How to Increase the Security of an Entry Door
Don’t be a victim. There are plenty of ways to add layers of security to your entry doors that are not only easy to install, but can prevent a home intrusion altogether. By thinking of your home in layers, you:
- Deter criminals from assessing your home as a viable target,
- Prevent entry for determined criminals that may defeat one form of your home security (i.e. lock-picked deadbolts, brute force attacks),
- Buy time for law enforcement to arrive,
- Prepare you and your family with countermeasures to neutralize the threat,
- Identify criminals for future prosecution,
- And more.
The more layers of security, the more likely that you and your family will be protected. With the prevalence of home intrusions and burglary on the rise, you need to start taking measures to add layers of security today.
NIGHTLOCK® Original Door Brace
Deadbolts and chains aren’t enough to protect your home. Most countermeasures can be defeated by criminals intent on robbing your home and targeting your family. However, installing Nightlock’s patented door bracing device can protect your home when other countermeasures fail.
NIGHTLOCK is real home security for your entryway doors. When other measures fail, the base of your door withstands kick-ins and brute force attacks that other devices lack. Easy to install and simple to use, NIGHTLOCK door braces provide comprehensive protect and peace of mind.
To give you an idea of the superior protection that Nightlock door braces provide to your home, watch this video. You can observe a law enforcement officer testing the strength of a door against kicks and blows from a sledgehammer – something most locks fail under stress tests.
Also, if your home has patio doors for your home or structures (i.e. guest house), Nightlock also offers reliable home protection with Nightlock’s New Patio Lock. Made in the USA with the same exacting standards, ease of use, and unparalleled strength, Nightlock’s patio lock can add a layer of security for vulnerable areas of your home.
Other Layered Security Measures for Entry Doors
As you probably are aware, there are plenty of products on the market designed to provide additional security. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ways to bolster your home security.
Choose a Solid-Core Door
Your home security is only good as the material in which it is made. Many residences feature hollow doors made of flimsy material, particularly rental units or cheaply-made houses. While the door may be equipped with deadbolts and latches, having the integrity of your door fail on a criminal who chooses to kick in or use a sledgehammer to gain entry is unacceptable.
The most secure doors feature a solid core made of hardwood, metal, fiberglass, or a combination of these materials. The added benefit to a solid core door is that you’ll have increased sound and energy insulation, making it a purchase that can dramatically lower your monthly expenses.
Install Longer Hinge Screws
In many residences, the door may be made of solid wood but the true weak points are the hinges. What makes the hinges not able to withstand the force of a kick, for example, is that the screws of fixing the hinge are shallow. Once dislodged, the door can easily be removed.
Luckily, this is a quick fix. Using the previously drilled holes for the hinge, simply drill further into the door frame for increased strength. To not split the wood, you will want to drill with a smaller diameter drill bit for a pilot hole, then install the longer screws afterwards. Once installed, you’ll immediately notice a sturdier door designed for maximum protection.
Install Deadbolts
Standard practice for establishing home security is by using a deadbolt. Deadbolts provide great protection for unwanted entry by having the large metal cylinder fully extending into the door-jamb opening.
Correct installation of a deadbolt is important. Some typical oversights about installing a deadbolt are to avoid installing exposed exterior screws which can be removed by drill or screwdriver. Also, you may want to consider an exit-only deadbolt (also known as a dead-lock), a type of security device that can only be engaged or disengaged from inside your home. Last, you should reinforce the deadbolt with a metal strike plate.
Doorbell Camera
Doorbell cameras give you the ability to monitor which individuals show up to your door to screen out potential criminals. Having a doorbell camera won’t necessarily stop brute force attacks on your entry doors, but they do act as a deterrent for criminals that do not want to be identified and prevents nuisances, like porch thefts and vandalism.
Most modern doorbell cameras, such as the Ring Video Doorbell, can be accessed from your smartphone and provide remote alerts for individuals showing up on your doorstep. Having this access can be indispensable when protecting your family when you are not home.
Install Motion-Activated Lighting
While not an improvement in security to a door itself, installing a motion-detection light can secure your home’s entranceways. These are particularly useful for darker areas of your property or a spot of your property that is shared with public property.
When combined with doorbell cameras as mentioned above, you create a spotlight on potential criminals that can not only act as a deterrent but also provide evidence of criminal trespass for law enforcement.