Reinforcing Your Doors: Essential Steps to Prevent Burglaries and Kick-Ins

At Viking 6 Tactical, we believe that your home should be your sanctuary, a place where you and your loved ones feel safe and secure. One of the most effective ways to enhance your home’s security is by reinforcing your doors. The front door is often the first point of entry for burglars, and ensuring it can withstand forced entry is crucial. Here’s how you can reinforce your doors to prevent burglaries and keep intruders at bay.

1. Upgrade Your Door Frame

The strength of your door is only as good as the frame it sits in. Most standard door frames are made of wood, which can splinter and break under the force of a kick. To reinforce your door frame:

- Install a Strike Plate Reinforcement: A heavy-duty strike plate distributes the force of a kick across the door frame, making it harder to break. Look for a strike plate that is at least 4 inches long and secured with 3-inch screws that reach into the wall stud behind the door frame.

- Use Reinforcement Kits: Consider installing a door reinforcement kit, which includes a strike plate, door jamb reinforcement, and hinge reinforcement. These kits provide comprehensive protection against forced entry.

2. Strengthen the Door Itself

The door itself should be solid and durable. Here’s how to reinforce the door:

- Choose a Solid Core Door: Hollow core doors are easier to break through. Replace them with solid core doors made of wood, metal, or fiberglass. These materials provide better resistance to force.

- Install a Door Security Bar: A security bar is a simple yet effective way to add an extra layer of protection. It braces the door against the floor, making it much harder to force open.

- Reinforce the Door Edges: The edges of the door are vulnerable points. Install metal edge guards to reinforce these areas, making it more difficult for intruders to pry the door open.

3. Upgrade Your Locks

Locks are your first line of defense, and investing in high-quality locks is essential:

- Use Deadbolt Locks: Install a deadbolt lock with a minimum throw of 1 inch. Deadbolts provide better resistance to forced entry than standard spring-latch locks.

- Consider Smart Locks: Smart locks offer advanced security features, such as remote locking, automatic locking, and access control. These features can enhance your door’s security and provide added convenience.

- Install a Door Reinforcement Lock: Also known as a door barricade or horizontal lock, this device anchors into the floor or door frame and adds an additional layer of security.

4. Reinforce Door Hinges

Door hinges are often overlooked but are critical to the overall security of your door:

- Install Hinge Bolts: Hinge bolts are metal pins that are installed on the hinge side of the door. When the door is closed, these bolts slot into holes in the door frame, preventing the door from being removed, even if the hinges are tampered with.

- Use Security Screws: Replace the short screws in your door hinges with 3-inch screws that penetrate the wall stud. This provides greater stability and makes it harder to kick the door in.

5. Consider Door Armor

For maximum security, you can add door armor:

- Install a Door Reinforcement Kit: These kits usually include metal plates for the door, the strike plate, and the hinges. They are designed to distribute the force of a kick across a larger area, making it much more difficult to break through the door.

6. Add Additional Security Measures

Reinforcing your door is just one part of a comprehensive security strategy:

- Use a Peephole or Door Camera: Install a peephole or a door camera so you can see who is outside before opening the door. This adds an extra layer of security by allowing you to verify visitors.

- Install Motion Sensor Lights: Place motion sensor lights around your entryways. These lights can deter burglars by illuminating the area when they approach your home.

- Reinforce Sliding Glass Doors: If your home has sliding glass doors, secure them with a metal rod or a security bar placed in the track to prevent the door from being forced open.

Conclusion

By taking these steps to reinforce your doors, you can significantly reduce the risk of burglaries and forced entry. At Viking 6 Tactical, we’re committed to helping you protect your home and loved ones. Implement these security measures to fortify your entry points and ensure that your home remains a safe haven.

For more tips on home security and self-defense, or to learn about our training programs, visit our website at [www.viking6tactical.com](http://www.viking6tactical.com). Stay safe, stay vigilant.