Door Viewers
Optical viewers or "peep-holes" allow you to see who is at the door before you open it. Choose a viewer with a 180 degree field of view and quality optics. Your doorway, of course, should be well lit to allow you to see who is there.
Exterior Doors and Hinges
-
Only steel clad or solid core wood doors should be used for exterior doors.
-
Door hinges that are exposed to the exterior are vulnerable to removal. Exterior doors preferably should have their hinges on the interior. Otherwise tamper-proof exterior hinges can be used or they can be pinned.
Exposed Hinges
Exterior doors with outside hinges can be easily removed if not properly secured. This weakness is easy to correct, if the hinges are pinned in one of the following ways ...
3 Suggestions:
-
Install a set of security hinges with non-removable pins.
-
Install a locking pin in the existing hinge by removing the centre screw from each hinge. Insert a "headless" screw into the plate, leaving 1 / 2" protruding. Drill a 3 / 4" deep hole through the opposing hinge plate into the door. Now when the door closes, the protruding screw extends into the empty hole and secures the hinge.
-
Another inexpensive method is to drill a 1 / 16" bit through the hinge and just open the pin. The bit can then be snapped off flush with the hinge or you can insert a small screw if future removal is necessary.
Guard Plates
Guard plates offer resistance to prying and forcing of a door latch by a knife, screwdriver, or celluloid strip.
On Doors Opening Out
Guards usually mounted onto door with two carriage bolts going through door and anchored with a nut and cap cut on the inside.
On Doors Opening In
This guard ties the door stop and the frame together. An extended edge goes down into the wood frame itself to provide more complete security.
Strike Plates
The best lock in the world will not prevent a forced entry if the strike plate is attached with the standard ¾ inch screws, as in most instances this barely penetrates the door trim and is easily defeated by moderate force – therefore;
-
Strikes plates should be of the heavy-duty or high security type that will accept 3-inch long screws that will penetrate through the trim, the door jamb and well into the door frame/wall stud.
-
Many of these stronger strike plates have four offset screw holes so the force of an attack is more evenly spread throughout the frame, further adding to the security of the door.
-
These high security strike plates can be purchased at any hardware type store. However they are not needed when a steel clad door is hung in a steel frame, as the strike plate is pre-cut and the steel frame secured with numerous 3-inch long screws.
Garage / Bay Doors
Bay doors with thin wood panels are easily forced and offer easy access for burglars. These panels can be reinforced with wire mesh, metal plates or bars. Consideration can be given to installing roll-up metal doors, but keep in mind that any windows within any garage door can compromise its security, therefore they should be reinforced to be burglar resistant.
Glass Doors
Glass doors with a narrow metal frame require a special type of lock with a pivoting bolt that moves deeply into the door frame. Where extra protection is required the hook bolt, illustrated, should be installed, ensure both types of bolt contain a special material to resist a hack saw attack.
Metal Doors
On metal doors usually the lock cylinder screws directly into the door frame. To prevent removal with vice grips protect the cylinder with a collar that is beveled and rotates.
Patio Doors
Entries are often made through sliding doors by lifting them out of their tracks. To prevent this, 2 or 3 screws should be partially screwed into the upper track so that the door slides just underneath them. Sliding doors can be "pinned"; or a properly installed "charlie bar", or a hockey stick in the lower track, will prevent lateral movement of the door. Of course, make sure the door has a good security lock as well.