Iron front doors

[abcdefg567]

My parents had one of these custom made.

It also had glass on the top and a screened bottom.

No issues with it in 20 years, but the door stop mechanism eventually broke and the screen had to be replaced.

They also had railings installed over their back deck and stairs, those were showing noticeable wear by 15 years, but weren't unsafe.

This was in a 90's cookie cutter development with larger homes - I always thought they looked out of place, but that's just me!

*Eta, the door was under a larger covered front porch and very rarely saw any snow or moisture, never sun.*North facing.

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by Tabbychic

Just wondering if anyone in here has iron doors and if you had any issues?
...
A REAL engineer would have been able to answer my original question.

No one here will have iron doors. They might have steel doors.
So, getting an answer to your question is unlikely.

[Tabbychic]

Originally Posted by abcdefg567

My parents had one of these custom made.

It also had glass on the top and a screened bottom.

No issues with it in 20 years, but the door stop mechanism eventually broke and the screen had to be replaced.

They also had railings installed over their back deck and stairs, those were showing noticeable wear by 15 years, but weren't unsafe.

This was in a 90's cookie cutter development with larger homes - I always thought they looked out of place, but that's just me!

*Eta, the door was under a larger covered front porch and very rarely saw any snow or moisture, never sun.*North facing.

Ours will be south facing but covered. The only problem is condensation so I was concerned about that, but they assured me it shouldn't be too bad in Colorado.

[TCHP]

Ever pick up a 12" stainless steel skillet? How about a 12" cast iron skillet. The steel skillet weighs a couple of pounds. The iron skillet weighs almost 10#.

If a 36x72x1 cheapy steel clad door from the local home improvement store weighs about 40-50#, solid wood core door weighs 70-80#, a solid steel door will weigh a almost 400# and an iron door will weigh almost 1000#.

Those doors listed on the front page may have decorative iron embelishments on them, especially over the glass panels, but the sheet of the doors are probably steel. Most likely .125" thick on the main panels to reduce weight and provide dent resistance with a .5" thick side filler to support the weight. This would keep it under 400# of solid steel, but still be easily double that of the solid wood.

It goes without saying that the quality and quantity of hinges to support such a door will need to be stepped up as well.

I'd also bet those doors are powder coated or painted in multiple coats with etching primer. Both are highly durable and will fade over decades, but probably not as quickly as wood. Only real corrosion concerns would be if something cratched the surface deep enough to expose the base metal. Then you will have the opportunity for the weathered look of rust formation and oxide runs.

There is also the marketing perspective where a wrought iron door brings to mind gilded age opulence or possibly old world royalty. Contrast that to the selling of a steel door that invokes the thought of bullet proof, assault resistant, ghetto protection.

[Monacles]

Originally Posted by Tabbychic

The wrought iron doors
Iron Doors Archives | Page 7 of 9 | Universal Iron Doors - The #1 Iron Door Store in USA

And how can Wikipedia help me? Does it own one of these doors, have experience with them? I don't know where you are coming from with your post?

I think he's pointing out that most of these supposed wrought iron doors are actually steel but advertised as something technically different. On this link they advertise the doors as wrought iron but then in the FAQ admit the doors are steel.

If it were me I would want to know clearly what I am buying. Iron is far heavier than steel and your door hinges and frame may not be equipped for the weight of iron but might be for steel. I'd also want to know how to care for the door. Steel with a zinc coating or powder coating is different from exposed iron. One rusts, one doesn't. I'd guess most supposed wrought iron doors are really wrought iron appearance but actually a coated steel. If you get actual wrought iron I would be extremely concerned about potential condensation causing rust.

I don't know the answer to your question about condensation but would hate to install the door and find out it is an issue.

[Tabbychic]

Originally Posted by Monacles

I think he's pointing out that most of these supposed wrought iron doors are actually steel but advertised as something technically different. On this link they advertise the doors as wrought iron but then in the FAQ admit the doors are steel.

If it were me I would want to know clearly what I am buying. Iron is far heavier than steel and your door hinges and frame may not be equipped for the weight of iron but might be for steel. I'd also want to know how to care for the door. Steel with a zinc coating or powder coating is different from exposed iron. One rusts, one doesn't. I'd guess most supposed wrought iron doors are really wrought iron appearance but actually a coated steel. If you get actual wrought iron I would be extremely concerned about potential condensation causing rust.

I don't know the answer to your question about condensation but would hate to install the door and find out it is an issue.

The old door frame will be removed and the new one with the doors will be installed. There will be no issue with the weight.

Each door is 250 to 300 pounds, a total of 600 pounds.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by Tabbychic

What is your problem? I asked a simple question and you turned it into this. I don't know if old age is making you this way or if you are just inherently just a difficult person. You are making no sense.

Whoa whoa Tabby! If anything he just saved you embarrassment, because someone was bound to tell you the difference between iron and steel to your face.

[Tabbychic]

Originally Posted by Mach50

Whoa whoa Tabby! If anything he just saved you embarrassment, because someone was bound to tell you the difference between iron and steel to your face.

lol hardly. Steel doors you can purchase from Home depot and they are cheap. They are called steel doors, they are listed as steel doors. They are very different. Nobody really cares, most people except Dave do not seem to understand what I purchased. As a matter of fact I turned of 2 of my neighbors to these doors. We all call them Iron doors, because that is what they are in fact called. Grow up.