How To Make Your Door Locks More Secure

Check your existing deadbolt.

How to make your door locks more secure.

Remove the screws from the deadbolt and lockset strike plates on the door frame. Make sure your doors have deadbolt locks and cylinder guards which provide an extra layer of security. Installing hinge bolts are especially important if your door opens outwards because in this case invaders have free access to the hinge pins. Secure sliding patio doors with a security bar or a piece of closet rod cut to fit in the track behind the door.

You should also reinforce your door frame with 3 inch screws so a burglar can t pry it away from the wall with a crowbar. Make sure you have working locks on all windows. Understand that security comes from the deadbolt and not the door handle even if it has a keyed lock. The most secure doors feature a solid core so they re more difficult to kick in or break.

If it extends less than 1 in or if it s wobbly a new deadbolt will be more secure. So make sure that your deadbolt can withstand the appropriate amount of force. If you re unsure which type you have knock on your door. Smart door locks are getting more and more popular.

Solid doors sound dead while hollow doors echo. First make sure the screws are tight. To improve door security replace any hollow entry door with one made of metal fiberglass solid wood or a solid wood core. If you have a sliding door use keyed locks to secure it.

Next check the doorjamb and both strike plates. A reinforcement plate will typically extend the door s edge a bit so you may need to deepen the hinge mortises on the other side of the door to prevent catching and sticking. Open the door and extend the throw bolt. In attempting to make your sliding doors more secure make sure that you still have ease of access to and from your home in case of an emergency.

Install an entry door viewer so you can see who s knocking before opening the door. Re key the lock. Some of the more conventional ways of securing your doors are to improve the locks on the door and to also integrate the door into your monitored home alarm system if you have one. Adjust track clearance so the doors can t be removed from their frame.

Depending on your window.