After months of dedicated work on our home renovation, the results are paying off. It's not fully complete yet, but our steel doors are now in place, transforming the space. Finding affordable, on-trend steel doors took time, but we succeeded. While some tire of the style's popularity, we're in love with ours—a steel hinged door with magnetic lock between the living room and hall, and a steel sliding door between the kitchen and utility room.
Table of contents
Steel doors come in many styles, from those with glass divided into 3 or 4 panes to more intricate designs. During our renovation, budget was key, so we sought affordable 3-pane options without custom pricing, which can hit €1500. Standard sizes brought costs down to €600—perfect for our needs. Sliding doors offer flexibility in openings, but hinged doors with frames require precise fits.
To keep expenses low, we chose a standard-size steel hinged door with frame. Our renovation allowed us to adjust the wall between the dining room and hall, enlarging the doorway to match perfectly before plastering.
Adjusting the doorway sounds simple but requires care. As project coordinator, I worried about measurements. We demolished the opening ourselves, had it plastered precisely, and accounted for new flooring layers. Despite laying the leveling compound after plastering, the frame fit exactly—a huge relief.
To maximize savings, we installed the doors ourselves after consulting our contractor. Here's our proven advice from hands-on experience.
Our door from Loftdeur—231.5 cm high, 93 cm wide—is affordable and large-scale. DIY assembly cuts costs further, but follow these steps: Secure the frame with 8 large screws (3 per side, 2 on top). Don't remove the door first—install the frame with the door in place to avoid clearance issues from walls. Mark holes with the empty frame for plumb alignment, then reinstall the door and fit as a unit. Two people make it easy; one holds while the other screws. Done right, it's 15 minutes. Note the 8 mm floor gap for ventilation.
Affordable options limit choices—no roller locks in true steel doors, though steel-look ones offer them. We opted for a magnetic lock over a standard handle with visible plates. It functions smoothly and auto-engages, though the closing 'clang' took adjustment (soften by trimming magnetic strip). Bonus: It alerts us to late-night teen arrivals!
