Front doors should be one of the most secure parts of your home. According to the Met Police, burglars “seek out any opening that they can take advantage of, specifically doors and windows that are left open or unlocked or are easy to force.” So, these entry points should be properly secured.
At Kingwaych Experts, we supply a wide range of safety and security products to burglarproof your home. You might have moved into a new flat and are looking for ways to improve your home’s security. Perhaps you are considering upgrading your front door security as it has been a while since it was last updated. So, how to make your front door more secure?
Have a good quality door.
We know that this tip might be an open secret. However, doors suffer a lot of wear and tear and are often neglected, which could lead to them being more easily broken into. If your door starts to show its age, maybe it’s time to repair it or replace it altogether.
Invest in good quality front door hardware.
Door hardware is often called door furniture or door ironmongery. This type of hardware includes door handles, hinges, door locks, and bolts, among others. Old door furniture can make it easier for a burglar to break in and can make the door more vulnerable to kick-ins. Investing in high-quality door furniture could prevent this from happening or at least, make it more difficult to happen.
British Standard BS3621 rated mortice locks are recommended for front doors. These theft-resistant five-lever locks require a key to lock and open the door. To meet this standard, the lock must have an anti-picking mechanism and it must be able to withstand both drill attacks and bolt attacks for at least five minutes.
At Kingwaych Experts, we have a variety of mortice locks which meet this standard, including the Stainless Steel 64mm Euro Cylinder Sash Lock and the Stainless Steel 76mm Euro Cylinder Deadlock. The main difference between sashlocks and deadlocks is that deadlocks only have a bolt and a keyhole while sash locks have a bolt, keyhole and latch.
The TS007 3-star Child Safe Cylinder Locks are also perfect for front doors, including the 100mm Polished Chrome 3* Star TS007 Child Safe Cylinder & Turn 45T/55 Kitemarked Euro Cylinder. These are anti-snap, anti-bump, anti-drill and anti-pick door locks and offer over 800,000 different key combinations.
Consider secondary security methods.
Bolts, rim door locks and door chains are a great addition to any front door for added safety and security.
Rim door locks
Rim locks or nightlatches are usually used as a primary security mechanism for bedroom and bathroom doors to offer privacy. However, rim locks are also perfect for front doors when combined with a mortice lock.
Door bolts
There is a variety of bolts which can be used for entrance doors, including mortice bolts and surface bolts. Mortice bolts insert a bolt into the door using a thumb turn handle or a key. Surface bolts, such as the Zoo 150mm x 38mm Fulton & Bray Polished Brass Architectural Barrel Bolt, feature a simple slide function and are easy to install and remove if necessary.
Door chains
In case someone has just knocked at your door or rang the doorbell, the first thing you should do is either peak through the door peephole, a window or even the letter plate (if all else fails). The last thing you should do is open the door if you aren’t sure who is on the other side.
A good alternative is installing a door chain, such as From the Anvil Pewter Door Chain. A door chain will allow you to open the door slightly to communicate with the person who is outside without having to fully open the door.
Get another pair of eyes.
Nowadays, security cameras are much more than another set of eyes. Wireless security cameras allow homeowners to view their home and anyone who comes nearby from any location and offer a variety of benefits, including:
- Deterring crime. The sole presence of outdoor cameras can deter criminals from coming near your home.
- Checking in on the family and pets.
- Identifying criminals and aiding the police. If your home has been broken into, security cameras would have recorded the event and the video footage will help the police find the culprits.
We hope that these tips have been helpful in keeping your front door more secure. We understand the importance of having a secure entrance door at home but remember to also secure your back door and windows. If you have any questions regarding our ironmongery products, feel free to give our team a call on 01376 557 561 or email us at info@ironmongeryexperts.co.uk.