Door Thresholds: Aluminum or Wood?
Various door threshold materials are available on the market. The threshold, also called a saddle, is a feature installed underneath a door to help reinforce the door's frame. It also reduces the gap between the base of the door and the floor, preventing air and moisture infiltration into the house. It also helps to keep out dust, debris, bugs, and small pests. When used indoors, saddles help to demarcate the floor covering materials between various rooms. Stone, metal, and wood are some commonly used materials for door saddles. Rubber gasket saddles are common on cement-type garage floors. Before you decide on an aluminum or wood threshold, consider the following pros and cons of each type.
Aluminum Threshold Advantages
Aluminum saddles have high tensile strength. This makes them more resilient than the wooden type. The saddles are also fire resistant which adds to their durability. If you prefer a saddle with low maintenance requirements, aluminum makes a better choice than wood. To clean the threshold, you simply wipe with a damp cloth. You needn’t stain or paint aluminum thresholds to keep them in good condition. This reduces maintenance needs.
When it comes to environmental considerations, aluminum rates highly. It can be recycled indefinitely. This reduces the exploitation of new resources. It makes aluminum saddles an eco-friendly choice if you have green concerns.
Disadvantages
Aluminum saddles are a more expensive choice than wood. A heavy impact can dent the threshold. Should this happen, you’ll be compelled to replace the damaged threshold. An aluminum threshold undergoes contraction and expansion with temperature changes. Over time, this weakens the structural integrity of the brace.
Aluminum saddles are also susceptible to corrosion. Extensive corrosion ruins the appearance of the saddle and necessitates replacement. For some, an aluminum threshold appears cold and metal-like and does little to enhance the 2ambiance.
Wood Threshold Advantages
They give a warm feel to your home due to the natural appeal of the wood itself. They also cost less than the aluminum variety which helps you to stay within your budget. Wooden saddles are more versatile than the aluminum type. This is partly because it is much easier to shape wood to meet your specific size requirements. Wood saddles are also available in various styles and work better if you have a wooden floor. It is possible to get a wood saddle that matches the wood grain of your floor. You can also stain the saddle to match the color of the floor. This enhances your décor due to its higher aesthetic appeal.
Disadvantages
Wooden thresholds aren’t as durable as aluminum. Great care must be taken to keep water away from the threshold. This contributes to the higher maintenance requirements of wood saddles. Water retention can cause the wood to warp, split, or rot with time. Scratches and marks also develop more easily on a wood threshold than aluminum. To keep a wood threshold in good condition, you need to stain or paint it periodically. If this is overlooked, the wood is likely to deteriorate quickly due to the effects of the elements.
Wood thresholds are also subject to mold and mildew attacks. This adds to your maintenance work. Although wood can be recycled, it has a much shorter recycling capacity than aluminum.
