Crittall-style doors
Crittall-style Doors in Slim Aluminium
A slim frame and a divided glazing pattern can give an external opening a distinctive steel-look appearance. We supply and fit aluminium Crittall-style doors and screens, choosing the grid, finish and opening layout around the house rather than applying one pattern to every doorway.
The steel-look appearance in aluminium
Crittall-style describes the appearance of this range: slim aluminium frames and a glazing pattern that echoes steel-framed designs. The products described here are aluminium, not genuine Crittall products, and are not presented as connected to the Crittall company. Material and appearance should both be clear before you compare quotations.
The look depends on more than choosing a dark colour. Frame widths, the size of each pane and the spacing of horizontal or vertical lines all shape the result. A well-proportioned pattern can suit a rear extension or garden entrance, while an overly busy grid can interrupt the view more than you intended.
Choose the grid from the room and elevation
Start with the overall opening and the windows around it. Lines across a pair of doors can be planned to relate to nearby glazing, or to create a deliberate contrast. Check the view from the main seating position as well as a drawing of the outside face.
Ask how the chosen divisions are formed in the proposed system. Decorative bars and structural frame divisions are not necessarily the same thing, and they can differ in depth and appearance. The written specification should make the selected pattern clear, including how the lines continue across doors and adjoining fixed screens.
Hinged, folding or patio arrangements
A hinged door suits a defined entrance where there is room for the leaf to swing. Paired doors can give a wider opening while retaining a central meeting line. Think about the main route into the garden and which leaf would be convenient for everyday use.
For a wider opening, a Crittall-style bifold arrangement may suit a preference for folding panels, provided the selected system can deliver the intended pattern. Sliding patio layouts have different visible frame lines and leave part of the opening glazed when open. Agree what is achievable for the chosen system rather than assuming every steel-look design works with every opening action.
Fixed screens beside external doors
An adjoining fixed glazed screen can bring light into a room without adding another moving leaf. It can also let a manageable door occupy part of a wider opening. The proportions of the door and screen should be considered together, especially where a horizontal bar continues across both.
Fixed glass is not a ventilation opening, so decide where fresh air will come from in the room. Safety glazing requirements also depend on the position of the glass. A screen near a doorway or at low level needs a suitable specification; the decorative pattern does not replace that practical assessment.
Comfort, locking and the external threshold
External doors must work as part of the building's weather barrier. Aluminium frame construction, glazing, seals and installation influence comfort, not just the slim appearance. A domestic external system needs its thermal construction considered alongside the look you want.
Our aluminium doors have multi-point locking. Correct alignment, the surrounding frame and the selected hardware remain important for everyday operation. At floor level, discuss the threshold and the ground outside, including how rainwater is kept away. A neat grid and matching handle are finishing choices, not substitutes for suitable seals and a properly planned opening.
Agree the complete design before manufacture
Compare the finish against existing windows, brickwork and interior fittings. Powder-coated aluminium can give a consistent frame colour, but similarly named finishes on different materials may not look identical. Check the inside face as well as the outside, particularly if a dark frame would dominate a small room.
Every frame is measured, made and fitted by our own team. We offer a free survey with a fixed written price and no-pressure quotations, and the site is left tidy at the end of each day. Use the form below to discuss a Crittall-style external door or screen, including the opening action and glazing pattern you have in mind.
Questions
Common Questions
What are Crittall-style doors made of?
The range described here uses slim aluminium frames with a steel-look glazing pattern. These are Crittall-style designs, not genuine Crittall products, and no connection to the Crittall company is implied. Confirm the material and construction in the quotation.
Can Crittall-style doors be used as patio doors?
Yes, a suitable external aluminium system can provide the steel-look appearance at a garden opening. Hinged, folding and sliding arrangements have different frame patterns and usable openings. Discuss what the selected system can achieve before fixing the design.
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