The entrance door to your home is by and large the most beautiful, yet almost the most burglarized. Many police officers will tell you that entry is most often gained through the front door of your home. Entrance door security is the most important and also the most overlooked.
If an intruder is going to test your door security and the door is locked then most often the lock is not what fails. It is usually the doorjamb that is the door security problem. With one forceful kick the bolts from the deadbolt will splinter through the wood and all of your entrance door security will be undone. The easiest solution to this is a strike plate. Basically this means taking a piece of steel and attaching it to the interior of the doorjamb. This will not take away from your door’s beauty but adds a nearly invincible element to your entrance door security.
Many entrance doors have glass panes what will further enhance your door’s look but provide yet another opportunity for your entrance door security to be breached. It is all too easy for a burglar to break the glass, reach through and unlock the door. There are a few different options to prevent this. You can cover the glass in the security laminate that was mentioned for sliding glass doors, and that will work perfectly. Or you can get a deadbolt lock that requires a key for both sides. Some states do not allow these types of locks to be placed on the main entrance to your home, so be aware of the laws in your area before adding this to your door security regime.
Another entrance door security option is steel security doors. Not only will they be nearly impossible to get through, they don’t have to detract from the look of your entrance way. They are now available in many different designs and colors schemes so you can find something to fit your home easily. Not only that they come in any size you can possibly imagine. There is really no reason why implementing your entrance door security with a steel door cannot even add to the beauty of your home.
Of course all of these measures are only as good as their use. You could have a military tank as part of your entrance door security, but if you leave the door unlocked it will do almost no good. All of the door security in the world cannot replace simple vigilance.
Sliding Door Security
Sliding door security should be a priority. In addition to the things you can do to secure sliding glass doors on your own, there are several items on the market specifically with security in mind. Once you know the door locks it can be difficult to know what to do next. There are a few things that take the extra step in sliding door security and really make those patio doors unattractive to an intruder.
Perhaps the easiest way to security those patio sliding doors is a sliding door security bar. There are two types of these available. One for standard doors and one for sliding glass doors. Be sure is has locking device and withstand 1,000 pounds of force. If you are not sure whether the sliding door security bar you’re looking at is adequate, ask a salesperson. This type of device will also prevent anyone from lifting the door off the track. Sliding door security bars are also called Charley Bars, so if you see that on a label don’t worry it is the same thing. You can get a bar that is one specific length or an adjustable one. The benefits of the adjustable one is that it can be in place all the time, whether the sliding glass doors are open or not.
A sliding door security screen is another great option. They can keep out flies or other bugs and provide an extra deterrent to a thief. Unfortunately their downfall is their convenience. It is very easy to leave it open and then it does you no good at all. Most of these sliding door security screens are made of wire mesh with steel around the outside to give it some extra strength. Since burglars are looking for the easiest way into a home, having an obstacle like the screen in the way could make them move on to another neighborhood. There are also several automatic screen closers available to ensure that your sliding door security screen never stays open unintentionally.
Also available for sliding door security is a protective film to place over the glass. The price varies by the company you go through, but it can be pricey. This is a clear adhesive film that makes it nearly impossible for the glass to be broken. It is still possible to break it, but it takes a tremendous amount of force and makes a lot of noise. Not only that, the film has a ultra-violet inhibitor that will reject most of the rays of the sun that can fade your furniture. While expensive, this provides a lot in the way of sliding door security that other methods can lack. Whatever you do with your sliding glass doors, making it difficult to get into your home will make the biggest difference.
