When we were children our parents would tell us to remember to lock the door at all times to keep the strangers out. The term ‘strangers’ was just a polite word back then that expressed our fear of crime entering our homes? In the UK, a huge percentage of home burglaries happen through the front door. The home is the one place that should stand as our sanctuary, be it from a bad day at work or from society. We are at our most vulnerable at home.
If you are shopping for a door for your new home or to replace a dated or broken one, look for companies like Truedor that offer a variety of doors that have a traditional feel, but at the same time modern finishes. But before you go shopping lets break down three things you need to watch out for when it comes to door security.
What is the material of the door?
Don’t trust the face-value of the door; ask about what it is made of and match it to your current environment. If you are located in an area with high humidity and wooden doors typically expand, ask for alternatives. At the same time, if you are located in a very wet (by the shore) or rainy area, ask about the topcoats and how resistant they are to the weather.
If there are glass elements in your door make sure that the quality of the glass is topnotch as well. Tempered glass or fiberglass beats traditional stained-glass pieces. It doesn’t matter if your French doors are located at the back of the house or if you think the small glass panels won’t be an issue, the glass can be broken as a means to get inside your home.
What is the hardware?
The next thing to check is the hardware; these are the hinges and the locks. The hardware of doors is typically customizable. You have the option of taking their default packages or scouting for your own trusted brand. A good hinge should be made of a material that doesn’t rust easily and will not be affected by changes in weather in your area. Avoid fake products because of the lack of integrity of the material. The hinge should be given the same consideration as the lock because the in the case of a violent break-in, the hinge might give up before the lock. This still creates an opening for burglars.
When selecting locks, you may opt for a lockset and a chain or one double cylinder deadbolt. The guarantee does not lie in how many locks you have; if you have a lock set but aren’t the type who would use both, invest more in what you are likely to use.
Image: Pixabay.com
