Every homeowner wants the trust and security that their front door should offer. It serves as an entry point for your invited guests, but it can also be the perfect entry point for those who come uninvited – robbers and crooks. Most break-ins take place there at home – through the front door.
That’s why you should think about the security of your front door – is it good enough to prevent these break-ins? Statistics show that front doors are the most common way of access for those who want to steal your possessions. You would have thought that a window was easier, but most are through front doors. Inflating the security of your front door should be at the top of your do-it-yourself list.
Image source: Pauzer design
Even if the front door looks safe, almost every door has a weak point. So you can improve the security of your front door with just a few simple steps. Here are the best ways to improve your home security by increasing front door security.
Suggestion # 1: update your locks
You should definitely think about the lock on your front door – is it good enough to withstand the pressure of robbers? Some are easily exploitable, especially the older locks, which have not been changed in ages. It may therefore be appropriate to buy a new lock or to improve the existing one.
And locks can vary widely in terms of quality and security. You will be surprised at the difference a quality lock can make. A strong door is almost nothing without a good lock, which makes the meaning of a lock even greater.
Preventing burglaries can be very effective by adding a metal Door-and-lock amplifier. This can prevent burglars from messing around with your lock in the first place. These amplifiers can be made from a variety of strong metals such as brass, iron and steel. The stronger it is, the stronger the protection.
Installing a one-sided latch that only locks and unlocks from the inside is also a good choice. If you are looking for one, the “Design House Single Sided Deadbolt Lockset” is a fantastic choice. Find more details on amazon
If you have a 1/2-inch bar, you can also improve it. Simply add a 1 inch bar. There are many great options when it comes to 1 inch bars, and we won’t recommend any particular product. Instead, we recommend you take a look at that entire product line at Amazon and make your choice.
Choose a screw without exposed external screws. Consider installing a latch that is only intended for the exit. This way you can only lock your house from the inside.
Proposal No. 2: Reinforce the striking plate
The locking plate is the metal piece with which the lock is additionally reinforced. It is located around the lock, where it enters the door frame. The problem with the striker plate is that if it is not properly installed or is old, it can be prone to break-ins. In this way, the burglars can easily enter the door or simply pry it open.
First, you should check whether the plate is attached to the door jamb and the door frame with long screws. Screws that are too long bite the bolt and make the lock and door more unstable.
First, you should remove these short screws and attach the striker to the door if you don’t already have it. You will need to use 3 ”or 3 ½” screws and replace the shorter screws. The screws should be long enough to go through the door. However, be careful not to over tighten them as this can suck up the door frame.
After you have attached the locking plate and smaller screws, the door should be securely secured and protected against possible impacts.
Suggestion 3: Get a security screen
Image source: California security screens
How about adding a security screen to your existing doors that can act as an additional door? These are pierced metal barriers with enough space to add additional locks. They are usually installed at the entry point and protect your door from break-ins and possible break-ins.
Adding additional locks should protect you from unjustified, invisible and hidden burglaries by the locks. The additional latch and button should offer an additional, crucial security layer. And another great thing about these doors is that they pierced openings so you can watch everything that’s going on outside.
Choosing the right product is fairly easy – make sure it’s durable and strong enough. This is a great product from Amazon. Make sure the screen is strong and durable enough to support your main doors, and that it has a hole where you can see what’s going on outside. This increases the security of the front door to another level.
Proposal No. 4: Add inexpensive door and window sensors and alarm
Of course, you should keep your door locked, which is the first line of defense. But how about another level of defense by adding window sensors and alarms? These can trigger the flight reaction for the burglars and protect your house or apartment from the break-in.
There is a wide variety in the window sensor and alarm department. However, most of them work wirelessly. They are triggered magnetically and are usually aligned on the side of the door. The sensor is usually attached to the door itself and the magnetic field is generated between the door. If the field is interrupted, the alarm is triggered.
And you can connect many of these security devices to your monitored security system. You even get mobile notifications when your doors are open and you can see your home right from the surveillance cameras.
Check out some of the best products Here.
Proposal No. 5: Strengthen the glass surfaces
Most front doors have stained-glass windows and glass surfaces, which can represent the compromised part of your safety for the front door if they are not installed or selected correctly. You should try attaching bars to your glass doors to increase security. Make sure that they are installed close together. You may also want to add a film layer to increase security.
This helps you to keep the door safe and free from possible break-ins through the glass. And to order a roll of security film, check AmazonYou have some great products.
With glazed and semi-glazed doors, you can increase security by adding decorative metal grilles to the inside of the door. Or you can purchase a protective layer along the back of the door glass.
Suggestion # 6: add door reinforcement hardware
Finally, you should examine the fittings on your door. The lock and how it is placed and installed. The weak points in the lock can be easily exploited. If the lock is not placed correctly, there may be larger holes in the door, which can significantly affect the security of your door. In these cases, you may need lock reinforcement hardware.
Spending hundreds of dollars on fancy bars can be inviting, but it gives you a false sense of security. The truth is that most don’t know how to open a lock, making physical entrances a much more common way to enter and break doors. A well placed kick or even body slam seems to be the most common way.
However, you can easily prevent this by reinforcing your doors and adding reinforcement parts. The installation can take up to an hour, but the Components of the reinforcement parts protect you from aggressive break-ins.
Door hinges can also be a vulnerability for your doors. They are an integral part of the structure, but can also be a painful point on your doors. If the burglar is unable to aim at your lock, they will turn to your hinges. You can release your entire door if enough force is applied.
Door hinges are available in two different versions: inside and outside. It is better to use inward hinges that are far more effective in protecting. They are inaccessible and burglars find it much easier to access outward hinges.
Final thoughts on the security of the front door
There are many ways to improve the security of your front door. These are just a few of the fixes. However, we believe that these are the most effective. However, there are many other tips and tricks for improving front door security, and these are by no means the only options.
However, if you really want to fully protect your home, you should focus on a multi-layered approach. You can of course focus on the front door, but don’t ignore the various aspects of front door security, such as hinges.
If you’ve enjoyed reading this article on front door security, you should read this too: