Custom sealing rubber
Rubber for steel window frames
Thin, supple glazing and rebate rubber for steel windows, from industrial and listed profiles (Crittall style) to renovation with thin insulating glass.
Steel frames have narrow, fine rebates and are prone to rust. That is why you should choose a thin, supple rubber, often SEBS/TPE rather than hard EPDM, which does not thicken the fine profile or leave marks. DG Rubber Profiles makes custom glazing and rebate rubber, including for listed and discontinued steel profiles.
Which rubber for steel frames?
Classic steel windows have a crisp, thin profile: that slender look is precisely their aesthetic hallmark. The seal must not thicken it, so a thin and supple profile is required.
SEBS/TPE is often better here than standard EPDM: it is softer, formable and does not shed carbon black (no black discolouration on light profiles). EPDM remains suitable as a robust external seal.
Corrosion: a clean rebate is decisive
Steel rusts, and moisture left standing in the rebate accelerates that. Rust also attacks the seal. So make sure the surface is clean and rust-free before fitting new rubber, otherwise the seal will not last. This makes steel frames fundamentally different from timber, uPVC or aluminium.
Listed and industrial profiles (Crittall style)
With listed and industrial steel windows, the authentic, slender line is what counts. The glazing rubber must stay inconspicuous and fit in very narrow rebates. For listed buildings, regulations may also set requirements for appearance and material. We make profiles to match.
Renovation: from single glazing to thin (vacuum) glass
Old steel frames have single glazing and no insulation. Ordinary double glazing in a steel profile without a thermal break barely insulates (thermal bridge), so thin renovation or vacuum glass is often used, or a new steel-look system with a thermal break. The glazing rubber must suit the new, different glass thickness. We tailor the profile accordingly.
Made to measure for rare steel profiles
Existing rubber for steel windows is often hard to find. We make custom glazing and rebate rubber by extrusion, based on a sample or dimensioned sketch, in the right hardness and thickness. Request a quote or get in touch.
Specifications at a glance
| Material | SEBS/TPE (supple, carbon-free) or EPDM |
| Type | Glazing rubber, rebate rubber |
| Suitable for | Industrial, listed (Crittall style) and renovated steel windows |
| Colour | Black as standard; other colours possible (grey/cream) |
| Supply | Made to measure from a sample or dimensioned sketch |
Frequently asked questions
Which rubber for an old steel frame?
Usually a thin, supple glazing or rebate rubber. With fine, narrow profiles, soft SEBS is often better than hard EPDM because it does not thicken the slim line.
How do I fit glass in a steel frame, with putty or rubber?
Originally, glass was set with putty. In renovations, a glazing bead with glazing rubber or sealant is often used, depending on the thickness of the glass.
Can I fit double glazing in my steel frame?
Only worthwhile with thin renovation or vacuum glass, or with a thermally broken steel-look system. Otherwise the thermal bridge remains.
My steel frame is draughty and rusting, what now?
First remove the rust and treat the steel, clean the rebate and then fit new sealing rubber. On a rusty surface the seal will not adhere or close properly.
Is rubber still available for listed or Crittall windows?
Yes. We reproduce glazing and rebate rubber for narrow and listed steel profiles to measure, even if the original is no longer available.
Which rubber will not discolour my (light-coloured) steel frame?
Carbon-free SEBS prevents the rubber from leaving black marks and discolouring light profiles.
Can the rubber be replaced without removing the glass?
Rebate rubber often can. Glazing rubber usually only with the glass or glazing bead removed.
Rubber for other window frames
We supply custom sealing and glazing rubber for every type of frame:
Custom rubber for your steel frame
Including listed and industrial profiles that are no longer available anywhere else. Send us a sample or dimensioned sketch.
