In any heavy traffic area of a hallway, doorway, entrance, or really any room of a commercial property, business, school, medical facility or a workplace, adding corner guards is a must.
Simple yet durable, corner guards can be made from a variety of different materials. Some of the most effective and long-lasting include aluminum and stainless steel, and there are also vinyl styles that have their own benefits as well.
The Purpose
As the name implies, corner guards are designed to fit over outside corners to protect the sharp edge of the corner from being damaged. This can occur from being hit with carts, purses or briefcases, materials that are being carried, or even for any material being moved along a hallway or around a corner.
Additionally, besides just protecting the actual structural elements of the corner, well-designed corner guards add to the style and design. By using them on each of the outside corners, it creates a uniform look through the building and also saves the need to constantly touch up paint to keep those outside corners looking well maintained.
The Options
When it comes to corner guards, there are really three different choices to consider. The metal options include both stainless steel and aluminum. Stainless steel designs can come in a brushed or polished finish, depending on the look you wish to achieve. These types of guards can be straight or they can be flanged. Flanged styles turn in at the ends of the two legs, allowing more of a raised component to the guard.
Aluminum comes in many different finishes including mill finished, which is almost a brushed look, as well as anodized bronze or black, satin clear or buffed and anodized clear.
Vinyl corner guards are typically clear, so they tend to blend into the wall color. They are made of a product known as Lexan, which is used on vehicle bumpers and is a durable and very strong polycarbonate. Virtually indestructible this material will not yellow, warp or chip and installation is simple with screws or brads.
It is also your option to extend the guards to the ceiling, which is often done in hallways and heavy use traffic areas where there are all types of carts, containers and materials moved up and down hallways and into rooms. For other areas, particularly for protection from normal traffic, four-foot corner guards are much more common and offer a slight cost-saving over the longer options.
