While most home entrance doors are sturdy and provide protection from the weather and intruders, some homeowners choose to install security doors for an added sense of safety.
If you decide to purchase these type of doors for your home, the following tips will help you select a quality product.
1.
Choose steel or dense wood.
Security doors should be sturdier than the average home door.
Steel or dense wood versions are strong and are good choices for security shutters.
Steel ones are also less prone to warping and will not peel after years of use.
Doors made of steel or dense wood are difficult to damage and will help deter intruders.
2.
Check the fit of the door in the frame.
They need to fit tightly into the frame without being difficult to open or close.
There should not be any visible gaps next to the frame.
The absence of gaps and small openings prevents the it from being pried open.
3.
Make sure the frame is very sturdy - a door is only as good as its frame.
If the frame is weak then it doesn't offer much protection.
A poorly constructed and flimsy frame can be easily damaged enough to pry the the whole thing open.
Carefully inspect the frame to make sure it is solid and durable enough to enhance the protection of your shutter.
4.
Insist on good locks.
A lock that can be easily broken does not offer much protection.
Your system should have deadbolt locks with rectangular cylinders that enter the frame at least one inch when in the locked position.
Make sure these are high-quality deadbolt locks.
Single cylinder deadbolt locks require a key for outside entrance and have a knob for locking and unlocking from the inside of the house.
Double cylinder deadbolt locks require a key to lock and unlock the door from both the inside and outside of the house.
Some owners choose to have multiple locks on their security shutters for an extra layer of security.
Additional locks can be added to your security shutter at any time.
5.
Verify the quality of the security system.
There are established industry standards for security shutters.
Make sure the security shutter you choose for your home meets these standards.
Reputable dealers will carry security shutters that either meet or exceed the industry standards.
6.
Quality security shutters will not have conventional windows.
Glass windows can be easily broken, allowing entry into the home.
If you want windows in your security system, you can choose to have windows with laminated glass panes.
Another alternative is to have glass windows with steel bars in the window areas.
7.
Talk to a security professional before purchasing your security system.
A security expert can give you sound advice about your security and other home security needs.