The hinge side of the door is an area that many people overlook when adding security reinforcement to their doors. At Ready Lock we reinforce door hinges, and on occasion repair sagging door's. Very important. Interestingly even a "passage" non-locking door knob will provide considerable kick-in protection if a strike is properly installed. When kicked or shoved open, most doors fail where the deadbolt and latch enter the strike plate. The Door Armor Max protects the most vulnerable parts of an exterior door. We Make Keys too! Dont neglect the well-being of your home and your family. The parts included protect the three most vulnerable areas of most exterior doors. This is the best place to spend money and effort. Furthermore, they are often installed by builders, in a track-home situation. You need screwdrivers and a power drill to perform the standard installation. Screwdrivers for installing the screws and removing the old strike plates, An electric drill for drilling pilot holes for the extra screws. I often have to educate customers in the field who are looking for additional security by adding a second deadbolt, that what they really need to do is reinforce the door jamb and strike. Nightstands are valuable pieces of your bedrooms design, adding both form and function to the space. You can see here, that it does not matter how many locks you have on this door once the jamb is split, this is why long screws and heavy duty strikes are critical. After extensive research, weve come to the conclusion that the following products are the best door jamb reinforcement kits: Every homeowner should be concerned about burglars, thieves, and home invaders. When the strike is properly secured to the 2X4 material behind the trim board, the force of the kick is transfered to the metal strike itself, and the 2X4. The instructions are clear and precise. They are an absolutely critical part of the security of any mechanical locking device, deadbolt or door knob. It is complete. It "Sits" on it, this engages the deadlock! You can replace one hinge at a time while the door is installed in the door frame. The Prime Line Door Strike Plate replacement kit from Defender Security is a beefier and heavier strike plate that replaces the standard strike plate with exterior door locksets. One well-placed kick close to the lock mechanisms will shatter the door frame and jamb in many instances. They come in many different shapes and sizes, for various applications. If we artificially limit the throw to only allow a partial extension, you'll see that the deadbolt does not "dead lock" and can be easily manipulated. Defender Security U 10385 Prime Line Door Strike, Protects the door and door locks from being forced by splintering the jamb and frame, Security Door Hinges Satin Nickel 4 Inch with 5/8 Radius Security Tab 3 Pack, Security hinges keep the door from sliding out of the door pocket even if the hinge pin is removed, Full 46-inch door jamb shield reinforces and strengthens the door frame against forceful entry, Two-door lock reinforcement plates help prevent doors from splintering and shattering when someone tries to force the door, Hinge reinforcement plates cover and protect door hinges from being pried or forced away from the door frame, 46-inch jamb and frame reinforcement to keep the frame and jamb from being forced loose, Two four-inch door lock set reinforcement shields to prevent the door from failing, All the screws and hardware required for the installation. The most vulnerable spot on any door is where the deadbolt and door striker engage with the jamb and door frame. The kit is complete with all the necessary hardware and fasteners. You may also consider a security hinge, which has a locking mechanism intended to lock the hinge shut if someone attempts to pry the hinge pin's out. The kit includes: One great thing about the Door Armor Max kit is there is no need to remove the door from the door frame to install this kit. Complete easy to understand instructions. Unskilled workers getting things done as quickly as possible. Many people are surprised to learn that one of the most vulnerable parts of their home for burglars, thieves, and home invaders is the front door. Door Armor estimates that the average homeowner can install this kit in only 50 minutes. Most homeowners will have no problem installing the Prime Line Door Strike Plate replacement kit. One great feature of the installation is you dont need to remove the door from the door frame. What this means for you is, the lock can be "Jimmied". Helping you find the best way to provide this protection is the focus of this article. 1.9.0.1), Don-Jo Cylindrical Lock Edge Filler EF-161 2 1/4 inch, Don-Jo Mortise Lock Edge Filler EF-86 8 inch, Don-Jo Mortise Lock Conversion Plate CV-86, Don-Jo Integralock Conversion Plate CV-2414, Don-Jo Cylindrical Lock Face Hole Filler BF-161 2 5/8 inch, Don-Jo Cylindrical Lock Face Hole Filler BF-135 3 3/4 inch, Don-Jo Cylindrical Lock Face Hole conversion CP-258, Don-Jo Cylindrical Lock Scar Plate SP-135, Don-Jo Door Hinge Filler HF-45 4 1/2 inch, Don-Jo Door Hinge Filler SHF-45 4 1/2 x 1 1/2 inch, Don-Jo Door Flush Bolt Filler EF-634 6 3/4 inch, Don-Jo Mortise Lock Conversion Plate ST-386, Don-Jo Frame Hinge Filler FF-35 3 1/2 inch, Don-Jo Frame Hinge Filler FF-45 4 1/2 inch, Don-Jo Frame Strike Filler BTS-160 2 3/4 inch, Don-Jo Frame ASA Strike Filler FS-260 4 7/8 inch, Don-Jo Frame Flush Bolt Filler FB-225 2 1/4 inch, Don-Jo Electric Strike Filler AF-260 4 7/8 inch, Don-Jo Electric Strike Conversion AF-261 4 7/8 inch, Don-jo EPT-1 Electric Power Transfer Filler Plate, Don-jo Electric Strike Conversion MAF-261 SL, Don-jo Deadlock Strike Filler EF-161-S 2-3/4 inch, Don-jo Universal Flush Bolt Filler FBR-C 3-7/8 inch x 1 inch, Don-jo Universal Flush Bolt Conversion FBR-A 3 7/8 inch x 1 inch, Don-Jo Temporary Cylindrical Lock TL-1 - Prime Coat, Don-Jo Temporary Mortise Lock TL-2 - Prime Coat. You need to understand in a kick-in situation the trim board splits, once this happens it will rip the entire trim board in half and blow out, it does not matter if you've got 1, 2, 3, or 4 deadbolts installed on your door, without proper strike installation and reinforcement, that trim board is going to blow out and all those additional locks will do you no good. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. In most instances, you can make the replacements without having to remove the door. The Door Armor Max is a complete kit to reinforce the most vulnerable parts of an exterior door. We like the security this kit affords the deadbolt and latch area of the door frame for several reasons. A hammer and chisel to create a mortice for the longer frame. The solution is simple, replace the small screw's with 3" screws that make contact with the stud behind the trim. A strike plate or "Strike" is a metal plate that is secured to the door jamb for the purpose of reinforcing the latch on the lockset or deadbolt. He worked in the trades part-time while serving as an active firefighter. The reason we recommend longer screws is to tie the metal strike to a strong stud behind the trim-board. Three-inch long screws engage with the framing members under the door trim for extra security. Our goal is to stop this from happening, following the tips in this guide will help prevent this. On his retirement, he started a remodeling and home repair business, which he ran for several years. Grid We hope this article helps you understand the available options for reinforcing your exterior doors and door jambs. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Removing the hinge pins can allow the door to slip from the frame and open even if all the locks are engaged. Here's a few pictures of some of the things we discussed: Deadbolt Throw - Make sure it fully extends into door jamb! The entire reinforcement kit is installable with the door still on the hinges. Your bed is the place in your home that should bring you the most peace, tranquility, and comfort. Door knob latches also contain a "Deadlocking plunger" and it is critical that this piece sits correctly on the strike or else, similar to the deadbolt example above, the latch mechanism will not "Dead lock". Only the highest quality materials go into the construction of these kits. 210-929-2495, Locked out of car? This is how a typical kick-in situation splits the trim board and blow's out the jamb. Homeowners place their trust in deadbolts and jamb locks. Taking into consideration a properly installed strike, on an in-swing door. Here's a few pictures of various styles. Here we have residential Lip-Strike commonly seen on residential door knobs, we also have a commercial Lip-Strike and a residential deadbolt strike. These tiny screw's however are still merely attached to the 1.5" trim board, we've noticed over time that many door's being to sag on the hinge side, this causes strike mis-alignment and can cause the door to drag the ground and/or threshold. Reinforcing these areas is imperative if you want to reinforce your exterior doors. Like the strike plate assembly, hinge's typically come with tiny 1/2" screws, this is less than ideal. You'll want to change these tiny stock screws out immediately for the longer 3" screws, make sure they go into a stud! The strikes often come from the factory with tiny 1/2" screws.We recommend replacing them with 3" screws. San Antonio's Premier Locksmith Service. This kit makes our list because: Anyone interested in forcing their way into your home knows that the weakest point of the door is the locks. The biggest issue with these strikes is they often are incorrectly installed, it's critical that they not only mount to the thin 1.5" trim board of the door jamb, but they also hit the stud behind the trim board material. This is easy to test yourself, with your door open, lock your deadbolt, fully extending the throw, now push on the end of the deadbolt throw, if it is fully extended you'll see that it does not move. Drilling relief holes in these parts of the door frame to allow the bolts to engage creates week spots. You can do the installation with the door in place. Even if the hinge pins on your exterior door arent accessible from outside, adding security hinges adds another level of protection. These homeowners fail to consider the flimsy construction of most door jambs and frames. Some of these can be a little difficult to install, may requiring mortising into the door jamb, depending on your particular door. The longer strike plate provides more surface area for greater lock security. Another alternative is Security Hinge pins, which do the same thing as a security hinge, but are designed for retrofit application. We like that this is a complete kit that includes: IF a full-blown door jamb protection system is not on your radar, you should consider the Defender Security Prime Line Door Strike Plate Replacement. Each Door Armor Max kit contains: Installation of the Door Armor Max kit is well within the scope of most homeowners. Beveled, non-beveled, commercial grade, residential grade, deadbolt and door knob styles, full mortise etc. The typical installation requires: Simplicity is the key here. The deadlocking plunger does not go inside the strike pocket! This will often times pull up a sagging door, and also add significant security and kick-in protection. Each security hinge kit is complete with all the hardware needed to swap the hinges on your exterior door. We install these devices at Ready Lock. List, Help Us to Keep Magento Healthy - Report All Bugs (ver. Each of these security hinge kits has three security hinges to replace the existing hinges on your exterior door. The configuration of some doors allows the removal of the hinge pins. The wood of the door jamb and door frame splinter or the door cracks enough to allow the lock bolts to slip away from the strike plates. In most cases, when an exterior is forced open, the area around the locks on the door frame, the door jamb, or the door itself fail. After all, most people spend nearly one-third of every day in bed. Installing security hinges on an existing exterior door is usually not at all difficult. In a kick in situation you are only as good as your weakest link, usually the trim board, and if that is sufficiently reinforced the next thing to go is either the hinges, and/or the door itself, we will discuss reinforcing these things later in the article. Protecting your family is the most important issue you face. This is typically only an issue with out-swinging doors on older properties. You may need these tools to do the installation. View as: So ensuring it is free of any link to How To Keep Centipedes Out Of Your Bed, Door Armor MAX Complete Door Reinforcement Set for Jamb, Frame, Strike Plate, Door Armor Mini Door Security Reinforcement Kit for Jamb, Frame, Strike Plate, Defender Security U 10385 Prime Line Door Strike Plate Replacement, Security Door Hinges 4 Inch with 5/8 Radius and Security Tab, Door Jamb, Door Frame, Strike Plate, Door Hinges, A complete kit that protects all the vulnerable parts of a door, The locksets in most exterior doors are the most vulnerable part to being forced. Make sure they come with long screws. The length of the strike plate allows nine screws instead of the usual four that hold the separate strike plates, Three steel security hinges with a security tab, Screwdrivers to remove the old hinge and install the new hinge, A drill to deepen or extend the pilot holes for the wood screws, A hammer and chisel to adjust the hinge mortice if necessary, There is an added level of protection even if the door is forced, Security hinges are typically beefier and sturdier than standard hinges, Changing the things provides an opportunity to install longer, more secure screws to the hinges, which increases security and strength. This means it can easily be "Jimmied" or forced with a screwdriver/knife/credit card. Understanding how to reinforce the doors of your home can provide greater security and more peace of mind. However, there are reasonable options available from your local big box stores like Home Depot and Lowes. If you want to reinforce your exterior door against intruders, this kit provides a total answer. The features on this strike plate give added protection when someone attempts to force your exterior door open. Give us a call! 210-929-2495, Lastly, after we have reinforced the Strike and Door lock assembly with the above products, the next weakest ling is typically the hinge side of the door. Adding an extra layer of reinforcement to your exterior doors can provide an additional sense of safety and security. Door Wrap Plates will help strengthen this area. The concept is simple, and, in most cases, the installation is easy and quick. The Door Armor Mini Door Security reinforcement kit includes everything you need to reinforce the door jamb, door frame, and door locks on your homes exterior doors. You often see handle-sets, and passage, non locking hardware on homes in conjunction with a deadbolt, they are more convenientwith less locks to mess with, and it's impossible to hold a door knob open and kick a door, so the standard, non-locking latch combined with a properly installed strike still offers credible kick-in protection. Many people believe that door knobs are inherently un-secure, this is not entirely true, a properly installed door knob or dead bolt can offer a decent amount of security. This kit has everything you need to reinforce these most vulnerable parts of your exterior doors. Very important. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Installing security hinges can prevent this situation without the tremendous expense or having to reinstall your exterior door completely. This vulnerability is why we are looking at the best door jamb reinforcement kits. The usual method of mounting a strike plate is two one-inch screws. Another critical thing to check for is the bore-depth of the deadbolt hole, the physical hole that is drilled into the jamb must be at least 1" deep, or a deadbolt will only extend partially, when a deadbolt does not fully extend, it does not "Dead Lock". They are also excellent for repairing a door that has already been kicked in, faster and often cheaper then replacing the door, the repair is typically stronger then the door initially was. Ready lock sells and installs these devices as well. 210-929-2495, Door wrap around plates are used to reinforce the door, once the strike has been properly installed, using 3" screws and reinforced, this is commonly the next weakest link. It's somewhat made up for by the fact that their are many screws, typically 3 hinges with 4 screw's each. We like the idea of security hinges on all doors because: The security of our homes and the safety of our families are an area we should never neglect or overlook. Heavy duty strikes come in a few different options, manufacturers like Don-Jo, and Strike Master Pro are some of my preferred options. Dennis is a retired firefighter with an extensive background in construction, home improvement, and remodeling. Door Armor specializes in building add-on door reinforcement kits.