Tips to make a door secure

From Tip Sense

See also: Tips to make a door secure,Tips to Protect your Garage,Landscaping for security

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Contents 1 Making a Door Secure 2 Type of Door 3 Door Frame 4 Hardware 5 Hinges 6 Strike plates 7 Locks 8 Mail Slots 9 Pet Doors 9.1 Additional security 10 For the Front Door

Making a Door Secure

• For individuals interested in improving the security of their home by strengthening doors.
• For use on exterior doors, garage doors, and doors to sensitive areas in your home.

Type of Door

• A sturdy door is needed for security.
  • It should be at least 1 3/4 inches thick.
  • It should either be made of solid wood, or wrapped in 14 gauge steel.
  • Ideally, the door will swing inward.
  • Ideally, the door will not have a window on it. If it does, the window should be double-paned security glass.

Door Frame

• Solid wood should attach the exterior of the door frame to the framing of the house.
• Splints of wood can be inserted in areas where hinges and strike plates attach if this is not the case.
• Any splints used should be glued in place.
• molding pannels should go all the way around the door, hiding the tongues of any locks, etc.
• Nails or screws should attach the molding to the frame every ten inches or closer together.
• A metal and plastic draft stopper can be put around the molding for additional protection.
• The door should fit into the frame with no more than an even 1/8 inch gap on all sides.

Hardware

• All hardware on the door should be attached with screws that are as long as possible. for a 1 3/4 inch thick door, 1 1/2 inch long screws should go into the face of the door, and screws for the wall should be as long as possible without going through something else.
• When possible, hardware should be made of drop-forged steel, with no welding or sheet metal. Drop forged steel is least likely to break or bend.
• Hardware should have a thickness of 14 gauge or thicker. Thicker hardware will have a lower gauge number.
• Wherever the hardware attaches to the door or door frame, at least four screws should attach it.

Hinges

• Without sturdy hinges, the door won't hold.
  • The door should have at least three hinges.
  • Hinges should comply with hardware requirements.
  • Hinges should have non-removable hinge pins, especially if the door swings outward.
  • Screws holding the hinges on should not be visible when the door is closed.

Strike plates

• Locks should go into metal stike plates or strike boxes on the door frame.
  • Strike plates should comply with hardware requrements.

Locks

• There should be at least two locks: A key in knob lock, and a deadbolt, or Mortise lock.
• Both should be of the pin-tumbler type construction, with at least five pins.
• Both should be pick-resistant.
• both should have mushroom-shaped pins.
• both should have keyholes centered in the middle of circular lock faces.
• U.S. Locks are divided into three grades. Grade 1 is intended for high-security commercial uses. Grade 2 is intended for residential areas. Grade 3 is suitable only for bathrooms.
  • the key in knob lock should have a round, or spherical knob.
  • the key in knob lock should lock automatically when closed.
  • the deadbolt should have a beveled shroud, which rotates free of the lock.
  • the deadbolt should have a throw with a hardened steel core.
  • the Deadbolt should have a throw that extends at least one inch into the door.
  • the mortise lock should be mounted on the inside of the door.
  • the morise lock should have the external keyhole mounted flush with the surface of the door.
  • Additional security measures may be necessary in some situations.

Mail Slots

• Locks should be mounted above mail slots. Additional locks set far up on the door may be necessary.
• Mail slots should be equipped with a baffle to force items downwards once inside.
• Mail slots should have a flap, to help keep in cold air, and to make noise when used.
• A door-mounted hopper can catch mail inside without letting anyone get access to the rest of the home.

Pet Doors

• Pet doors should have latches of their own, and should not go from outside to the interior of the home itself.
• Pet doors should be no larger than needed for the pet.
• Baffles can be set up over the pet door th forcce items downward once inside.
• Additional Locks set high up on the door should be used with pet doors. Sometimes children are used to get through these doors.

Additional security

• Contact alarms can be made to go off if the door is opened. These should be placed on the inside, with no visible wires.
• Double cylinder locks can hamper burglars trying to get in or out equally well.
• Additional locks of various types can be added. Deadbolts, and mortise locks are recommended.
• Cane bolts can be secured from the inside, and are very inexpensive as far as locks go.
• A security screen door can give added protection, and allow for ventilation. Locks can be attached to it as needed.
• Keyless entry locks may require a criminal to know a code, rather than simply having a stolen key.
• Lights around a door can make it hard for strangers to get nearby.
  • Additional security measures are most suitable for the front door, back door, and garage doors especially if one of these is not visible to your neighbors.

For the Front Door

• To deal with unpleasant callers, special measures may be added to the front door.
• An intercom allows for communication through the front door without opening or unlocking anything.
• A Security screen door can keep unwanted visitors outside while still letting you talk to them.
• A security camera, or peep hole viewer allows you to visually inspect visitors without revealing your presence.
• a door chain, or flip bar allows you to accept small packages without opening the door all the way.

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