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Suggestions on best ways to secure a door?

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Started 2 years ago by thepiece
Latest reply from thepiece

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home repair

thepiece
merion village
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Yesterday, somone kicked in our front door. According to my neighbors he was posing as a person offering snow shoveling services but was really looking for empty houses to rob.
Luckily we have a big big dog who chased him away before he made it into our house and took anything.
But, we are a little shaken by how easy it was to take our door down.

I was surprised how poor my door frame was, I want to replace it with something stronger, but I'm not sure what works best.
Does anyone know what is the best way to reinforce a door frame?

I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Posted 2 years ago #
10sun
Columbus, OH
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Talk to Sherman about home fortification.

Posted 2 years ago #
rus

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I'm sure there's better ideas, but this can help:

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-265DCCSEN-Dual-Function-Security/dp/B0002YUX8I

Posted 2 years ago #
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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I installed this in a crappy apartment once. It definitely did the trick - I had really cheap frames, and this really reinforced it.

I had totally forgotten about it - might have to get one for my front door!

ETA ---- THIS is the one I bought... and it looks like the Lowes on High St carries them.

Posted 2 years ago #
Lakee911
Clintonville (South)
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In my opinion, a good steel door can offer a lot of protection. On any door thogh, you'll need to properly secure the jamb. One manufacturer (Stanley?) offers a steel plate that goes almost the full length of the jamb on the latch side and it attaches to the framing.

Personally, when I install a door I foregoe the steel plate and I use 3" or 4" screws through all hinges and I take up the space in the back of the hinges with plywood or 2x4 ripped to fill the exact space. Glue this in place and screw through it. I do the same on the latch side. It takes a long time to install, but it is very secure.

Having an out-swing door (with proper hinges) will be stronger (when being kicked in) than an in-swing door, so that might be something to think about.

A good lock is also important. Don't go all out armory style on the door and then put in a Kwikset or EZSet lockset on the door. You get what you pay for when it comes to these things.

A lockable storm door can offer a little more protection in conjunction with a good solid door. It's something more to go through.

If your door has sidelights or glass, then don't go in vain trying to secure it. They have an easy way in already and will just break that and reach around and unlock it.

Get a protected by xyz security sign and put it in your yard. Also get stickers for your doors/windows. Even if you have no security system, it is a good deterent. Beware of dog sign never hurts either. Anything you can do to make them just move on to the next house helps.

Hope this helps.

Posted 2 years ago #
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
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Twixlen wrote >>
I installed this in a crappy apartment once. It definitely did the trick - I had really cheap frames, and this really reinforced it.
I had totally forgotten about it - might have to get one for my front door!

Nice product.
I often reinforce my doors with something like that.
Most homes only have a spot where the deadbolt was drilled put in with 1 inch screws, at most.

VERY easy to kick in.
You can get an extended strike plate and 2& 1/2 inch screws for about $6 at Lowes.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mez
Close to GV
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The item posted by rus is good for when your home, but not practical when you leave the house.

Most of the time the frame is good it is the depth of the dead bolt, the size of the screws holding the strike plate in place, and the type of hinges on the door that are more of a factor. If your frame is cracked you will need to have that section cut out and repaired or a totally new frame intalled. Once that is done invest in a good deadbolt. One of the best I ever saw was this one http://www.theultimatelock.com or http://www.stapleguard.co.uk which is a UK company but it is designed to reinforce wood frames.

Posted 2 years ago #
misskitty
Columbus
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Tenzo wrote >>

Twixlen wrote >>
I installed this in a crappy apartment once. It definitely did the trick - I had really cheap frames, and this really reinforced it.
I had totally forgotten about it - might have to get one for my front door!

Nice product.
I often reinforce my doors with something like that.
Most homes only have a spot where the deadbolt was drilled put in with 1 inch screws, at most.
VERY easy to kick in.
You can get an extended strike plate and 2& 1/2 inch screws for about $6 at Lowes.

Yea Steel doors rock. My front door has a steel frame that was there when I purchased the house. I was told to never get rid of it.

What about that thing that is C shaped that goes into the floor ? I canÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t remember the name of it right now.

Posted 2 years ago #
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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Also - a good security door will help out. The ones I have on my house now are made by Grisham (http://www.grishamcorp.com/) and they are TOUGH. The critical element is to have the double cylinder lock (which takes some getting used to), so the glass can't be broken and the door simply unlatched.

If you have any glass in your door (or sidelights), going with the double cylinder locksets can be a solution.

Posted 2 years ago #
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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misskitty wrote >>

Tenzo wrote >>

Twixlen wrote >>
I installed this in a crappy apartment once. It definitely did the trick - I had really cheap frames, and this really reinforced it.
I had totally forgotten about it - might have to get one for my front door!

Nice product.
I often reinforce my doors with something like that.
Most homes only have a spot where the deadbolt was drilled put in with 1 inch screws, at most.
VERY easy to kick in.
You can get an extended strike plate and 2& 1/2 inch screws for about $6 at Lowes.

Yea Steel doors rock. My front door has a steel frame that was there when I purchased the house. I was told to never get rid of it.
What about that thing that is C shaped that goes into the floor ? I canÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t remember the name of it right now.

Are you talking about the little step lock thingie?

Which reminds me - locks that go into the floor or top of the jam are good too... creates a differing lever point.

Of course, before you know it, you're locking your fridge a la Conspiracy Theory.

(FYI - used to sleep with a sheet pan against the door, secured with a big pot... any jiggle against the door would cause it to fall and make quite a ruckus.)

Posted 2 years ago #
thepiece
merion village
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Thanks everyone, this is great advice. Looks like I need to run to Lowe's today and start working on the frame.
We are definately getting one of those Grisham security doors too, thanks for that suggestion.

We were lucky our dog saved us yesterday, she earned a lifetime of dog food.

Posted 2 years ago #