If youre a renter, the best apartment security systems are options that can move from apartment to apartment with you and can be installed and removed without damaging your home. we have an article on the most effective methods. When not enabled, they are flush with the floor and unobtrusively out of the way. Bottom line. A security system, whether monitored by you with your cell phone or by a professional who can call for help when the alarm is triggered, adds the strongest possible deterrence and protection of your home. These locks contain plastic parts, cheap material, no resistance to lock bumping, and the shortest/narrowest bolts. Standard door chains are pretty popular but they usually dont provide any substantial protection against force attacks. Take a look at the below video, where I show you all the details of installing the double security strike plate. Most door hardware will fit the following door preparation. If you ever broke a stick over your knee as a kid, youll know what I mean. The throw is the length that the deadbolt extends out of the door and into the frame. Door Reinforcement | Deadbolt Strike Plate Reinforcer | Anti Kick Door | Two Pos, {"modules":["unloadOptimization","bandwidthDetection"],"unloadOptimization":{"browsers":{"Firefox":true,"Chrome":true}},"bandwidthDetection":{"url":"https://ir.ebaystatic.com/cr/v/c1/thirtysevens.jpg","maxViews":4,"imgSize":37,"expiry":300000,"timeout":250}}. Jump to:Why Reinforce Your Entry Door Front Door SecurityLock the DoorStrengthen the Door FrameStrengthen the Door EdgeStrengthen the Door LocksStop Lock BumpingStop Old Keys from Opening the Door. Need help finding the right Door Hardware for your application? The kits usually contain secure strike plates and hinge shields as well. Want to reduce your homeowners insurance premium? This inflating of the bag spreads open the gap between the door and frame so the door will slide open even when the deadbolt is extended. If you prefer making your own jamb shield, youll find the instructions on this page. Sliding Glass Door Lock: The best arcadia door lock that stops your sliding glass door from being lifted out of its tracks and to prevent little ones from opening the door and leaving the home. Reported burglary rate in the United States from 1990 to 2018, Statistics, https://www.statista.com/statistics/191243/reported-burglary-rate-in-the-us-since-1990/, Accessed May 21, 2020. But what about the frame? Knowing how to reinforce a doorand knowing that its not an onerous task that requires in-depth knowledge or lots of expensive labormeans you can feel safer in your home in just a few easy steps. It can be done with a single motion, so its really simple. In this article, Ill show you why Phillips-head and slotted screwdrivers are not your best choice for electrical work. But crooks (and scam locksmiths) dont care about your door being damaged, and it is an effective technique to get in quick when the deadbolt throw is not long enough. Over 1900 5-Star Rated, Verifiable Arizona Customer Reviews, Super Service Award Winner Eight Years Running, Selected as an Angie List Phoenix-Best Contractor, BBB International Marketplace Excellence Award Finalist, BBB Ethics Award Winner The Only Locksmith to Ever Win this Award. A strong deadbolt lock is the linchpin of a secure entryway; the deadbolt will secure the door closed in its frame. These screws should be at least 2 inches long to fully secure the hardware. It works with both hinged and sliding doors. You may also need some basic tools: screwdrivers and a drill will help install new hardware. Hinge bolts add an extra layer of protection as they make your door more kick-resistant. Regardless of which side of the door your hinges are on, consider replacing the screws that secure the hinges to the doorframe with longer, larger screws than the basic ones that may have been provided with the hinge. View cart for details. But primarily it boils down to these things. I suggest you start by reinforcing your strike plates and hinges. Protect your home and family with a top-notch security system. Taking your drill with a drill bit, drill into the existing hole where the old screw was. So if you forget to lock your door, the lock still remembers, and your door stays secure. We may earn money when you buy through links on our site. Be conscious of your timing as well; if youre not confident that youll be able to finish a reinforcement project by the end of the day, wait to start until the next day, or consider hiring a handyman to help. Its a highly reliable solution against forced entries. When engaged, they protrude from the floor near the door and prevent the door from opening past the barricade. Choi, Charles Q., Brute Force: Humans Can Sure Take A Punch, Live Science, https://www.livescience.com/6040-brute-force-humans-punch.html, Accessed May 21, 2020. But the fact is, the deadbolt is only as strong as the plate the bolt is thrown into. Its installation is quite straightforward and easy (you have to fix it to the door jamb) and can be done within minutes. Youll likely need to purchase some stronger hardware and perhaps even a new door, but the peace of mind that will come from knowing that your home is secure will be well worth it. When a locksmith can open your front door in less than 30 seconds, without using force, so can a criminal. This style of strike plate is better than plain wood, but you can easily upgrade the plate to a style with a longer box (sometimes called a box strike) so the bolt can fit more deeply into the doorframe, or a style that completely surrounds the entire bolt with metal, making it very, very difficult to break through the surrounding frame. Tools & materials needed to install a security strike plate. Though a grade 2 deadbolt, the security is good and it is the deadbolt I have on my personal home. When it is secured at both ends, it makes a door virtually impossible to open. Another option is to add security film to the glass. This will help prevent the plate shifting and causing problems with latching your lock. vgo('setAccount', '611652636'); It too is affordable on Amazon. Most criminals who want to get inside your home wont take the time to carefully pick a deadbolt locktheyll break the glass and reach in or just kick the door in. This device not only stops lock bumping, but when activated stops anyone that has a working key from opening the door. Replacing a deadbolt isnt hard. A strike plate lock can withstand over 50 full force kicks. Do you know how to secure a door from being kicked in? A longer screw will embed deep into the frame behind the door jamb. The weakest point is the one which breaks first. Your existing one will be too easy to kick in regardless of how strong the lock is. This seems obvious, of course, but how often have you driven back home after leaving to check that you remembered to lock the door, or called a neighbor or family member from vacation to ask them to check that your home was secure? When choosing a deadbolt, in addition to finish and style, you need to consider security. Door Reinforcement | Deadbolt Strike Plate Reinforcer | Anti Kick Door | Two Post Strike Plate | TUFF STRIKE | Satin Nickel (B005KP0YGU), Door Reinforcement | Deadbolt Strike Plate Reinforcer | Anti Kick Door | Two Post Strike Plate | TUFF STRIKE | Satin Nickel | Amazon price tracker / tracking, Amazon price history charts, Amazon price watches, Amazon price drop alerts | camelcamelcamel.com, Nightlock Security Lock Door Barricade Brushed Nickel. Dont worry; Ive got the fix for that! When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. We also really like the Yale YRD426. Even by applying only one method listed above, you can significantly reduce the risk of your door being kicked in. BetterIf you wanted to take this to the next level, remove the little strike plate that is on the door frame and replace it with an elongated strike plate. Frontpoint protects your home in an emergency, whether its a break-in, fire, medical emergency, and more. In that time ACME Locksmith has serviced over 100,000 customers. Burglars dont like to risk more than necessary and when after a few attempts they realize how time-consuming it is to get through your door they stop trying. If youve bought a home or have lived in your home for a very long time, rekeying should be considered. In addition, many smart locks feature an integrated doorbell camera, which will allow you to see and possibly interact with anyone standing on your doorstep. Our showroom hours are Monday - Friday 9-5 Mountain time. Imagine someone wants to kick in your door. * since Feb 26, 2015. View Deep Sentinel Home Security systems and prices. The next grade, which is the grade 2 type of deadbolt, is the most commonly used. Then they can get into the house by simply turning it (except if its a double-key deadbolt). + of the last 12 price changes. The Best Screwdrivers for DIY Electrical Projects. + of the last 50 price changes. Theyre cheap, easy to install and they give you an extra layer of protection against kick-in attempts. Sorry, we have no data for this price type. One manufacture (Door Armor) offers $500 if any door that has the kit installed is broken into. The farther into the frame the screws travel, the harder it is to bend or break them out. I suggest you have a look at the Nightlock door barricade, its pretty reliable. All secure, right? In this post, Ill share with you the best ways you can prevent burglars from kicking in your door and invading your home. If you have something different, please contact us so we can help you find exactly what you need. There are more ways you can secure your door glass. article about one of the most popular (yet affordable) smart deadbolts here, this is one of the most popular door reinforcement sets, 9 Proven Ways to Secure a Door With Windows (Or a Window Next to It), most effective methods to burglar-proof it, check out these simple DIY home security hacks, 6 Clever Ways to Find Out If Someone Has Opened Your Door (With Illustration). ACME Locksmith is Arizonas #1 Rated Locksmith. If you can operate a drill, you can do everything needed to reinforce a door in under an hour. Check out the video on YouTube and Buy it on our website. Those are really inexpensive modifications that can be done quickly. Many people dont like grilles and bars because they look ugly. It is best in the natural position. They are very affordable at Home Depot. And most residential doors can simply be kicked in less than 5 seconds. vgo('setTrackByDefault', true);

These items go a long way to stop forced entry. If a burglar smashes the glass, the vinyl film will hold it together in its shattered state and make it difficult (or painful) for the intruder to get through. The kits take what we have discussed and add to it some additional materials to further protect the door hinges. These are basically metal strips (or shields) that you have to install on the door jamb. High Security Safes: When you want a safe that is designed to protect the valuable you put inside, you want a high security safe found on ACME Locksmiths Safes for Sale website. Copyright 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Its the neighbors teenage kids or their kids friends that pose the most risk. Copyright 2019-2022 DailyHomeSafety. BestThere are manufactures that are selling door reinforcement kits. Door Armor: Reinforce your doors. One of the most critical steps in securing a door is locking it. And with some easy reinforcements on your strike plate, you can make it a lot more difficult for burglars to get in through a doorway. It is the installation commonly found to be a point of weakness, not the plate itself. Repeat the removal, drilling, and installation of a new 3 screw to the other hole next. The door frame will only flex in so much, so that a longer bolt is the door reinforcement you need to stop this type of break-in. * since Feb 26, 2015. A standard glass pane is not resistant to kicks and burglars can easily break it to gain access to the deadbolt. You will see the marking material on it where the deadbolt was hitting. Installing hinge bolts is especially important if your door opens outwards because in this case, invaders have free access to the hinge pins. In addition, well also show you the next level upgrade to your exterior doors by discussing the installation of a larger, dual lock strike plate. A strike plate lock is pretty similar to a normal door chain but with some remarkable differences in durability. Do I Need a Walker or Rollator? What you can do, however, is secure doorframes around reinforced doors, add door-lock reinforcement, and include additional security features to avoid coming home to find your door kicked in. See our Amazon Store for Videos and Links to All of Our Favorite Security Products. For residential you will want at least a grade 2. You can find them on eBay for the best prices and you get everything you need to reinforce the entry door. Bright lights and a piercing siren that can be triggered by a door sensor are great motivation for anyone with ill intent to move away quickly. Most residential grade door hardware installed by a builder is grade 3. Its height is adjustable and it fits most doors. If, however, you have a builder-grade hollow core door or a lightweight decorative door, or the areas where the locks, handles, and hinges connect are soft or rusting, its time to invest in a new door. DailyHomeSafety is an independent informational website. The little door wraps that come with the entry door reinforce kits will work well enough as door reinforcement when it is either metal wrapped or solid wood. The one thing every homeowner should to is replace the inch screws that are holding your strike and hinges in with 3 inch screws. If, however, your door has a significant amount of glass or glass panes within reach of the lock, youll need to add security features to the glass. Its a headache that we all want to avoid. But, dont push or pull on the door. Box strikes are the most durable type of strike plates because unlike many standard strike plates they dont have a flimsy rectangular hole but a steel cup the bolt locks into. Lets assume that the average criminal who performs a break and enter is a man of medium size and build. They also have strikes that are several feet long so that force is distributed over a very big area making it nearly impossible to force a door in even with a battering ram. Door barricades screw into the floor near the door. Once an experienced burglar realizes that the lock and hinge are secure, the next target will be the frame itself, which may splinter or break away from the doorjamb more easily than youd expect. These kits will come with all of the hardware you need to. Pro Tip: Installing hinge bolts under and above the hinges is another affordable way to improve door security. If you arent comfortable installing any of these items, contact your nearest locksmith for help. Whats the Best Way to Strengthen my Door? The cost of many systems can be lower than you think, and you may get a discount on your homeowners or renters insurance if you have a security system in place, offsetting the initial cost of installation and equipment. The best and simplest thing you can do for your door is to simply throw out the common 1/2 inch screws that were installed on your door hinges and door strike by the builder and replace them with 3 to 3.5 screws. Changing the strike plate is a manageable DIY deadbolt reinforcement project for handy homeowners, and the most difficult part is making sure the new plate aligns correctly with the bolt. Home Owner, Real Estate Investor, and Creator (YouTube). Knowing that, you realize that one of the best ways to prevent a door kick in of your home is by reinforcing the exterior doors. While its true that hollow core doors are cheap, they should only be used as interior doors because theyre really easy to break through. Maybe not. Sure-Loc 2 3/4' Steel Deadbolt Strike Reinforcement Plate, Sure-Loc 2 3/4" Steel Deadbolt Strike Reinforcement Plate, Grandeur Arc Tall Plate with Circulaire Knob, Grandeur Carre Tall Plate with Bordeaux Knob, Trimco 10x34 Satin Stainless Steel Kickplate with Countersunk Holes and Heavy Beveled Edge. Short screws are unable to anchor the strike plate and the hinges to the door frame properly and highly increase the chance of a successful break-in. What will you need to create a truly kick-proof door? If you have grade 3 locks, or any lock older than 10 years, they are susceptible to lock bumping, and anyone with $3 and an internet connection can get everything they need to open your home within seconds. As you are aware, wood is more susceptible to breaking than steel. Lets say an average criminal can kick with half that force. It can easily damage the door and real locksmiths do not not use them. Anyway, if youre unsure, go ahead and check it. A door barricade or security bar adds that extra layer. However, theres nothing that keeps you from combining more techniques to make burglars life even harder. A smart lock offers several benefits to door security. Heres what you are most likely going to need for this procedure: The first thing you will need to do is to replace the original screw that you removed to check the length. Electronic deadbolts have one great feature, the ability to auto relock themselves after being left open for a specified amount of time. The lower the grade, the more rigorous the testing of the deadbolt. About 60% of our viewers use a Phillips-head #2 screwdriver when theyre How To Repair Nail or Screw Pops In Drywall. So if you think that there are any possible keys floating about out there, rekeying a home is an inexpensive way to improve your homes security, and it should be done for every new home your purchase to ensure the old owners, neighbors, etc.cant get in with a key. Before you begin the process of reinforcing the area surrounding your door, examine the door itself. Do you know why you need a long throw on your deadbolt? Consider that wood is used for building most homes. You might think that your existing deadbolt and security strike plate is adequate. The first thing youre going to do is to take the marking material and goop it all over the end of the deadbolt. Lets just stop and think about that for a minute. If you want to reinforce your door from the inside, installing a door barricade is one of the best solutions. Once youve reinforced the doors frame, this is where a door will break in a forced entry. Disclosure: As an eBay / Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases. Another thing you should do is to replace all the original screws (that are often shorter than 1 inch) of the strike plate and hinges with new ones that are at least 2 1/2 inches long. Many people with younger children find that this style of lock adds peace of mind, as the door cant be accidentally (or intentionally) opened by a curious child. In this article, well show you in just a few minutes how to dramatically increase the strength of your front door and deadbolt. See Vivints cameras and services. A lock with an ANSI rating of 2 can withstand five strikes of 75 pounds of force before giving way, so an intruder would have to make a tremendous amount of attention-grabbing noise to get in. This prevents the door from being kicked in by distributing force to multiple points. However, its important to make sure that all of the responsible residents and guests of the home know where to locate the key; otherwise, a double-cylinder lock can be dangerous in a fire or other emergency. It needs no installation so you can use it right out of the box. To protect whats inside of your home by door reinforcement, address the main points of weakness in your exterior doors: the frame, the locks, and the doors edge. If youre keeping your existing hinges and simply replacing the screws, its a good idea to remove one screw at a time and replace it before moving on to the next one. Though the most expensive solution, these are the best solution and often the easiest solution since one purchase gets you everything you need. The longer the better. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'everydayhomerepairs_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_7',101,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-everydayhomerepairs_com-medrectangle-4-0')}; Strike plates are usually one of the significant points of weakness. Replacing the strike plate and hinge screws goes a long way toward securing your door into the frame. The ANSI rating measures how much force a deadbolt can withstand before it bends or breaks. Learn more. Doors with a solid metal core are the most secure but dont worry, its absolutely okay to have any other kind of door until its not a hollow one. This is very easy for any home owner to do that is comfortable with a power drill. You can use it as an alternative to security grilles if you dont want to change the look of your door. Because a little device called an airbag. And it makes them much more resistant to kick-ins and other force attacks. This easy fix helped me when I had to fix my doors, and I hope it will help you. Okay, so youve upgraded your strike plate, and the screws are deeply embedded into the frame. They are usually around 5 6 apart. Note that its easier to replace one screw at a time. The strongest doors are generally solid wood or steel, but there are some very sturdy fiberglass doors, some with wood cores, that offer a little more style. If theres no deadbolt in your door, I highly recommend that you add one, preferably a grade 1 deadbolt. Grading. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Padlocks: Not all padlocks are created equal. Heres how you can do that effectively. I believe this is the single best thing you can do to improve your front door security and enhance the strength of all your homes doors. Need a home security system? Smart door locks are getting more and more popular. We founded DailyHomeSafety to help you improve your home. It works by preventing the glass from shattering in case of a force attack. I promise that making your door kick-proof is well worth the investment and it will not only give you peace of mind but also a real sense of security. This is going to greatly increase your doors strength by securing your door to the wall studs and not just the trim. Many beautiful doors include decorative or functional glass panes to let in light. This will allow you to use 4 (or more) 3 screws to secure that strike plate to the 2 X 4s behind the frame instead of just the two that a standard strike takes. reinforce the framing of the door and the door edge (discussed below). I recommend you to check out this model from Kwikset. Its easy to to pop a balloon with the tip. But how much force does a human kick have? You dont want to be caught in a position where youre not finished, arent sure how to finish, and need to leave your door unsecured overnight. First, it will allow you to check the status of your door lock from upstairs or your relaxing vacation spot via an app on your smartphone, so you can check to make sure you locked the doorand correct your error from afar if you didnt. If you want to know how you can deter burglars before they even try to kick in your door, we have an article on the most effective methods. With a comprehensive whole-house solution, you can be prepared for the unexpected. Be sure to get one with a key override as there is a trend to skip this in favor of saving money when building it. One major advantage of a horizontal security bar is that fixing is totally independent of the door and the door jamb. Ive met so many people who thought that reinforcing a door to keep the bad guys out is either expensive or time-consuming. Which Safes are California Department of Justice (CA-DOJ) Approved? As youve seen in the video, this security strike plate is massive compared to the tiny little standard strike plates that come with most of the locksets youll find at an average hardware store. Well, that was probably fine back in the old days, but now its not just the trusted neighbor you have to worry about when it comes to someone using that key to enter your home. A basic strike plate can look like a flat piece of metal (usually steel or brass) that fits into the doorframe with an opening in the center to receive the bolt. A grade 3 lock can withstand a single blow of 150-lb of force. The door reinforcement kits we discussed above include small wraps for the deadbolt and the latch. We have been performing lock and key services in Arizona for over 20 years. Observe your strike plate. (function(e,t,o,n,p,r,i){e.visitorGlobalObjectAlias=n;e[e.visitorGlobalObjectAlias]=e[e.visitorGlobalObjectAlias]||function(){(e[e.visitorGlobalObjectAlias].q=e[e.visitorGlobalObjectAlias].q||[]).push(arguments)};e[e.visitorGlobalObjectAlias].l=(new Date).getTime();r=t.createElement("script");r.src=o;r.async=true;i=t.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];i.parentNode.insertBefore(r,i)})(window,document,"https://diffuser-cdn.app-us1.com/diffuser/diffuser.js","vgo"); A minimum of 1 throw for deadbolts. Thats still six times more than is needed to break a grade 3 lock. How Much Force Can Your Deadbolt Withstand, United Locksmith, https://unitedlocksmith.net/blog/how-much-force-can-your-deadbolt-withstand, Accessed May 21, 2020. The key to maximizing the protection of the lock is to upgrade the strike plate. Give us a call or send us an email by clicking on the contact us link below. Most home robberies occur during the day while the home owners are at work, and most occur using forcible entry through the front entry door. If you are on a budget this door reinforcement will only cost a couple of dollars.

vgo('process'); link to The Best Screwdrivers for DIY Electrical Projects, link to How To Repair Nail or Screw Pops In Drywall, Screwdriver (the one you used to remove the screw), Some kind of marking material (this will make more sense later). There are three elementary grades of a deadbolt. Deep Sentinel Home Security systems can make you and your family feel safe and secure with top-of-the-line equipment and live guards watching your home. The type of deadbolt is also a massive factor in the security of the entranceway. Time Saver Tip: Make sure you measure the distance between the center of your deadbolt and the center of your door latch. Just for comparison, a standard door chain will break after a few kicks. See our Favorite Padlocks on Amazon. It is true for home security, just as it is in the case of the chain. How long is it? Next, take one of your new 3 screws and tighten it down in the hole. Ive forgotten to lock my door too. Theyre also a great visual deterrent as most criminals will recognize these types of security locks.