EzyJamb Alternative? What Is It Really Costing You?

Read Time: 8 mins

For more than 25 years, EzyJamb® has been the trusted solution for architects, interior designers, builders, and contractors looking to achieve a clean, flush door frame finish. Installed in projects around the world, EzyJamb by EZ Concept® has built a reputation for reliability, durability, and seamless integration in both residential and commercial builds.

With a growing number of new flush jamb alternatives entering the market, it is natural to wonder whether a cheaper jamb option could deliver the same results or whether these might come with hidden risks.

Designed for Durability from the Core

EzyJamb is manufactured from zinc anneal steel, a material rooted in centuries of innovation. The origins of zinc-coated steel date back to the 1800s, when French chemist P. J. Melouin developed a method of protecting steel from corrosion by immersing it in molten zinc. This breakthrough significantly improved the strength and longevity of steel, leading to its widespread use in household and industrial products.

Today, zinc-coated and stainless steels are commonly found in everyday items such as kitchen sinks, cookware, cutlery, and appliances. These materials are chosen for their ability to resist rust, corrosion, and staining, even under constant exposure to moisture and heavy use. Compared to aluminium, steel offers superior hardness and resilience. While aluminium is lightweight and an excellent heat conductor, it is more prone to denting, bending, and surface damage. Steel provides greater structural integrity, making it the preferred choice for applications that demand long-term performance. Its non-porous surface is also more hygienic, easier to clean, and resistant to scratching.

For nearly 200 years, galvanised steel has played a critical role in global construction and manufacturing. Today, steel remains the backbone of infrastructure, transportation, energy systems, and modern building design.

EzyJamb is not only a product of strong materials but is also designed and tested to integrate into the building process. Its innovative design balances performance with aesthetics, delivering a range of key benefits:

• Proven durability: Manufactured from high-quality BlueScope steel and coated with Zincanneal, EzyJamb delivers superior corrosion protection, paint adhesion, and long-term strength. This coating system is the same technology widely used in automotive steel panels, providing a finish that remains flawless for decades.
• Seamless aesthetics: EzyJamb allows for square-set, architrave-free finishes, maintaining a minimalist design without compromising structural integrity.
• Strength and rigidity: Unlike softer metals, EzyJamb’s steel construction withstands everyday wear, impact, and daily use in high-traffic areas.
• Australian-made quality: EzyJamb is manufactured locally using Australian steel, ensuring compliance with local standards and consistent quality.

The Hidden Challenges of Aluminium Alternatives

While EzyJamb is engineered to deliver both performance and design precision, it’s also important to understand how it compares to products manufactured from alternative materials, particularly aluminium systems that are often promoted as a comparable solution.

A general claim is that aluminium offers superior corrosion resistance, suggesting steel may be more prone to rust. This overlooks the key advantage of EzyJamb’s Zincanneal-coated steel. This specialised coating combines the inherent strength of steel with advanced corrosion protection, delivering a system designed for long-term reliability.

Zincanneal provides two distinct layers of protection:

• Barrier protection: The zinc coating creates a physical shield, preventing moisture and oxygen from reaching the steel surface.
• Sacrificial protection: If the surface coating is scratched or exposed, the zinc layer corrodes first, protecting the underlying steel from rust.

This is a proven, industry-established approach used globally across sectors such as automotive manufacturing and structural construction, where durability and long-term performance are essential. By utilising this technology, EzyJamb systems are built to remain strong, stable, and paint-ready for years, even in high-use environments.

Before selecting an aluminium door frame alternative, it’s worth taking a closer look at several factors that are often overlooked in the decision-making process:

• Ductility and strength: Aluminium is a softer material (approximately 90 MPa tensile strength compared to around 300 MPa for steel), making it more susceptible to dents, deformation, and damage from everyday impact.
• Melting point and fire performance: Aluminium melts at a significantly lower temperature than steel, which can raise concerns in situations where maintaining structural integrity is critical during a fire. In extreme conditions, it may deform or even drip, creating additional hazards to occupants during a fire, particularly in door jamb systems that form part of an emergency exit pathway.
• Reliance on complex profiles: Due to its lower inherent strength, aluminium frames often depend on more intricate internal geometries to achieve rigidity. This adds both material usage and design complexity, while still not matching steel’s natural strength.
• Paint finish quality: Zincanneal-coated steel provides superior paint adhesion and a smooth, consistent finish similar to automotive panels, aluminium can be more challenging to finish to the same standard.

While aluminium alternatives may be appealing, consider whether this alternative jamb is the best choice for your project, or might it bring unexpected challenges.

The Truth About Cheaper Steel Alternatives  

Beyond aluminium jambs, several new steel alternatives have entered the market, prompting comparisons with the original EzyJamb steel frames for concealed door jamb applications.

Some of these newer or imported steel door frames may offer initial cost savings, but it’s important to consider the potential trade-offs:

• Limited jamb profile options: Although similar in appearance, many alternatives offer a narrower range of profiles. EzyJamb provides greater design flexibility, allowing you to achieve the exact look and specification required for your project.
• Lower base metal thickness (BMT):  Thinner steel is commonly used in lower-cost products, which can reduce overall strength, durability, and resistance to everyday wear and impact over time. Alternative steel options can be as low as 0.9 BMT, compared to EzyJamb manufactured using 1.2 BMT steel.
• Unproven longevity: Newer systems without extensive real-world use may lack a proven track record. Without long-term testing, there is uncertainty around how well they will maintain their structural integrity, fit, and finish—potentially leading to future maintenance or replacement costs.
• Imported materials and manufacturing: Overseas-manufactured frames, or those made from imported steel, may not meet Australian building standards or match the quality of locally produced materials. This can affect consistency, durability, and finish performance over time.