Steel Doors vs. Aluminum Doors: Which One Should You Choose?

Steel doors are suitable for dry areas requiring high security or for projects with a limited budget. Aluminum doors, on the other hand, are the optimal choice if you want long-lasting durability, low maintenance, and high aesthetics, making them ideal for coastal regions, humid climates, and spaces that need a modern look. This article will compare steel doors and aluminum doors across various criteria, helping you understand the pros and cons of each to make the best decision for your home’s specific needs and conditions..

1. Detailed Comparison of Steel and Aluminum Doors Based on 5 Criteria

1.1. Construction

Steel Doors:

• Manufactured with a steel frame and surface, with a core that can be hollow or filled with fireproof and insulating materials like rock wool or glass wool.
• This structure makes the door sturdy and highly durable, but also heavy, requiring heavy-duty hinges and hardware.
• As a result, the door has good load-bearing capacity and is resistant to warping or deformation from weather effects, ensuring long-lasting beauty.

Aluminum Doors:

• Use an extruded aluminum profile frame, combined with various types of glass such as tempered glass, frosted glass, acoustic glass, etc., along with a rubber gasket system to ensure airtightness and synchronized hardware (hinges, handles, locks, etc.).
• Aluminum is rust-resistant due to a natural oxide layer that forms on its surface when exposed to air. However, to ensure aesthetics and long-term durability, aluminum doors are typically surface-treated with powder coating or anodizing.
• They are lighter than steel doors, making them easier to install and ensuring durability and resistance to warping.

TOSTEM aluminum doors use premium 6063-T5 anodized aluminum, ensuring long-lasting color, no rust, and no deformation under harsh weather

1.2. Thermal Insulation and Fire Resistance

Steel Doors:

• With a steel structure and especially a non-flammable rock wool core, specialized fire-rated steel doors can withstand extremely high temperatures for extended periods, from 60 to 120 minutes. This helps prevent the spread of fire and smoke, ensuring safe evacuation routes.
• However, steel is a strong thermal conductor, so when exposed to direct sunlight, the surface can heat up easily, affecting the indoor space if there is no proper insulation layer.

Aluminum Doors:

• Standard aluminum systems have poor thermal insulation because aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat. However, when combined with glass, especially insulated glass or Low-E glass, the thermal insulation of aluminum doors is significantly improved, keeping the indoor space cool and comfortable.
• Aluminum doors cannot achieve the high fire resistance of steel but can still meet certain safety requirements when using fire-resistant glass and certified hardware.

1.3. Sound Insulation

Steel Doors:

• Have good sound insulation thanks to their solid, single-piece, and sturdy structure.
• The thickness of the two steel layers and the core material effectively absorb sound, significantly reducing noise from the outside environment, making them suitable for areas that require quiet.

Aluminum Doors:

• The sound insulation effectiveness depends not only on the profile but also heavily on the gasket system and, most importantly, the type of glass used.
• A high-end aluminum door system with multi-chamber profiles, a double gasket system, and double-paned insulated glass can provide superior sound insulation, sometimes even better than standard steel doors.

Premium aluminum doors like those from TOSTEM are designed with tight gaskets and precise assembly gaps. Combined with laminated or insulated glass, they significantly reduce noise (25 dB with single-pane glass and even more with insulated glass). This is an ideal choice for townhouses, villas near major roads, or crowded areas.

TOSTEM aluminum and glass doors with a tight gasket system offer better sound insulation

1.4. Aesthetics

Steel Doors:

• Often provide a feeling of security and sturdiness but can appear heavy.
• Designs are typically less diverse, mainly featuring embossed panels and a faux wood powder-coated finish to give them a more residential feel.
• It’s difficult to customize slim frames or intricate designs due to the material’s properties.

Aluminum Doors:

• With their easy machinability and high rigidity, aluminum allows for the creation of doors with slim, modern, and luxurious designs.
• It’s easy to create extremely large doors with wide views and sharp edges, which perfectly complement contemporary architecture.
• A wide range of colors is available through powder coating and high-end anodizing technology. Additionally, various colors and patterns of glass can be combined.
• The ability to combine with many types of glass (clear, frosted, colored, patterned) creates countless aesthetic options, suitable for every architectural style from classic to ultra-modern.

TOSTEM’s aluminum doors offer diverse designs, from modern slim frames to elegant or neoclassical styles. The rich color palette (Natural White, Natural Silver, Dusk Gray, Autumn Brown, Natural Black, etc.) is thanks to advanced TEXGUARD anodizing technology.

The Giesta AirFlow steel wood-grain door by TOSTEM, integrated with a ventilation sash and an insect screen, is a perfect combination for a comfortable living space

The design of TOSTEM’s aluminum and glass doors is suitable for minimalist, modern spaces

1.5. Price

Steel Doors:

• The initial cost is low, ranging from 800,000 – 1,500,000 VND/m², suitable for projects with a limited budget.
• However, maintenance costs are high as they require repainting every 2-3 years to prevent rust, along with earlier replacement due to a shorter lifespan.
• When calculating the total cost of ownership over 15-20 years, steel doors can be more expensive due to operational and maintenance expenses.

Aluminum Doors:

• The initial investment is higher, from 1,500,000 – over 6,000,000 VND/m², depending on the quality and brand.
• However, maintenance costs are low as they don’t require repainting, only periodic cleaning with water and mild soap.
• A long lifespan of 25-30 years with consistent performance leads to significant long-term savings, making aluminum doors an effective long-term investment.

TOSTEM’s products feature a surface finish that remains colorfast for up to 40 years

2. Conclusion: Should You Choose a Steel or Aluminum Door?

You should choose a STEEL DOOR when:

1. Security & Safety are the top priorities: Steel doors are extremely sturdy and difficult to pry open or deform from external forces, making them an excellent choice for locations requiring high protection.
2. Fire resistance is needed: This is a mandatory requirement for emergency exits in apartment buildings, offices, or technical rooms to prevent the spread of fire.
3. You want a reasonable budget with good sound insulation: At an affordable price, steel doors provide effective sound insulation, suitable for main apartment doors or rooms that need quiet.
4. Natural light is not a requirement: Solid steel rarely incorporates clear glass, so it’s suitable when prioritizing privacy and safety over natural light.

⇒ Ideal Installation Locations: Main apartment doors, balcony doors (loggia), bedroom doors, storage room doors, emergency exits, technical room doors.

You should choose an ALUMINUM DOOR when:

1. Aesthetics & Elegance are the top priorities: Aluminum doors (especially high-end systems) offer a modern, sleek, and sophisticated look that steel doors can hardly match.
2. You need large doors with a wide view: If you want an open space that blends with nature through large glass partitions or wide doors leading to a garden or balcony, aluminum is the only solution.
3. You are willing to invest in a high quality of life: Aluminum systems with thermal breaks and insulated glass are not only beautiful but also provide superior sound and thermal insulation, helping to save energy and create a premium living space.
4. Long lifespan and low maintenance are a priority: High-end, synchronized aluminum doors require almost no periodic maintenance; simple cleaning is enough to keep them looking new for a long time.

⇒ Ideal Installation Locations: The entire door system for villas, modern townhouses, resorts, and hotels. Specifically, main entrance doors, patio doors, windows, and large glass partitions…

Installation of TOSTEM aluminum and glass doors for a modern style villa.

This article provides a detailed comparison of steel doors and aluminum doors and suggests the right choice for different needs. I hope this helps you easily find the perfect door for your home!

If you are looking for a door solution that is durable, safe, and fits various architectural styles, consider TOSTEM – a brand that offers both wood-grain steel doors and high-end aluminum doors.

• Diverse Options: TOSTEM provides premium aluminum and glass door lines like GRANTS, ATIS, WE, and the GIESTA wood-grain steel door, perfectly meeting needs from modern to classic elegant styles.
• TOSTEM Aluminum Doors: Use a premium gasket system, Japanese-standard quality, and TEXGUARD anti-corrosion coating, ensuring absolute airtightness and color durability for up to 40 years.
• GIESTA Wood-Grain Steel Doors: Combine ultra-durable electro-galvanized steel with an insulating EPS foam core, a sophisticated wood-grain surface, and integrate a multi-point lock and AirFlow ventilation sash, providing security and convenience.
• Optimized Design for Every Space: Whether you need a load-bearing, fire-resistant main door or a luxurious, soundproof aluminum door, TOSTEM always has an optimal solution for every project.