How Can I Make My Door Secure?

The security your front provides should be a crucial aspect that all homeowners shouldn't overlook. Your front door is your primary line of defence against unwanted guests, pests, and the elements. If any thief hunting for a house to rob sees that your front door is vulnerable, it will serve as their main entry point to gain access to your most valuable belongings. If you wish to prevent criminals from entering your home, it's time to consider making upgrades. If you are satisfied that your front door is secure, you will be able to sleep peacefully at night, but if you're unsure about the security of your front door, then you've come to the right place!

In this article, we will be going over some helpful methods on how you can make your door much more secure to avoid any unwanted guests from entering your home!

Assess your door’s current condition

Before you start the process of improving the security of your front door, it is crucial to evaluate the current condition of your front door before anything else. Is it a brand-new door? Is it decades old? Is it brittle at the edges or corroded at the hinges? When the edges of ageing security doors begin to degrade, they can rapidly lose their resilience. Even though they may appear solid from the outside, rust and corrosion can hollow them out from the inside.

Next, you should examine the door's locking mechanism. Ideally, a front door should be secured with a high-level security lock such as a deadbolt into a sturdy door frame, as well as a locking mechanism that allows you to partially open the door without fully opening it, or, even better, with a doorbell camera that allows you to interact with visitors without actually opening the door.

We would also like you to consider combining your high-tech door security into your home. Do you have Wi-Fi connected smart-home features? Consider smart locks and a security system compatible with your existing smart home features if this is the case. Integrating new technology can vastly improve your home's security by a large margin compared to if you didn't.

How to make your front door more secure

1. Upgrading your Door’s Locks

The strength of a door depends on the locking mechanism that secures it. Even if your home's front door is made out of the most indestructible material available in the market, if the door's lock is inadequate, the door can be smashed down, and the lock will be evaded altogether. Granted, it would need a lot of force and manpower to break down your front door, but if you install reliable and effective locks, your front door will be as secure as possible. Here are some of the most secure door locks that you can purchase for your home:

• Smart Locks

As technology has advanced, smart locks have become a popular alternative for front door protection. These locks may be operated with a smartphone and can be configured to lock automatically when you leave your home or property. This makes them a highly secure choice that gives you access to it at all times. 

• Double Cylinder Locks

Since double-cylinder locks are keyed on both sides, the homeowner must be able to use keys from the inside and outside to unlock them. This door lock provides an additional layer of protection against break-ins, making it one of the most secure door locks available for purchase.

• Multi-point Locking System

If you think your current lock isn't doing the job, consider upgrading from your regular lock to a multi-point locking system to increase your home's security. Multi-point locking systems are located on the inside of the door and feature three locking points, making them more challenging to exploit. These locking systems are among the market's most secure front door locks. The more barriers an invader must overcome before gaining entry to your home's door, the better.

• Deadbolt Lock

Installing a deadbolt lock is a well-known superior method for securing your front door. Locks with deadbolts differ from other locks because they lack spinning components, such as the spring mechanism featured in ordinary locking systems. This mechanism consists of an extra metal bar (the bolt) that glides into place and secures the door shut. It is vital to ensure that your front door must be compatible with this sort of door lock.

2. Getting a New Door if Necessary

You can add as many reinforcements as possible to your old or deteriorated front door, but it will still be very vulnerable to break-ins and outdoor elements. A replacement front door is the best approach to increase the security of your property. Installing a new door not only provides superior protection for you and the people inside your home but also gives a number of other advantages unavailable with an older or broken type. It is also crucial to ensure that your new external door is installed correctly since any installation flaws will make entrance easier.

3. Choosing the Best Material for your Door

The material of your front door has a significant impact on the security of your home. If you are in need of a recommendation, composite doors are an excellent option. A composite door is distinctive because it is composed of many materials. Composite doors are a sensible option for replacing a front door since they are incredibly robust, resistant to the elements, and provide excellent home security. Composite doors are often considerably thicker than their uPVC equivalents, and their glass-reinforced plastic shell ensures that they have a long lifespan.

Additionally, composite doors have excellent thermal efficiency, making the home warmer and more energy efficient. The current building code mandates that replacement doors have a U-value of 1.8 W/m2. Composite doors have a low U-value and are likely to surpass these standards. In addition, they require less upkeep and do not require frequent repainting.

When it comes to the security of your home, you will always get what you pay for. It is ideal to invest in the best materials that will make your home more secure rather than skimping on these factors and reducing your door's security. To replace a door is a simple procedure requiring only the selection of an appropriate material. It only gets complicated when you do not choose wisely.

4. Rekey your Lock

If you have just moved into a new home, your first order of business should be to rekey or replace the locks. This is because the former occupant may have given out keys to friends and family who are unaware that a new tenant has moved in. Your home will not be 100% secure if you do not know who has access to your front door. A skilled locksmith can produce new keys, adjust the tumblers in the lock to match and make it so that all the locks in the house use the same key or not if you'd prefer that they all use different keys. When a locksmith rekeys your door, they will alter the mechanism, so that old keys no longer work and present you with new ones. Only your most trusted friends and family members should have access to spare keys to preserve your home's security.

5. Installing a Strike Plate

The appearance of a strike plate lock is comparable to that of a regular door chain, but it provides superior security against force attacks. Strike plates safeguard the door jamb against friction. This metal guard prevents the door from being opened from the exterior. Add a strike plate to your door to make it more secure. Without breaking, it can endure individuals attempting to force entry. 

It is straightforward to install: simply screw it to the door jamb and place the ring over the doorknob to secure your front door. A strike plate lock is a simple device that functions on the majority of doors. It is distinctive in that it leverages shearing forces, which significantly affects its durability. If your old strike plate has not been checked recently, it may be useless. Even if you already have one, upgrading to a heavy-duty strike plate may drastically increase the security of your front door.

6. Replacing your Door Frame and Hinges

The door frame and hinges are essential for ensuring your front door's security. If the door frame and hinges are in poor condition, it may be necessary to replace them. This will ensure that no matter how hard an intruder tries, they will be unable to enter your property unless they can tear it down completely.

• Door Frame

It is vital to consider reinforcing the door frame. At the end of the day, a strong frame equates to a strong door. Ensure that your door frame is securely fastened or secured. You may also install specialised bars for enhanced security by affixing them to hinges and locks to make them much sturdier than before.

• Hinges

Replace the hinge screws with ones that are at least 2 and a half inches long as a starting point. Screws that are smaller than one-inch provide a security risk and should be replaced. Installing hinge nuts is also a helpful method for strengthening your door's hinges. These bolts are positioned on the door's surface. These have been developed to prevent anyone from kicking, prying, or breaking off your front door's hinges.

7. Proper Maintenance

This simple method to reinforce your door may seem redundant to some homeowners, but it will always be essential. Maintaining your door is one of the best ways to guarantee its durability. How does one perform door maintenance, you may ask? Maintaining your doors entails caring for them and ensuring that every small component is in proper working order. One essential aspect of door maintenance is ensuring that the door's material has not deteriorated. Many people overlook the simple task of ensuring that the door's material is well maintained. Proper upkeep and maintenance are essential for ensuring that all components of your door function harmoniously and that your door is ultimately strengthened.

8. Always Keep your Doors Locked

The steps mentioned beforehand will reinforce the front door by adding security layers to your home. However, the most critical thing you can do to make your door an impenetrable barrier between you and an intruder is to lock it every time you leave your home, even for a short stroll around the block. Unlocked doors are an intruder's most fantastic dream; don't make their lives easier! A keyless lock is an excellent choice if you have a hard time trying to remember to lock the door or you can't recall if it was locked after you've left. Some smart keyless locks include warnings if you remove the key fob from the lock's base too far without locking it. Remember, the first step to door security is ensuring you keep your door secure in the first place.

Bottom Line

You may be surprised by the number of home invasions that involve the thieves going through the front door, meaning a visibly weak front door gives intruders every opportunity to try their luck and break into your home. The front door is one of the most important measures you can take to burglar-proof your home. You can substantially reduce the likelihood of a successful break-in by reinforcing your front door. As a homeowner, you also require peace of mind so that you can leave and reside in your home without worrying about intruders, your family, and your belongings. We hope that this article was able to inform you about the extra security measures you could take to improve your home’s first line of defence.

If you are in need of some high-quality composite doors in St Albans, then Rock Solid Doors are the team you have been looking for! Our mission at Rock Solid Doors is to provide you with all the assistance and information you need to select the ideal composite door in a friendly and non-obligatory manner. For your peace of mind, we only supply and install premium branded doors, all of which are professionally installed by us and come with a 10-year warranty and building regulations compliance certificate.