Although there are a lot of different types of hardware designed to fit onto aluminum stile doors, this post includes photos from two different jobs. On one job I installed an Adams Rite Hook bolt and on the other job I installed an Adams Rite Electric Strike.

Aluminum stiles doors are those that are made of aluminum (as the names suggests) that frequently contain a large pane of glass in the center of the door. (Stiles are the vertical members on the hinge and lock side of the door). They are most often found on commercial and retail storefronts. Narrow stile aluminum doors are doors whose stile width is 2 inches or less. Because of this narrow width, standard backset locks and hardware will not fit. Specific types of locks and door hardware are made to accommodate narrow stile aluminum doors.

Photos 1-2 show the installation jig I use to cut the holes and pockets into the door for Adams Rite type locks. I like using jigs because they provide a professional factory looking result and the work product is repeatable from one job to the next. Photos 3 and 4 show the finished Adams Rite Hook bolt installed on the door.

Photo 5 shows a different jig installed on an aluminum frame. This jig is used to install electric strikes. Photo 6 shows the end result, that being a professional looking installation using quality parts.

Another thing I’d like to mention is the brand of electric strikes and locks we use. We only install name brand products, never knock offs. For aluminum stile doors we install Adams Rite. Although more expensive, Adams Rite products provide years of service. The knock off parts, although cheaper, frequently don’t even work well the day they are installed, only to fail several months to a few years later, requiring replacement.