The vast majority of break-in occur through the front door. This is because most front doors in American homes are fairly easy for a criminal to break into. However, one can make a front door more resilient to would-be burglars by installing better entry doors. I recently did this and wanted to share my experience with hardening my home in this manner.

I wanted to replace my front door for a while since it was a multi-panel wooden door. Even though I reinforced both the door jamb and the lock hardware, the door itself was the weak point since it could be smashed-in by a determined attacker. Plus, the door was getting old and worn-out, it needed to be upgraded. Since I had some extra money saved-up, I decided now was the time to replace it.

The first decision I had to make was what type of door I should get. Doors are usually made of either wood, steel, or fiberglass. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages, which I had to take into account before deciding which kind to buy. I was looking to maximize both energy efficiency and security, which meant that the fiberglass door was the best option for me. Plus, fiberglass doors give you a lot of options when it comes to looks since the panels are molded. Decision made, I went with fiberglass.

The next decision was whether to purchase a pre-hung door or not. Buying a pre-hung door was a bit more expensive (around $50) but my handyman recommended it since it would ensure a better fit. I decided to do this since I was replacing the door already. Easy decision really, glad I did it too.

Once I decided on both the door material and whether the get a pre-hung door or not, I scheduled a time to get it installed. Once they started stripping out the jamb and frame, I am glad I opted for the pre-hung door. Some of the wood was dry and cracked, meaning it was structurally weak and not as secure as a new jamb. Also, the area around the door wasn’t insulated correctly, which was addressed before the trim was installed. After the door was installed, the Door Jamb Armor was installed along with the lock hardware and the single-sided deadbolt. A few fine adjustments later, everything worked like a charm on my new exterior door.

Having a robust new door won’t make my house invulnerable to burglars, however it will add to the overall security of it. My goal is to make my home a less desirable target so that a prospective thief will move on and chose another home to rob. In the end, that is what hardening your home is all about, adding layers of security that fortify your domicile and protect your family from crime.