The Benefits of Installing Door Kick Plates What Homeowners Should Know
The installation of a door kick plate is among the easiest modifications that can be made by homeowners to prevent damage to the door, such as scuffs, scratches, and other forms of wear at the bottom. It ensures that the door remains protected from the impacts of shoes, strollers, pet claws, and other damaging objects.
Just Kick Plates provides an extensive list of kick plates for use by homeowners all over Canada. We include the 36" x 36" stainless steel kick plate, which is perfect for large doors. We ship fast all over Canada and offer discounts when you buy in bulk.
The Importance of Understanding The Function of A Kick Plate
Kick plates are placed at the bottom part of a door and are around 6 to 16 inches tall. They serve as the protector of the door's surface against whatever object tends to bump into it regularly. In construction terms, the term used for this object is a door protection plate because that is what this particular item was designed for.
Without the presence of the protective plate, doors get marks due to vacuum cleaners, dollies, wheelchairs, and even a person who would accidentally kick a door with both hands full. Damage will eventually accumulate, and when this occurs, especially to those that are already painted or stained, the marks become evident.
Here are some benefits that a kick plate can give you:
- Protects the door from scrapes, dents, and paint chips.
- Reduces the frequency of repainting and refinishing of the door.
- Improves the appearance of an entryway.
- Can be used for wood, fibreglass, steel, and glass doors.
- Increases the resale value of the door.
Why Does a Door Require Additional Protection at its Bottom?
The bottom third of a door gets the most action simply by virtue of the way that people navigate a room or hallway. Feet, bags, packages, and even pet paws make contact with the bottom portion of the door, causing the bottom portion to deteriorate more rapidly than any other portion.
A front door is additionally subjected to moisture, salt, and dirt coming in from outdoors, particularly in Canadian winters. An exterior door kick plate can take such elements in stride, because stainless steel is resistant to rusting and can be washed free of dirt without staining the underlying surface.
Materials That Can Withstand the Test of Time
Choosing the right material is one way to ensure the longevity of the kick plate. A metal kick plate for a door would definitely outlast those made from plastic or vinyl since it won’t chip, fade, or deform easily from constant use over time.
For larger-sized entry doors or even double doors, a 34"x46" stainless steel kick plate can fully cover the bottom of the door without any open spaces left around its sides.
The Best Kick Plate for Front Doors
When you have decided on a kick plate for your front door, there are certain characteristics you need to consider. The homeowner wants a kick plate that will last for many years and one that is in keeping with all the other hardware on the door.
Here are some characteristics of the best kick plates for front doors:
- Stainless steel plate that is either brushed or polished
- Bevelled edges to give a better finish and safety
- Holes drilled at the right screw spacings
- A thickness of at least .050"
- A finish that matches door hardware and hinges
Role of the Heavy-Duty Kick Plates and Commercial Door Plates
Not all doors receive the same amount of exposure. Doorways in high-traffic residential areas such as mudrooms or apartments will have a better heavy-duty kick plate than a regular kick plate used in a residential environment.
In property management, a commercial door kick plate is always favoured due to the much higher traffic volume than a typical front entrance door.
A door that does not need a full-size kick plate but requires more than an 18” x 24” kick plate can find that the 34” x 42” stainless steel kick plate is a good medium-sized choice.
Choosing the Appropriate Sizing and Finish
The sizing will depend on the width of the door and the level of bottom coverage desired. It is important to measure the door prior to ordering to ensure that there are no gaps left in the case where the product ordered ends up being too small.
A 34”x 40” stainless steel kick plate seems appropriate for a standard-size single door, which requires extensive bottom coverage without having to cut the plate. The kick plate should match the same finish used by the hinges and door handles.
Tips for an Enduring Installation
Door kick plates are fairly simple projects and usually can be completed in a weekend without the aid of a professional installer.
A few additional suggestions to make your installation easier include:
- Measure the width of the door, leaving space for hinges
- Clean the area before mounting the kick plate
- Use stainless steel screws to avoid rusty lines
- Drill the screw holes to be countersunk
- Apply light sealing around edges if the door will be exposed to the elements
Common Mistakes Homeowners Make in the Selection of a Kick Plate
The most frequent mistakes made by homeowners when selecting kick plates are their preference to go for the cheapest one while disregarding the actual size of the door. It is quite a common problem when people have to reorder the plate due to its size, either too small or too large, which will only make the process more expensive and time-consuming than it was expected to be.
Choosing a thin plate made of a substandard metal is another mistake that can be made during the selection process. The homeowner will have to replace the plate in a year if it starts bending or getting dented.
Not taking exact measurements with regard to the door's hinges and handle is a common problem that occurs after installation.
Finish and Style of Kick Plate in a Consistent Entrance Design
Apart from absorbing any impacts, a kick plate can be considered a means of making an entryway more aesthetically pleasing. When the finish of a kick plate matches that of the door's handle and hinges, the whole entrance design looks coherent instead of being a haphazard attempt at fixing something.
Generally speaking, a brushed finish is less visible when there are any fingerprints or light scratches compared to a high-gloss one, and that is why it may be a good choice for a family who uses their entryway every day. At the same time, polished finishes look great in entrances that are used infrequently.
In many cases, homeowners decide to coordinate the kick plate with the rest of the entrance area while renovating it.
A Small Addition That Saves Your Doors
While a kick plate may be a small item, it will prevent you from constantly repainting and re-finishing your doors prematurely. Be it the door to your garage or to your home's entryway, the right kick plate will ensure that your door stays beautiful for many years to come.
Just Kick Plates offers a large selection of stainless steel kick plates that are available for immediate shipment, along with bulk pricing and expedited shipping across Canada, saving you time on waiting to get your entire house or building protected.
Browse our entire collection online at justkickplates.com