Outfitting Your Door with a Stylish & Protective Kick Plate

Material & Finish Options

The first thing to consider when choosing a kick plate is the style of your home. Kickplates with a rough-textured surface go well with rustic or old-world inspired looks. Gleaming polished brass is typically paired with traditional styles. Stainless steel is more modern and goes well with mid-century or contemporary designs. While there are no hard and fast rules, choosing a kick plate that coordinates with the finish on your door set is a safe way to go.

The environment surrounding your door should also be a factor in what material you choose. A kickplate fully exposed to harsh weather conditions needs to be more durable than one protected by a covered porch. If you are on the coast, a kick plate resistant to corrosion is essential. Finding the right combination of finish and material for your unique situation is key to your new kickplate looking good and holding up for years to come.

• Solid Brass. A traditional favorite, brass is durable and non-rusting. The bright polished and antique brass finishes are ideal paired with colonial or classically styled door hardware. Choose the satin nickel finish for a more modern look.
• Steel. This hardworking metal is abrasion resistant and comes in a wide range of finishes. The brushed stainless and polished steel coordinate well with more modern hardware looks. The PVD “brass” finish is virtually impervious to weather and is ideal for harsh coastal environments. Weathered rust & weathered black offer a more rustic look for craftsman, romantic or mountain homes.
• Iron. The rough, textured look of cast iron is ideal for English Tudor, Spanish or other romantic revival style homes. This black finish also pairs well with hand-forged colonial iron hardware.
• Aluminum. Economical, light weight and highly corrosion-resistant, aluminum is a good all-around choice. The very popular oil-rubbed bronze finish coordinates with many styles of door sets and goes especially well with Arts & Crafts style homes.

How to Determine the Right Size

Determining the width of your kick plate is relatively simple. An easy rule of thumb is that the kick plate should be 2" narrower than the door itself. This keeps the kick plate from touching the jamb, which would prevent the door from closing tightly within the frame.

The above method will leave a narrow strip of door visible on either side of the kick plate. If you want the plate to run the full width of the door measure from outside when the door is closed, getting as close to the inside edge of the frame as possible. Another option is to align the kickplate with the width of the center panel or the entry set above. It is a good idea to create a paper or cardboard template to test out the size before ordering.

Standard kickplates are typically offered in a 6" or 8" height. For maximum protection, the height of a kickplate should cover most of the bottom rail. If you need a larger height or width, custom sizes are available by special order.

Mounting Options

The method of mounting your kickplate is largely dependent on the material your door is made of. If you are purchasing kickplates for more than one door, you may need a different mounting option for each. Read below to determine which works best for your home.

• Screw Mount - for wood doors. The most secure mounting option, wood screws at the corners and sides, hold your kick plate firmly in place. Predrilling for screws is required.
• Magnetic Mount - for steel doors. A flexible magnetic sheet adhered to the metal plate keeps your kick plate in place. Over time the kick plate may slip out of alignment and need to be repositioned. Magnetically mounted plates are easily removed without leaving any marks.
• Adhesive Mount - for fiberglass, wood and metal doors. Peel and stick adhesive on the back holds this type of kick plate to any door surface. Primarily intended for fiberglass doors, it is also a good option for wood doors you do not want mar with additional screw holes.