ll hold up over time. Custom steel doors give you the opportunity to adjust for expected wear and tear. For example, let’s say there’s a new school being built. Since the exterior doors will be under almost constant use, a custom steel manufacturer could:  

  • Increase the thickness of the steel used for the door and frame.  

  • Use a stiffened steel core to help the door withstand high levels of abuse.  

  • Design the doors with additional features like sound resistant cores to lower acoustic levels coming from the entryway.  

In addition to customizations, steel doors are less expensive to repair in the field if they happen to get damaged. They’re also the preferred door material when it comes to delivering the most cycles without being damaged or rendered inoperable.  

Learn More About the Benefits of Hollow Metal Doors and Frames

If your project has a potential need for hollow metal doors and frames, HMMA is here to help. We have specifications to assist with project planning and installation, and member companies who are experts at manufacturing custom steel doors.