5 Ways to Instantly Improve Front Door Security
A home invasion will change your life for the worse in countless ways. Aside from potentially losing your treasured valuables, an attack also poses a physical threat to you and your family members. Being physically threatened can be very traumatic, but a protective order may not always be enough because a protective order violation can still occur. Making matters worse is the fact that you will live in fear of another home invasion from that point forward.
The United States Department of Justice reports more than two million homes are invaded each year. Furthermore, 60% of all sexual assaults occur during home invasions. There is a common misconception that suburban homes are comparably safe. However, there are nearly 5,000 burglaries in suburban spaces per 100,000 inhabitants in both suburban and metropolitan areas alike.
There are steps you can take to make your home more secure, and it starts with your main entrance. Utilize these five tips to improve your front door security and keep your family safe from invasions.
1) Install an Impact Door
Improving front door security does not have to zap your budget. As an example, the installation of an impact door, featuring burglar-repellant features, will make it quite difficult for thieves to breach your home. These unique doors are specifically designed to safeguard property against burglars as well as debris from severe weather.
Impact doors utilize frames comprised of reinforced steel or vinyl layers that significantly reduce the chances of a blunt force break-in. Furthermore, the glass panes on these doors contain an inner membrane that ensures the glass remains fully intact when force is applied. They may splinter, but shattering will take more time than the average burglar will want to spend.
The sturdiness of these impact glass designs is similar to the way a car windshield reacts when force is applied.
2. Fortify the Door Hinges
If your front door’s hinges are weak, it will be that much easier for a burglar to loosen the door and gain access to your home. Door hinges should not be reliant upon those short yet commonly used ¾-inch screws.
These screws are not large enough nor strong enough to endure considerable force. If the screws loosen, the doors will start to bind. Replace the current screws with 3-inch screws, and you will sleep soundly at night. You only need to replace the screws that are near the frame center as opposed to those near the door frame edge.
Alternatively, you can add a security hinge highlighted by tamper-proof pins along with a locking tab. Another option is to add a finishing screw on one side of the hinge, so it moves a quarter-inch more in-depth for even more security.
Just be sure to slightly drill the receiving hole so when the door closes, the finishing screw and hinge engage with one another. This approach ensures that the door cannot be removed if the hinge pin is taken off.
3. Mind the Deadbolt Lock
The front door should have a deadbolt lock. This lock should completely extend to the door-jamb opening and reinforced even more with the use of a metal strike plate.
Furthermore, the bolt should not have exposed screws on the exterior. The installation of an exit-only deadbolt, also known as a dead-lock, will undoubtedly help fortify your home against a potential intruder.
Such locks come without a keyhole on the outside, meaning they are locked/unlocked from inside of the house.
4. Consider a Portable Barricade
Portable barricades are temporary devices that can be put in place surprisingly quickly. As an example, a door jammer, door lock brace, or master lock security bar will help stop the door from opening.
The lock brace slides below the door, wedging it closed, ensuring a burglar cannot access your living space.
5. Reinforce the Door Lock
A reinforcement of the door’s key lock will make it that much more difficult for a burglar to access your living space. Cylinder guards really will stop thieves from loosening the bolt.
The addition of a solid strike plate around the area where the deadbolt moves into the door frame will also help secure your front door. Strike plates contain long screws that move to the studs around the framework of the door rather than merely just the frame alone, providing that much more security.
Properly reinforce your front door, and a simple kick will not loosen or knock down the door. A burglar would need something similar to a battering ram to loosen a reinforced front door.
Learn More About the Benefits of Impact Doors
Impact doors might save your life. If you are even slightly concerned about your home’s security, it is better to be safe rather than sorry. Opt for an impact door, and you will sleep well at night, knowing everyone you love, and everything you value is well-protected.
Learn more about the long list of benefits you’ll add to your home by installing impact doors for front door security!
Author Bio :
Luis Alvarez is the founder and owner of Alco Windows and Doors. Coming from a family with more than 15 years of experience in the glass and glazing industry, Luis used his background knowledge to found a company dedicated to providing quality service and support for those looking to protect their loved ones from severe weather. A retired veteran who served in the Marine Corps, Luis uses his military experience to effectively run Alco. His attention to timeliness guarantees efficient installations focused on meeting planned deadlines. His background in preparation and organization ensures flawless window and door projects, no matter the job size. His leadership experience promises a “job well done” mindset from every member of the Alco team – from salespeople to installation professionals. A graduate of Florida International University with a degree in Mathematics, Luis takes time to give back to the community by serving as an adjunct professor at Miami Dade College. He believes homes are built around people supporting one another, and his dedication to his home in South Florida ensures Alco Windows and Doors will always put the customer’s safety and satisfaction first.