Doorways are the most vulnerable parts of the house. They are likely entry points for menaces of all kinds — burglars, animals, pests, water — the list goes on.
You might think your doors are secure, but chances are good that you’re missing some key security features. Here’s how to address all external threats and fortify your door.
Assessing Your Home’s Vulnerability
Before making any changes, you should assess your home’s vulnerability. Location is the biggest factor. The most attractive houses for intruders have these qualities:
- It’s in a quiet, wealthier neighborhood.
- It sits on a street corner.
- It’s near a through street or major highway.
- It’s next to a wooded area.
- It has no signs of young children.
- A new owner recently moved in.
Criminals will also look for barriers around the property. Fences and porches will make most intending intruders think twice, but someone can skirt these defenses.
Every home has to deal with animals and pests to some degree. City dwellers must watch out for rats, squirrels and other pesky rodents. People out in the country deal with more dangerous animals, such as bears and coyotes. You must know your local ecosystem to add the appropriate door protection devices.
Those who live near a wildfire zone or large body of water also have to consider extreme weather events when renovating their doors. A fire or flood can come right to your doorstep and spread inside without sufficient fortification. These disasters don’t seem like probable scenarios, but every victim has that mentality until it happens to them.
Human Intrusions
Your home’s most immediate threat is always other people. You can somewhat predict an extreme weather event, but humans are unpredictable. It’s impossible to determine when or where a home invasion will happen, so you must reinforce your doors with the best available materials.
1. Inspect Your Doors
Check the condition of your doors’ deadbolt locks. The screws should be tight and the throw bolt should extend longer than 1 inch. Remove the screws and ensure they’re at least 3 inches long — smaller ones mean less support. The doorjamb, hinges and strike plates should also be fixed in place. If anything feels wobbly, it’s time for a replacement.
2. Upgrade the Deadbolt Locks
The deadbolt lock is the most important part of a secure door. The American National Standards Institute determines the grades of deadbolts through rigorous testing. Deadbolts with a Grade 1 rating are the best products available, able to withstand blunt force attacks and stymie any lock-picking attempts. Grade 2 locks are also adequate for residential purposes.
Before you buy anything, measure the hole size of the old deadbolt cylinder and its backset distance from the edge of the door. Most deadbolt locks have a cylinder hole of 2 ? inches, while the backset distance is between 2 ? and 2 ¾ inches. You also have to decide whether to buy one or two cylinders to replace the interior and exterior locks.
You can get a complete deadbolt installation kit with the new lock, strike plate and 3-inch screws at your local hardware store. Look for a Grade 1 or 2 label on the packaging. You will also need these tools:
- Drill
- 2 ?-inch hole saw
- 1-inch spade bit
- Utility knife
- Wood chisel
Installation should be a breeze if your tools and materials are the correct sizes. Just take your time so you don’t drill any unintentional holes. Use the wood chisel and knife to make small adjustments until the new lock and strike plate fit.
3. Reinforce Door Jambs and Hinges
A strong deadbolt lock is useless without support from the door jambs and hinges. Door jambs are usually held in place by wooden spacers and nails, but an intruder can easily break through these materials. Reinforce the jamb with screws long enough to reach through and touch the framing studs.
Hinges are often attached to the door jamb with small, flimsy screws. Take the same approach to reinforce the hinges, but this time make sure you angle the screws inward so they hit the framing studs. Some people have to use screws up to 8 inches long to make this adjustment work. You could also utilize a few special types of hinges:
- Safety stud hinges: The safety studs lock the leaves of the hinges together to prevent anyone from removing the door.
- Set screw hinges: This type locks the pin to one side of the hinge, hiding the screw from view and making the door irremovable when closed.
- Crimped pin hinges: The hinge pins are longer than the hinges themselves, which makes door removal much more difficult.
Burglars are always looking for the easiest doors to break through. Unorthodox hinges are major red flags that tell intruders the homeowner pays close attention to detail.
4. Replace the Windows
If your doors have windows, you need to replace the old glass with a stronger material. Plexiglass, polycarbonate, tempered glass and laminated glass are all good options. You might also consider adding a metal window grill inside your doors. This serves as a second line of defense if someone manages to break the glass.
5. Add a Doorbell Camera
Doorbell cameras are one of the best smart home devices available. They capture all kinds of activity outside the house, helping people ward off criminals and keep their neighborhoods safe. Any suspicious character who approaches will see the camera and likely reconsider his plan. It will also enable you to monitor your home’s entrances when you’re not around or when someone unexpectedly knocks on the door.
6. Illuminate Your Doorways
Light is a home invader’s worst enemy. Illuminating your doorways with a bright floodlight or motion-activated light will ward off almost any trespasser. Some smart home light systems have impressive controls, allowing you to set custom timers and notifications. Just make sure your installations are secure, because someone can break or steal them.
7. Don’t Forget About the Interior
Door fortification isn’t exclusively an outside job. You also need to reinforce the interior. Rudimentary barricades such as door bars, jammers and braces prevent intruders from breaking through by force.
You should also set reminders to lock each door before leaving the house or going to bed. This advice might seem unnecessary, but some homeowners leave their front doors unlocked and completely expose their homes to intruders. Don’t be lazy. Be a responsible homeowner and lock all your doors no matter how long you’ll be away. Robberies only take a few minutes.
Animals and Pests
Other uninvited creatures might try to enter your home through the front or back door. Animals and pests infest people’s houses for two simple reasons: food and shelter. You shouldn’t store any food or garbage near your home’s entryways. Keeping the door open for long periods is another bad idea, especially if you live in a rural area.
1. Add Door Sweeps
Door sweeps are perfect for keeping out mice, insects and other tiny critters. You can choose rubber, vinyl or nylon brushes. Nylon tends to work best because it’s the most abrasive material. Some advanced door sweeps also have automatic brushes that drop down and seal the door when you close it.
2. Install a Kick Plate and Scratch Screen
Larger animals don’t rely on stealth but on brute force. They will bite, scratch and kick your door until they break through. A kick plate and scratch screen are two simple devices that protect your door from animal-caused damage.
Kick plates are thin metal sheets that screw into the door or slide under its bottom rail. Most of them only cover the lower part of the door for dogs and cats, but taller plates are available. Scratch screens also protect the door’s surface and prevent animals from damaging the paint. You may have to replace the screen if it gets too worn down.
3. Consider an Automatic Door Closer
You might want to consider an automatic door closer if your family has a bad habit of leaving the door open. This lets in lots of bugs, especially during the summer when they’re most active. These devices use simple hydraulics to close doors and keep them shut after someone enters or leaves the house.
4. Try Chemical Solutions
You can also keep animals and pests away with several chemical solutions. Bug-repellant plants such as rosemary and garlic are good options, but they might backfire and attract larger animals. Your best options are pungent essential oils, mouthwash and hydrogen peroxide. Spread these chemicals over the threshold, door frame and other vulnerable places.
Most importantly, you need to keep your entryways clean and organized. Don’t give little critters any reason to investigate your home. Maintain a frequent cleaning schedule so you can spot animal or insect infestations before they get out of control.
Extreme Weather
Extreme weather is the last major threat to your home’s doors. Floods, fires, ice, snow and hail can weaken your doors. Excessive heat and constant sunlight can also cause doors to swell, damaging the locks and hinges. Mold and mildew might even start growing on wooden doors after a heavy stretch of rain.
1. Choose a Sturdy Door Material
Choose the strongest materials so your doors can withstand harsh weather conditions. Hollow core doors might look pretty, but they’re not designed for exterior entryways. Keep them inside and switch to solid wood. Hardwood is the sturdiest wooden variety, but pine doors are usually the most affordable. Both options are much stronger than hollow core wood.
Wooden doors also have different fire ratings based on their cores. The ratings are split into 20, 45, 60 and 90 minutes. These times signify how long the center can tolerate open flames before catching fire. Most hollow core doors have 20-minute ratings. Pine and hardwood burn slower and usually have 60- or 90-minute ratings.
Steel doors are the strongest available options and have the added advantage of rot resistance. Fiberglass is also immune to rotting, but it cracks under heavy pressure and is more expensive. These heavy-duty doors often have hurricane-rated models, so check the packaging.
2. Switch to a Storm Door
A storm door is a wise investment if you live in a region with especially harsh weather conditions. They look the same as other doors, but they’re designed to withstand bad weather, ventilate the house and provide extra insulation. They are more expensive than typical doors, but they might be necessary for your climate.
3. Seal the Doors With Weatherstrips
Weatherstrips are essential for keeping out leaks and drafts. Unlike door sweeps and thresholds, they cover all gaps around the whole frame. You can use a simple foam material or opt for heavier vinyl or metal weatherstrips. Use a clear caulk to seal the gaps and add weatherstripping for complete protection from the elements.
4. Use Lighter Paint Colors
Anyone living in moderate climates with hot summers should switch to a lighter paint color. Dark colors absorb more heat and make wooden doors prone to swelling or discoloration. Light shades are more agreeable in extreme heat and can even help keep your home cooler on the inside. Make sure you sand the door and use a primer before applying the first layer of paint.
5. Add a Door Overhang
An overhang is a great addition that blocks doorways from the elements. It stops precipitation from damaging the door and provides much-needed shade on those blistering hot days. You can install a fixed overhang or get creative with a retractable awning. This feature also gallows you to add curb appeal to your home’s exterior and find something that complements your personal style.
6. Get a New Threshold
Every door should have a durable threshold. Most people opt for wooden versions to complement the home’s exterior design, but it’s not always the most ideal material. Aluminum and steel are much stronger and provide a better air-tight seal. They can also withstand heavy foot traffic without accumulating damage, lasting much longer.
Protect Your Home From All Threats
Houses are exposed to many destructive forces. You might be lucky enough to avoid them, but you should never leave your safety to chance. You must bolster your home’s doors with stronger materials, protective features and security devices. Various threats require many mitigation strategies. Follow this guide to ensure your doors check all the boxes and help keep you and your family safe from harm.
[Note: This was a guest post.]
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