Many police officers will tell you when a home is burglarized, thieves gain entrance through a door, but it is not the lock or the door that is the problem. The door jamb is usually what fails. Even if you have multiple deadbolt locks, if an intruder hits one of the entry doors with enough force, the bolts from the lock will go right through the jamb. When the jamb splinters, the entry doors open as if they were never locked in the first place.
Most exterior doors have a strike plate, but many times is not installs. If you were to install a piece of steel plating on the back of jamb, it will strengthen the jamb. Together with a strike plate, the exterior door is almost impossible to breach. Your door is still beautiful, but almost invincible.
Many to today’s beautiful entry doors have glass panes. The locks on these doors are different than full wood or steel entry doors. The deadbolt lock will require a key to unlock on both sides of the door – unless of-course you have specialized locksmith equipment. There will not be a lever to push the bolt into the jamb. One of the main security issues with these types of exterior doors is the possibility of an intruder smashing the glass. Even though they may not be able to unlock the entry door, if the glass opening is large enough, it would still allow access to the home. Many states do not allow these types of exterior doors simply because it doesn’t allow for a quick exit in case of an emergency. Do not place these security doors on the main exit to your home. If you need to get out of the house quickly, searching for the key will slow your exit.
Steel doors are a very good choice for security doors. Now available in a wide array of colors, these doors offer protection and also can help lower heating and cooling bills. This type of door is usually used for exterior doors and is very strong when used with the proper hardware and door jamb.
There are now as many designs and color schemes for security doors as there are sizes available in NYC locksmith stores. Check with your favorite home improvement center or home design store to find the entry doors that might work best for your home. You can also research online for various security doors available that fit your preferences.
