AMICO Ballistic Security Mesh™ Panels for ballistic protection behind drywalls are being manufactured by a world leading manufacturer of bullet resistant fiberglass. The composite laminate consists of fiberglass reinforced thermoset resin designed to defeat a projectile through a process of energy absorption through controlled delamination and energy dissipation.
The fiberglass reinforcement transfers the energy of the bullet across the width of the panel. In addition, the resin is designed to separate into individual plies through a process of controlled delamination to eventually absorb all the energy and stop the bullet within the laminate. Once the plies have begun to delaminate, additional shots become progressively easier to defeat because the energy is more readily absorbed by the laminate.
In contrast to metal barriers, the fiberglass laminate is designed to prevent ricochet of the projectile as well as spalling on the non-threat side of the bullet resistant panel.
Bullet resistant fiberglass panels are used to protect the employees, buildings, and other critical assets for many types of commercial and industrial organizations including: electric utilities, military and government facilities, law enforcement locations, and more.
Through our custom design for bullet-resistant panels, we’ve developed the highest quality and reliable product for defensive architecture.
“Leave the Door Open” may be a great song to listen to on a romantic night out, but it isn’t something you want to live with when it comes to your exterior doors. Is the front door to your house just there to stay closed and keep the bugs out? Your door does all kinds of things for your home. That is why you want the best exterior steel door for your house.
You can buy all kinds of doors for your house, but the doors growing in popularity for many homeowners are steel entry doors.
Steel door options have increased, offering some great options that will benefit your home. Read on to learn more.
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Steel doors are not the plain ones you are used to seeing at an office. They come in all kinds of styles and colors these days. You can get steel doors with beautiful cut-out glass designs that instantly increase your house’s curb appeal.
The skins of steel entry doors come in a variety of styles also. You can get a smooth finish with basic designs if that fits your style. You can also add high-definition embossing to your door for a more custom look. Many wood-textured looks can come with a steel door.
These wood looks are realistic; everyone will think you have a custom wooden door from the curb.
Steel exterior doors have grown in popularity for homeowners because they can be customized in many ways while bringing a host of benefits to the homeowner.
Here are some of the critical benefits of a steel door.
Someone may wonder, “What is a steel door?” The door isn’t made of solid steel because that would be too heavy and rip out of the wall!
Most steel doors are two layers of heavy gauge steel. A front layer and a back layer are the skin of the door. Steel entry doors are built incredibly strong and won’t crack or warp based on the weather conditions.
The best steel entry doors are now built with 20 gauge steel instead of 24 gauge steel which brings 49% more steel to the door than before.
This durability and strength will make any entry door last for years. And while these doors come with warranties – typically, if a ding or dent happens to your door, you can usually repair it with an auto body kit from your local auto parts store.
Many think a metal door will be a poor protector from the elements. They believe the metal will conduct heat or cold into the house.
It’s often the case if the doors are solid metal, but a layer of thermal foam fills many steel doors, providing excellent insulation from the elements.
This foam keeps the heat out and the cold out, even in extreme temperatures. The cavity of the steel entry door gives plenty of room for insulation, bringing high energy efficiency to your home.
Steel is a sturdy and reliable material that requires very little maintenance. It is resistant to scratches, challenging to dent or damage in any way, and generally unaffected by the barrage of erosion that comes from bad weather.
Steel doors will not be warped by warmer temperatures or crack under extreme cold. They won’t splinter and scuff – their durability makes them far more accessible to maintain than other types of doors. Once it is installed, you can essentially forget about a steel door. Many types of steel used for doors are resistant to rust: galvanized steel is coated in zinc, which protects the metal from rusting.
With a steel door, your only concern should occasionally be cleaning it – it takes some effort to damage the steel, so maintenance should be minimal.
Entry door security is an integral part of your home. You want a door that helps you secure your house.
Home security increases when you add a steel door to your home. Steel doors are difficult for intruders to break through.
Steel entry doors with a steel frame resist attempts for forced entry. This resistance level will cause would-be thieves to move to a more accessible house.
The cost of steel exterior doors can vary greatly. Many factors can change the price point: size, design, materials, and supplier.
Basic models can be found for as low as $200 before installation costs, though this is usually low-grade steel with very little decoration or design. Quality and costs can increase up to $5000 and beyond, depending on the alterations, the steel gauge and type, the door size, and the design.
Certain styles will cost more, as embossing and other aesthetic extras will add to the total price. For example, steel entry doors with glass tend to be quite a bit more expensive than others. Similarly, steel double-entry doors will typically cost more than single-entry doors.
Steel doors are usually cheaper than their typical competitor, fiberglass doors. But steel doors are typically more expensive than wooden doors: they act as a middle ground in price point.
The best steel front doors are an excellent option for most budgets – secure, reliable, and long-lasting, they make a fantastic entry door without costing you a small fortune.
The top door material that homeowners replace a front entry door with is a fiberglass door. What is the steel door vs. fiberglass door comparison?
Fiberglass doors mimic different wood grains a little better and can be a little more customizable with glass. Steel doors have grown in their ability to mimic wood and have glass designs built into them.
Fiberglass doors don’t have the struggle wood doors do with cracking, chipping, or warping. They do very well in humid and extreme climates.
Steel doors, especially 20 gauge steel doors, won’t crack or warp and are the most durable doors available for a homeowner. Both Steel and Fiberglass doors offer excellent energy efficiency. Many of the doors are ENERGY STAR certified. Fiberglass doors are significantly more secure than wood doors, while steel doors are the most secure doors on the market.
Both doors can offer a better price option than wood doors depending on the style and options chosen.
Steel comes in many different gauges, levels of quality, and types, but not all are suitable for doors: galvanized steel is typically used for entry doors.
While stainless steel is more robust, galvanized steel retains much of the same strength. Where it outstrips stainless steel is in its malleability and resistance to rust. It is easier to work with and, therefore, easier to use in more complex entry door designs, giving you a greater variety of styles to choose from.
Keep in mind that the door isn’t entirely made of steel – the weight of that would rip the door from its hinges, never mind the insulation issues – but is fortified with a front and rear layer of metal. There is typically a layer of polyurethane between the two layers to provide insulation. The quality of these steel layers will be the deciding factor in matters of security and durability.
16 to 24-gauge steel can be commonly found in steel doors, with 24 the weakest and 16 the strongest on the gradient. We find that 20 gauge steel marks a sweet spot between strength and price point – for many people, 16 gauge steel would be prohibitively expensive.
24 gauge is the standard most often found in steel doors, but a 20 gauge steel door uses 49% more galvanized steel – making it more secure.
Beyond the gauge and type of steel, there is variety in the surface aesthetic of the metal. The finish of the metal can change the appearance of a door, giving you a better variety of options in aesthetics. These are two of the most popular:
When you think of a steel door, smooth steel likely is what you imagine. The classic finish has a simple and clean look, making it an ideal material type for the best steel doors for a home.
Woodgrain textured steel is embossed with thousands of tiny engravings to look like a wooden door. It gives the steel a more natural appearance, making it a popular choice for many.
When choosing an entry door, the quality and type of steel are only one of many factors to consider.
To gain all the benefits of a steel exterior door, ensure it’s properly installed. Professional door installers will guarantee that your door is set correctly and will last for years.
Experienced installers also can adjust your frame if it isn’t square. Many homeowners don’t have the experience to do this, which can cause problems with their doors over time.
When you purchase a door from a dealer, they often have the installation as part of the price or a significant discount. Save yourself time and hassle by installing the door by a professional door company.
Steel doors come in a range of sizes and, for an extra cost, can even be customized to fit an entryway. Though most standard sizes would fit most door frames, occasionally, a custom appraisal is necessary, and the steel door must be made to order. The width and height of the door can be adjusted in 1⁄8″ increments, with a maximum height of 8 feet.
To get an idea of the selection of different styles and sizes available, you can look through some popular exterior doors.
Your door does so much more than keep the weather outside. It is one of the primary sources of security in protecting your home.
When considering a steel replacement door for your home, you want to consider security, but you also want to look at all the new options steel doors offer to homeowners now.
Steel entry doors have so many more options now that more and more homeowners consider them replacement doors. You can gain top security and have a great-looking door with a steel entry door.
Choosing a new entry door can be a complicated task. Beyond security, durability, and energy efficiency, the design and style of your entry door are important.
It has a huge effect on the overall appeal and look of your home – quality makes and designs will have a noticeable impact on the general aesthetic of the house, improving its curbside appeal.
In the past, designs and materials were limited, but the selection of exterior doors has vastly improved in recent years.
Check out our helpful articles and videos designed to empower you as a homeowner to pick the best option for your home. You can contact us for a free onsite estimate so we can look at some options.
An entry door represents your home – the first impression visitors will have will be of the outside of your house, and you want it to look its best.
STL Windows and Doors provides top-quality entry doors with a bespoke, friendly service. You will be treated with the utmost respect during the buying process as we work to understand your needs and specific requirements on a case-by-case basis. No customer is the same – we take the time to listen to you individually and address any questions or requirements you may have as and when they come.
STL Windows and Doors provides an excellent service: from friendly experts to high-quality products, every step of your journey will be as smooth and seamless as possible.
We are one of the top replacement door and window companies in St. Louis, and we pride ourselves on maintaining close ties with our local community.
An entry door is an investment that should last for decades in your home: a high level of workmanship and painstaking attention to detail are essential.
Our family-run business prioritizes quality over profits: we are so confident in our work that we offer a 10-Year Workmanship Warranty to give you that extra peace of mind.
To get an initial assessment without monetary commitment, request a free in-home estimate and secure one of our limited-time deals today.