Steel-look doors are everywhere at the moment, but some look much more convincing than others. The difference is nearly always in the details.
Three panes, two rails
The classic heritage door leaf is split into three panes by two horizontal rails. It's the proportion people recognise from original steel doors, and it's our default for AluK Heritage and Decorio doors. Five panes gives a taller, more delicate look on bigger doors.
The patch lock
On a real steel door, the lock sits in a widened section of the stile called the patch. It runs between the rails in the middle pane, with the lever and keyhole on it. Heritage aluminium doors copy this detail, and it's what makes a door read as "steel" rather than "aluminium with bars".
Bars that line up
Glazing bars should line up across doors, side screens and windows, so the whole elevation reads as one grid. Flat, slim bars look most authentic, and duplex grids keep them crisp inside and out.
Colour and hardware
Matt black is the classic finish, but dark greys and bronze tones work beautifully on brick. Antique bronze or black handles and barrel hinges finish the look.
Try the panes and the patch lock in our online designer, or see our AluK Heritage doors.
