Security is arguably the most important aspect of maintaining your business, and it’s important to leave no gaps in the armour. To that end, the type of security door you choose can make all the difference in how well your business deters criminal activity.
With steel and aluminium being two of the most common materials used in security door construction, it’s easy to wonder: which one offers better protection?
In this guide, we’ll explore the key differences between aluminium and steel doors for security, from strength and durability to design flexibility and cost, so that you can make the right choice for your property.
Is Steel Stronger Than Aluminium?
It’s important to always think of levels when you’re comparing materials. Try to think in terms of ‘good’, ‘better’, and ‘best’. The best aluminium might stand up against the worst steel doors, which means making a broad and sweeping statement is not necessarily helpful if you’re looking at every single security door option available to you.
That said, at the elemental level, aluminium is generally weaker than steel by quite a lot. Steel is 2.5 times denser than aluminium, which makes it fundamentally stronger and harder to dent or shift.
Steel can be welded together where aluminium usually is only clipped or screwed together. This creates a major advantage for steel.
A high-quality set of solid steel doors will always outstrip an aluminium one for security purposes, though you might see aluminium used alongside steel to create versatility of function (e.g. to add mesh for a security screen door with a strong steel frame).
Reinforcement for steel doors:
There are ways that steel can be made even stronger to provide you with top-notch anti-burglary steel doors. Some of the strategies we incorporate into the construction of our steel doors include:
- Fully welded construction, so there are no weak points to take advantage of.
- Hot-dipped, galvanised steel with a rigid construction to present an impenetrable frame.
- Careful design to maximise the best qualities of steel (e.g. steel mesh with small holes and careful lock placement).
While steel is very strong, steel doors that have been designed with security in mind are even stronger.
Steel Door Options for Security:
So, steel doors come out on top. But which type of steel door should you trust to protect your premises? Let’s look into your options:
Steel Mesh Door
Steel doors with mesh overlays are ideal for maintaining airflow on warm days, particularly in areas with kitchens or consistently circulating hot air. These mesh doors ensure you won’t need to worry about leaving a door open (thus reducing the security of your entire business), and they fit sleekly into any space. Not only that, but they double as a great visual deterrent.
Seek out mesh steel doors with steel as the mesh, not aluminium, as this ensures the mesh is not easy to cut through. Ensure the gaps are small enough to prevent reaching fingers or tools, and look for hot-dipped galvanised steel with a fully welded construction for maximum strength.
Solid Steel Door
Heavy-duty solid steel doors (a.k.a. bandit doors) are the option to choose if you’re after the toughest of the tough. These are built thick, so the doors can’t be forced open or rammed through.
You can also source light-duty steel doors if you’re after something slightly easier to shift. They’re still excellent, much more than you would ever need, though they won’t stand up to a ram raid quite as well as their thicker counterparts.
Regardless, make sure the steel doors you select have a few key qualities:
- The frame is welded and sturdy, with cross-bracing to reinforce everything.
- The hinges are stainless steel with concealed fixings, so your door’s weakest point is not the hinges.
- The frames and doors are corrosion-resistant (especially important for exterior doors).
Steel Bar Doors
Steel bar doors are unique and generally chosen for exterior entrances and gateways. The best are fully-welded for ultimate strength and security, with anti-tamper hinges and solid steel bars that won’t give in to a crowbar.
Depending on the locking option you select for your steel doors, you’ll be able to customise the door for absolutely any entrance or exit. Not to mention, we can customise them with serving hatches or logos for safe service.
Outdoor Security Gates
Finally, we have to tip our hats to security gates forged from steel. While these aren’t necessarily steel doors, they are fully welded steel security measures that act as a major visual deterrent when present on your property. When mounted on high-quality posts, these can be automated or manual and provide ample security for any vehicle entryway.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to purpose. If you’re looking for the best in security and longevity, steel doors are the clear winner. Their strength, customisability, and durability simply outmatch what aluminium can offer.
If you want light-duty security with more flexibility in terms of budget or visual design, aluminium may suit your needs. However, remember that when safety and burglary resistance are top priorities, steel doors always take the lead.
Secure steel doors you can trust with Xpanda.
We’re Xpanda, New Zealand’s leaders in physical security. If you’re outfitting your premises and upgrading your security, reach out to our expert team for a free measure and security consultation to ensure steel doors are the perfect fit for you (literally).