What Are Some of the Best Front Door Security Options?

Reinforcing your home’s security to prevent burglary attempts is essential. But, where to start? Front doors are often considered key access points. Therefore, we’ll focus on said vital component. Which security systems are the most effective for deterring would-be burglars? This article highlights different ways to protect your home and its occupants. While the options listed don’t exhaust all possible solutions, consulting a professional locksmith will help guide you in the right direction based on your needs and budget. 

How Can I Make My Front Door More Secure?

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High Security, Burglar-Proof Front Door

The best way to strengthen home security is by armouring your front door. Nevertheless, high-security doors are wide-ranging, with a slew of possibilities, of which the following are the most common:

Traditional Armouring

Financially speaking, traditional armouring is the most affordable option, providing a significant boost in security. It consists of reinforcing your current door with sheet metal plates secured on the inside of the door and adding a three-point surface-mounted lock paired with jamb and hinge shields. Adding a strike plate is also a very effective option.

European-Grade Armouring

This option is specifically designed for co-owned properties, allowing homeowners to reinforce front door security while maintaining the door’s uniform look on the outside. It consists of covering all sides of the door in steel, except the outdoor face, to maintain the same appeal as the adjacent, co-owned properties. This armouring also includes a pivot bar, which is a 14-cm hinge shield that prevents the door from sagging on account of additional weight. 

Steel Door

This option provides the highest level of security. It consists of replacing your current door with a steel one. This also means installing a new frame, one made of steel, paired with 14-cm hinge shields to prevent the door from sagging. 

What Is the Best Locking Mechanism for Home Entry Doors?

Securing your dwelling can also be done by selecting efficient, high-security-grade locks. Below are some of the most commonly used locks designed to reinforce security, ensuring you sleep soundly.

Multipoint Entry Door Lock

This type of door lock mechanism can have between 3 and 12 locking points. The lock itself is covered with a casing available in several shades, making for an aesthetic finish.

Mortise Lock

A mortise lock is embedded into the door’s edge, meaning the door has to be thick enough to suit the lock. Mortise locks are especially effective, rendering it harder for burglars to damage the lock given that the mechanism is inside the door. The lock can have 3 to 7 locking points. 

Mortise Cylinder

Mortise cylinders are a key component to mortise lock systems, designed to fit into a specially cut cavity inside the door itself, known as a mortise. When a key is inserted, it interacts with a series of pins inside the cylinder. These pins align at a specific height, allowing the lock to turn, securing or unlocking the door. This sort of lock is especially favoured for its robustness and security, often used for commercial buildings or high-end residences.

Deadbolt

A deadbolt is a robust metal tumbler lock that’s surface-mounted and designed to provide reinforced security. Unlike standard locks, deadbolts can only be locked or unlocked by turning the lock’s cylinder with a designed key, making it extremely burglar-proof. The sheer strength of a deadbolt prevents modern break-in techniques, such as being jimmied open with a credit card or knife blade, ensuring that it remains locked tightly until the appropriate key is used to unlock it. The latter makes deadbolts an essential security feature for residential or commercial buildings.

Burglar-Proof Door Glazing: A Must-Have

Door glazing security features withstand physical impacts, fire, and warping, securing the home and allowing you to leave with peace of mind. Burglar-proof glazing is made with double or triple glazing, and each layer is separated by a clear film. It’s the same technology as the one used for windshields. As such, burglar-proof windows provide:

• Improved break-in protection

• Better thermal insulation (door glazing causes thermal bridging)

• Improved soundproofing

• Better fire and shock resistance

How to Improve Front Door Security: Additional Security Systems

For restricted budgets, you can always opt for more affordable yet still efficient solutions. Below are some of the options available.

Door Reinforcement Bars

Door reinforcement bars are flat, kickstop bars secured onto the door jambs, positioned on the inside face of the door. Since they’re positioned on both edges of the door, they prevent a crowbar from being jimmied between the door and its frame. 

Wrap Around Plate

This additional security option is designed for double-leaf doors (two panels) to prevent break-ins by squeezing in something flat between the gap where the two door panels meet in the middle.

Armoured, Burglar-Proof Door Handle

This type of door handle prevents would-be-burglars from ripping out the cylinder or drilling through it. Indeed, said handle features a drill-proof cylinder guard, preventing drill bits from rotating. Also, high-security front door handles are designed in such a way that no hardware (screws, bolts, etc.) is visible, making it impossible for ill-intentioned individuals to take the handle cap apart. 

Lock Cylinder Protection Cap

Lock cylinders are often the target of many burglars, so cylinder protection caps provide safeguarding against lock picking or drilling. The cap is positioned around the cylinder to make accessing the lock more challenging.

Security Bolt or Chain Lock

Both these security devices are designed to reinforce entry door security in the event of a burglary attempt.

• Bolt locks are typically installed at the top or bottom of the door, blocking the door from the inside. Paired with the main locking mechanism, it makes forcing the door open more challenging for intruders.

• Door chains allow you to crack the door open while maintaining a certain level of security. Much like a peephole, it allows you to ascertain the identity of the person on the other side of the door and have a conversation while maintaining a safe distance. Door chains aren’t designed to prevent break-ins, but provide additional peace of mind in terms of potential threats.

Door Security Bar

Secured horizontally on the door’s inside face, a door security bar blocks the entry door against its frame. It creates additional resistance against a burglar attempting to break in the door. Said security feature is often used on primary or secondary entry doors, those deemed to be in high-risk zones. Security bars can also come in handy if you’re looking to improve your home’s security without carrying out extensive changes to the frame or door.

How Best to Select a Reinforced Door?

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One can quickly find themselves tumbling down a rabbit hole when faced with the astronomical number of armoured doors marketed online and in-store, with differing options and price points. As such, it’s important to ask yourself the right questions before investing, ensuring you’re getting your money’s worth.

The first question to ask yourself: Where should I buy an armoured door? Whether purchased from a manufacturer or retailer, the sales representative will be able to provide you with a range of products, alongside an installation service, and customer service. Dealing with a local professional is highly recommended. The reason behind that statement is quite simple: if you misplace or lose your keys, the installer must be able to assist you promptly. 

Second, focus on the desired door resistance and the budget you’ve set aside for that purpose. Armoured doors are made with an array of construction materials, such as wood, steel, aluminum, PVC, and even glass, so you’ll have plenty to choose from. Note that this sort of product is certified burglar-proof and fireproof as per the standards outlined for co-owned properties, as well as various options, justifying each product’s price point. 

How Much Does an Armoured Door Cost?

The more robust and burglar-proof armoured doors can cost an arm and a leg, so be sure to ask yourself whether it’s worth it considering the value of your belongings. If you consider yourself a fine arts enthusiast and your garage holds a few vintage cars, the latter justifies investing upwards of $5,000 for a burglar-proof entry door to secure your home and belongings. On the other hand, if the only items of value in your home are a couple of flat screens, a laptop, and a Hi-Fi stereo system, a $1,000 armoured door will do just fine.

Solutions Tailored to Your Home

The security solutions detailed in this article provide a general overview, not a comprehensive one, of all options available. For a more in-depth and customized assessment, consulting with a professional locksmith is highly recommended. Doing so will provide you with insightful advice regarding the advantages and disadvantages unique to every option, all the while staying within your budget. Working with an industry expert ensures the implemented security measures are suited to your specific needs, guaranteeing optimal home protection.

To increase your home security, check out our article on home security system costs.