Your home is your sanctuary — a place where you and your family should feel safe. However, with burglary rates of late, making sure your home is secure accomplished is more important than ever. There are numerous facets of home security, and the door to your house is your first line of defense.
The Importance of Door Security: How Strong Doors Prevent Burglaries
Your door is not just an entrance—it’s the first line of defense for your family. 39% of burglars enter through the front door. This alone is a sobering statistic that shows why door security is a must.
A well-secured door can:
- Prevent intruders and make break-ins more challenging.
- Give you precious time to react in the event of a burglary attempt
- Secure your possessions, your privacy, and your peace of mind.
It’s high time you invest time and effort in improving your house door security because that’s the most effective way to protect your home.
Learn The Basics Of Door Security
Before plunging into upgrades, you need to know what makes a door vulnerable to break-ins. Recognizing these vulnerabilities is the initial step to secure your entry.
Typical Door Security Vulnerabilities
Lock Quality
Most homes have standard or low-grade locks that are relatively easy to pick or force open. Basic mortice locks or spring-latch mechanisms, for example, are little more than an inconvenience to burglars. And more importantly, upgrade to high-security locks.
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Weak Door Frames
A good lock can still be useless with a weak frame — one of the points of failure. Strike plates and hinges that aren’t well anchored can yield to raw power, allowing intruders to kick in your door more easily.
Material Issues
Hollow-core doors are typically used for interior doors and do not offer the durability required for external security. Doors with dare weak glazing or glass panels also become easy targets.
By closing all of these security gaps, you can greatly harden your door against forced entry.
Choosing the Right Locks
The locks themselves are the bread and butter of door security. One of the simplest and most effective methods is to upgrade your locks to make your house door more secure. Read on for some of the top choices.
Deadbolt Locks
Despite their strengths, no door is truly secure without a deadbolt. Look for features such as:
- ANSI Grade 1 — Industry’s highest level of security certification.
- Hardened steel bolts engaging the frame a minimum of 25mm.
- Drill-proof plates to prevent tampering.
Pro Tip: Combine your deadbolt with a strike plate that features 75mm screws, anchoring it into the door frame.
Multi-Point Locking Systems
Multi-point locking systems lock the door at several locations along the frame, making them ideal for uPVC or composite doors. These locks:
- Give it higher resistance towards brute force attacks.
- Are typically certificated to BS EN 1303 Grade 3 or come with Kitemark approval for additional reassurance.
Smart Locks
Our smart locks are gaining popularity thanks to the convenience and intelligent features they offer. Benefits include:
- Keyless entrance using digits Codes, Smartphone apps or Biometrics.
- Monitoring activities of the doors over the remote.
- Code neuro for guests or service professionals.
But beware potential vulnerabilities, like hacking risks or battery failures.
Strengthening the Door Frame and Hinges
In fact, a robust lock is useless if the door frame and hinges are weak. Here’s how to strengthen these essential elements.
Strike Plates & Door Frames
- Replace with heavy-duty steel strike plates of at least 100mm in length.
- Solid-core doors will be most durable; If you have a hollow door, have it fitted with a metal insert to help make it harder to breach.
Hinge Security
Just like single-cylinder deadbolts, exposed hinges can become a vulnerability with outward-opening doors. Prevent this by:
- Hinge bolts prevent hinge pin removal.
- Automatic shootbolts for French or double doors, which shoot the doors into place when locked
Additional Security Devices
When it comes to securing your house door, locks and reinforced frames are undoubtedly crucial but there are extra measures you can take to make your house door even more secure.
Door Bars and Sash Jammers
- Door Bars: Often metal reinforcement that stretches across the width of your door frame, these are excellent for preventing forced entry. They also work particularly well with inward opening doors.
- Sash Jammers: Actually cheaper and smaller these would suit uPVC doors well. They keep the door from being pushed open, even if the lock is forcefully opened.
Just live with a night brace/lock…
- Night latches: Night latches are secondary locks that enable you to open your door slightly while still locked. For extra safety, choose those with a deadlocking mechanism.
- Peepholes: A basic yet effective tool, peepholes allow you to see who’s outside without opening the door.
Smart Features
- Video Door Bells: A cross between a peephole and a surveillance camera. They are built in motion alerts and two-way communication that adds its value.
- Motion Lights: Light up your access points at night, which will help to deter potential intruders.
DIY vs. Professional Installation
When it comes to securing your door, a key point to consider is whether DIY makeovers or hiring professionals is the right choice.
DIY-Friendly Upgrades
Replacing the strike plates and adding hinge bolts are tasks that most homeowners can accomplish with a few basic tools.
Door bars or sash jammers can be quickly installed without any specialist skills.
Professional Installation
For complicated installations like multi-point locks or smart locks, it’s best to hire a pro to get the job done properly. Though more costly in the short run, peace of mind is priceless.
Maintenance and Upgrades
Even the strongest door needs to be maintained properly to be effective.
Regular Checks
Check locks for wear and tear, and lubricate them regularly so they don’t jam.
Examine hinges for signs of rust or looseness and tighten screws as needed.
Securing your service for the future
However, with technology you should upgrade to anti-snap cylinders or the latest smart lock models to keep your door protected against all potential new threats.
Last Thoughts for a Safe Home Entry
Investing in house door security is one of the best ways to protect your home. Here’s a brief refresher on the steps:
- Invest in high-security locks, such as deadbolts or multi-point systems.
- The strike plate and hinge bolts reinforce your door frame and hinges.
- Install additional security features like door bars, smart locks, and video doorbells.
- Get regular checkups and think about future upgrades.
Take action today! Print Conduct a thorough audit of your home’s entrance points and begin taking these steps to create a safer more secure environment.
Security Comparison Table
| Feature | DIY-Friendly | Professional Installation Needed | Cost Range | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deadbolt Locks | Yes | No | $40–$200 | High |
| Multi-Point Locking | No | Yes | $150–$500 | Very High |
| Door Bars | Yes | No | $30–$100 | Moderate to High |
| Smart Locks | No | Yes | $150–$400 | High |
| Reinforced Strike Plates | Yes | No | $20–$50 | High |
By taking these actions and, perhaps with a few key investments as outlined here, you can significantly improve the security of your house door creating peace of mind for years to come.
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