How to Choose the Right 12" x 28" Stainless Steel Kick Plate

It goes without saying that the most significant thing is making sure you choose the proper kick plate as far as its size, thickness, and finish are concerned, depending upon your door. Most people tend to begin by choosing a plate which could possibly be something like a 12" x 30" stainless steel kick plate and compare it with other small kick plates.

Regarding the protection of your door, a perfect fit would be a 12" x 28" stainless steel kick plate that can act as both the protector and a door accessory. JustKickPlates offers many sizes and finishes, which you can get in bulk at discount rates across Canada.

Finding the Right Fit for Your Door's Width

If your door is frequently bumped by feet, carts, and shoes, then it requires a kick plate with just the right size to adequately protect the dangerous areas and avoid an appearance that does not match your door aesthetically. A 12 x 28 stainless steel kick plate works perfectly on both standard residential and light commercial doors since they provide sufficient protection on the bottom rail of the door without affecting the door's accessories.

Many homeowners wrongly believe that bigger always means better when choosing kick plates, yet oversized kick plates installed on a narrow door may not fit and cause problems with weatherstripping. You only need to measure your door's width to avoid mistakes in the future.

Key Features of Your Stainless Steel Kick Plate

It’s not all about the price tag since kick plates are not created equal, so there are some features that need your attention.

• Material quality: opt for real stainless steel that is resistant to corrosion and lasts for years.
• Edge treatment: smooth, curved edges do not scratch footwear or any other tools you use to clean your floor.
• Pre-drilled holes: kick plates with pre-drilled holes take less time to mount and allow you to make mistakes in measurement.
• Consistency in thickness: plates with consistent thickness throughout their body do not warp after installation.

Paying attention to these key features right away will save you from any unpleasant surprises.

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Selection of Satin Finish Against Polished Stainless Steel

However, after determining the size of the kick plate, the finish becomes the decisive issue because it influences not only its appearance but also the daily maintenance. The mirror-polished finish highlights even the smallest fingerprints or stains caused by water, making such kick plates unsuitable for entrances that get lots of visitors or commercial bathrooms.

In contrast, a 12" x 28" satin stainless steel kick plate will cover minor dirt and scratches better; this is the reason why property administrators choose this type for doors that require frequent use. For larger entrance doors, a stainless steel kick plate with a satin finish is also available.

How Do You Measure Your Door for an Exact Fit?

This may seem like an easy process, but there are a couple of little things that make up the majority of kick plate returns.

• Measure the entire width of your door, not just the wood you see from the outside between the frame and the hinge.
• Measure from the bottom up to ensure your kick plate will not interfere with the handle or lock plate of the door.
• Take note of any existing holes in the plate from an old kick plate.

Spending an additional five minutes measuring will save you the trouble of having your plate returned to you.

Installations and Mounting Tips for Extended Life Protection

Generally, the process of mounting kick plates is straightforward, as the installation is done using screws that can be mounted into the door surface within 15 minutes if you have a pre-drilled plate. Aligning the plate flat against the bottom edge of the door will help give a professional look after the installation.

For higher commercial doors, some installers go for a 12” x 34” stainless steel kick plate due to its extra height, which will protect more areas at the bottom part of the door where carts and dollies strike mostly. Whether big or small plates, a tiny bit of glue behind the plate will give extra security in vibrating entrance doors such as loading docks.

Why Should You Consider Thickness or Gauge of the Plate for Daily Resistance?

The thickness of the steel plate is known as gauge and is critical to determining the ability of the plate to resist dents and bending over the period of time.

• For light-traffic residential doors, lighter gauges can be used, since the main purpose of the plate is to protect it from scratching by shoes.
• For commercial doors which should withstand the daily cart traffic or rough treatment, heavier gauges will do better.
• It also guarantees that the plate will not bend after mounting due to changes in temperature.
• Selecting the appropriate gauge will make you pay only for those properties you need for your door.

Thus, selecting the proper gauge will ensure the durability of the plate for years, not months.

Wider Stainless Steel Kick Plate That Fits in Well

It’s true that some doors don’t fit the common sizes; hence, wider doors require a wider plate to protect their base. Measure the door carefully to avoid installing a smaller plate that would not cover a part of the door. This defeats the whole purpose of installing a kick plate.

A 12" x 32" stainless steel kick plate is a good option for slightly wider doors. It helps protect those wider doors with ease without requiring a special cut. This makes the kick plate a good option for the entryways of buildings and hallways.

Comparing Widths When Doors Vary Around a Building

The presence of different entrances to a building means that different doors will vary in width. It is for this reason that property managers do not always go for just one type of kick plate but order different sizes. The presence of the various sizes helps to ensure that there is sufficient time for installation on installation day.

Property managers tend to order a combination of standard and slightly bigger kick plates by matching the stainless steel kick plate with smaller doors inside a building.

Mistakes You Should Be Careful about When Placing an Order for a Kick Plate

Despite thorough measurement, there are some minor mistakes that usually cause return and reinstallation of the plates. The order made not according to the size of the slab but according to the size of the door frame is one of the most common mistakes because these sizes seldom correspond to each other.

Also, people usually do not consider the direction of the door movement and position of its hinges when deciding where the plate will be placed.

Choose a Durable Stainless Steel Kick Plate

When it comes to selecting the size, finish, or thickness, things can be made a bit easier after the measurements of the door and daily use have been taken into account. A satin finish is usually better suited for heavy-duty entrances, whereas a thinner kick plate will work perfectly for domestic doors. 

At Just KickPlates, all available sizes and finishes are in stock, and Canada-wide shipping is available with great bulk discounts for orders of any size.

Wish to choose the proper door protection the right way? Check out all stainless steel kick plates here.