How Do I Strengthen My Doorways Against Intruders?
As you think about the various types of doors that are on the market, consider your criteria for choosing one. If you want something strong and sturdy, your best course of action will be to select a steel door. The worst damage that can be done to a steel door can easily be repaired with a repair kit. Steel doors cannot be broken or cracked, and they will not warp over time.
Consider replacing the hinges on all of your exterior doors. Installing new hinges that have nonremovable pins will provide you with extra security. Remove stop molding wooden strips, and put them back on using wood glue and nails for additional protection. You might also consider installing door reinforcers, such as high-security strike boxes.
If you have a sliding glass patio door, it is best to have one that has keyed locks at the top and bottom. Another much cheaper alternative would be to place a wooden rod in the bottom track to prevent it from sliding back and forth. Also, consider placing some type of reinforcement between the glass panels.
When you are ready to work on the rest of your doors, it is recommended that you consider purchasing deadbolts, deadlocks, mortise locks, or rimlocks. Deadbolts are considered to be the best option among all door locks when it comes to providing maximum security. A single-cylinder is the most common variety, and it is used primarily with solid steel or wood doors. It opens from the outside, and has an adjustable turn button on the inside.
A double-cylinder deadbolt lock uses a key on both sides, but in some instances these locks do violate some safety codes. It is advised that you check before installing this type of lock. While it does increase safety in case of a possible intrusion, there is also the possibility of the owner getting trapped inside a burning home if the key cannot be found.
Also consider hiring a professional alarm monitoring service, or installing your own home security camera system. Burglar alarms, motion detectors, door bars, strike boxes, and window bars are additional ways to increase the safety of your family members. Use this advice to gain further peace of mind by constructing a home security plan that is best suited for your specific needs.
Pamella Neely on November 12th 2008 in Home