Whether you are in the construction trade or have the management of a building including your own house, you will want to invest in door edge protectors to maintain the look and health of the doors, their frame and the surrounding wall. Doors in public places such as flats, offices and hospitals are subjected to heavy amounts of traffic, being opened and closed many times a day. This constant impact can damage the appearance of the door and the surrounding area requiring regular cosmetic touch-ups. If not properly maintained damage can be done to the structure of the door itself and can be costly to fix or replace.

Door edge protectors (DEPs) come in varying sizes, colours and materials. Choosing the right protector can increase the aesthetic attractiveness of your door and add health and safety benefits to the structure in stands. Most companies that sell door edge protectors offer two services; custom made designs created around your specific requirements, and ready made, ready-to-use protectors that can easily be cut to size. The majority of DEP materials are stain and chemical resistant ensuring that no discolouration occurs and the surfaces remain even. If there is a high volume of traffic moving through the door on a daily basis, these two features will keep the door looking good, reducing the need for maintenance.

There are three main types of door edge protection; rigid, flexible and flame retardant. Each have unique benefits discussed below.

Rigid DEPs are the least diverse of the three as their solid structure and firm 90 degree angle come as standard. The benefits include the durability of the material. Fibreboard makes for very strong door protection and is impact resistant. It is hard wearing and can withstand huge amounts of traffic.

Flame retardant DEPs are primarily made from polypropylene and can be used to build new structures as long as they comply with The Joint Code of Practise fire door requirements or have approved half hour or hour fire ratings. They can fit onto fire doors and will not prevent the doors from closing fully as they have fire/smoke seals fitted as standard.

The most adaptable form of door edge protection is flexible edge protection made from lightweight and flexible foam material. It can fit over curved and corner edges. The close cell foam does not scratch surfaces and the compact structure of the edging creates a waterproof bond which means it can be used internally or externally. Unlike the other two types of DEP the flexible material can be reused offering a cost effective edge protector ideal for those in the building trade.

All of these DEPs are designed to protect the wall and surrounding surfaces but you can also purchase door edge protectors that protect people from the effects of slamming doors and trapped fingers. Most of us all know the pain of having our fingers trapped in a closing door. An innovative new design has come onto the market that attaches to a door with no screwing or glueing whilst maintaining its fire safety features. A folding piece of material covers the joint at the hinges and physically prevents any objects getting trapped as the door closes.

These examples demonstrate the variety of door edge protectors available to purchase commercially and privately. The investment price of installing DEPs will be covered by the fact you will save money on regular door maintenance including painting, filling and sanding.

Author Mark Woodcock is a Webmaster of a wide variety of online specialty shops including a very popular site on Door Edge Protectors. Visit http://www.yeomanshield.com/door_frame today.