Hardware Essentials Magnetic Kick Plate, Aluminum, Brass Finish 8 x 34”, 852750

Why I chose this kick plate

My front entry sees its share of abuse—muddy boots, parcels kicked inside on rainy days, and the occasional scuff from a dolly. To save the door from looking tired before its time, I installed the Hardware Essentials kick plate in the brass finish. The appeal for me was simple: aluminum (so no rust), magnetic mounting for my steel door, and a classic brass look that could pass for period-correct without screaming “shiny new trim.” After living with it and installing another on a side door, I’ve got a clear sense of where it shines and where it’s just okay.

Build and finish

This is a lightweight aluminum plate with a brass-tone finish. It’s not a thick architectural panel; it’s a practical, light-gauge plate designed to take daily scuffs and keep the door itself pristine. Out of the box, the finish reads as a warm brass with a subtle sheen—neither mirror-gloss nor flat satin. On a painted entry door, it adds warmth without looking gaudy. The edges were clean and consistent on both units I handled, with no burrs.

Because it’s aluminum, the plate itself won’t rust, and it won’t add meaningful weight to a door. The trade-off is rigidity: it will flex a bit if you hold it by a corner, which is normal for this category. Once mounted, that flex disappears and it feels solid. The surface coating has held up well against shoe rubber and grit; scuffs wipe off with mild soap and water. I avoid abrasive pads, which will scratch any plated finish, and recommend a soft cloth for cleaning.

Size and fit

The plate measures 8 x 34 inches, which is the right proportion for most 36-inch exterior doors—leaving about a half-inch reveal on each side once centered. That reveal matters. It frames the plate nicely and helps avoid binding at the jambs. If you’re trying to span a wider slab or cover pre-existing damage that runs long, plan ahead: you’ll want to check your door width and any existing hardware or glass lite placement to avoid awkward overlaps. Hardware Essentials offers other sizes and finishes, so matching a specific door or aesthetic is possible if this 34-inch width isn’t ideal.

Installation experience

I installed the first plate magnet-only on a steel door, and the process was as close to effortless as these things get. Here’s what worked well:

• I cleaned the lower portion of the door thoroughly (a little dish soap and water), then dried it completely. Dust and grime reduce magnetic grip.
• I test-fit the plate, centered it by eye, and used blue painter’s tape on the door to mark the final position.
• With the door open and supported, I aligned the plate to the tape and pressed it into place from the center outward to eliminate air gaps.

The magnetic bond is surprisingly strong on clean steel. It resisted slipping during use and didn’t creep over time. For added security on a high-traffic door, I used two of the included screws near the outer corners to make it “semi-permanent,” but the magnet alone held well on my trial fit.

On a second installation—this time a wood door—the magnet obviously didn’t help, so I went with screws. The plate has pre-drilled holes and comes with finish-matched screws. I pre-drilled pilot holes using a bit slightly smaller than the screw shank and lightly hand-tightened the screws so the heads sat flush without dimpling the aluminum. The pre-drilled pattern was straight and consistent, and alignment was simple. If you’re installing into fiberglass or a hollow-core, consider using proper anchors or through-bolting if the manufacturer recommends it; I had solid wood to bite into, so the included screws did the job.

A note on packaging: in my shipment, the small screws were loose in the larger outer box rather than bagged, and I almost lost one when opening it. It’s a minor thing, but worth opening carefully and counting hardware before you begin.

Day-to-day use

Functionally, a kick plate is a sacrificial surface. This one takes the scuffs and bumps so the door doesn’t. In that role, it performs well. The aluminum absorbs light dings; the finish disguises minor shoe marks until you clean it. After a month of winter weather, road salt, and a few weekend projects, the surface still looked presentable with no peeling or bubbling.

The magnetic installation on steel doors has an underrated perk: if you ever repaint the door, you can pull the plate off, paint, and put it back on without masking around it or dealing with paint lines. For the screw-mounted unit, removal is simple too, but you’ll have holes to realign. Either way, cleaning is much easier than scrubbing painted wood at ankle height.

Compatibility and limitations

• Door material matters. The magnetic grip only works on ferrous (steel) doors. It won’t stick to wood, fiberglass, or aluminum doors. For those, plan to use the screws or a construction adhesive rated for exterior metals (if you choose to forgo mechanical fastening). The included screws are the straightforward path.
• The 8-inch height covers most scuff-prone zones on residential entries. Commercial or utility doors may benefit from a taller plate.
• If you expect heavy cart traffic or impacts, a thicker stainless steel plate is more bombproof. This aluminum plate is built for residential duty, not warehouse abuse.
• Outdoors, I’ve had no issues with the finish in rain and snow, but like any plated surface, harsh cleaners and abrasives will shorten its life. Mild soap is plenty.

Finish quality and appearance

Color matching is subjective, but I’d describe this brass finish as a tasteful, slightly muted brass—warm enough to play well with oil-rubbed bronze, antique brass, or unlacquered brass hardware without looking out of place. Because it’s a printed/treated aluminum rather than solid brass, it avoids the maintenance of true brass (no polishing, no patina to manage), which is a plus for a low-touch area of the door.

Edges are smooth, and the corners didn’t snag or lift after installation. If you live in a wet climate and install magnet-only, you may want to run a nearly invisible bead of clear exterior-grade sealant along the top edge to keep blown rain from wicking behind the plate. With screw mounting, the plate sits flush and I didn’t find moisture becoming an issue, but the sealant trick is a nice belt-and-suspenders approach for exposed doors.

What I’d improve

• Hardware packaging: bag the screws. They’re tiny, and losing one in transit or on the jobsite is too easy.
• Stiffness: while the plate is perfectly serviceable once mounted, a touch more thickness would improve perceived quality and make it less prone to kinking during handling. That said, the weight savings and cost benefits of the current gauge will matter to many buyers.
• Protective film: mine didn’t include a peel-off protective film on the face. A film would help prevent accidental scratches during install. I used a towel under it while test-fitting to avoid marring the finish.

Who it’s for

• Homeowners with steel entry doors who want a tool-free, reversible install and a quick visual upgrade.
• Anyone trying to cover existing scuffs or minor veneer damage at the bottom rail of a door.
• People who want the warm look of brass without the upkeep of real brass.

If you have a wood or fiberglass door, it’s still a viable option—just plan to use the screws and take a few extra minutes to pilot your holes.

The bottom line

The Hardware Essentials kick plate does exactly what a residential kick plate should: it protects the door from daily wear, adds a bit of classic style, and installs quickly. The magnetic option on steel doors is especially convenient and held better than I expected, and the included screw pattern makes permanent installs straightforward. While the aluminum gauge is on the lighter side and the hardware packaging could be tidier, the overall value is strong for everyday use. It’s an easy weekend upgrade that keeps your entry looking cared for without adding maintenance overhead.

Recommendation: I recommend this kick plate for steel doors where the magnetic mounting can shine, and for standard residential applications where you want durable protection and a warm brass look on a budget. If you need industrial-grade rigidity or have a non-ferrous door and prefer not to use screws, step up to a thicker stainless option or a model designed for adhesive mounting. For most homes, though, this strikes a smart balance of install ease, protection, and appearance.