<div class="article-entry"><div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_5025" style="width: 605px"><img alt="As a home’s first line of security against break-ins, it's critical for exterior doors to be sufficiently reinforced. Photo: Metro Locksmiths, Inc. (2016)" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5025" class="wp-image-5025" height="397" loading="lazy" src="https://dcr-apis.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wp_contents/uploads/2.jpg" width="595"/>As a home’s first line of defense against break-ins, it’s critical for exterior doors to be sufficiently reinforced. Photo: Metro Locksmiths, Inc. (2016)</div>Your home may have a high-end alarm system, but if your doors are second-rate, you’re running an unnecessary security risk. Exteriors doors are a home’s first line of defense, which is why a weak one represents a major point of vulnerability. Use the following checklist to make sure your doors have what it takes.Door Door hardening starts with the door itself. While interior doors are typically 1 3/8-inch thick, exterior doors should be 1 3/4 inches of solid wood.Door edge When a deadbolt is installed in a door, it creates a 1-inch bore through the outer edge, leaving the actual wood around the deadbolt only 3/8 of an inch thick. To address this vulnerability, install a door edge stiffener, which sandwiches the weak spot with two pieces of metal fastened with two binder bolts.Deadbolt strike plate The deadbolt strike plates on many doors are only 2 inches long, fastened by 1/2-inch screws, which provide little resistance against kick-ins. To provide maximum reinforcement, upgrade to an 18-inch door strike plate that’s fastened by 3 1/2-inch #9 deck screws.Hinges To provide adequate reinforcement, exterior doors should have three hinges, each with a four-screw hole pattern. Replace any 3/4-inch screws with 3 1/2-inch #9 deck screws.Locks Door locks come in three different grades, with Grade 1 being the strongest and Grade 3 being the weakest. Any exterior door lock should be a minimum of Grade 2 (a UL 437 high-security lock is a good choice). Deadbolts should have a 1-inch steel bolt that extends into the door frame and be UL Listed for pick and drill resistance.To find a Diamond Certified locksmith company that can help you with your home security needs, visit <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org">www.diamondcertified.org</a>.</div>

How to Harden Your Door Against Break-ins | Diamond Certified

James Florence

<div id="attachment_5025" style="width: 605px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5025" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-5025" src="http://live-diamond-certified-wp.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2.jpg" alt="As a home’s first line of security against break-ins, it's critical for exterior doors to be sufficiently reinforced. Photo: Metro Locksmiths, Inc. (2016)" width="595" height="397" />As a home’s first line of defense against break-ins, it&#8217;s critical for exterior doors to be sufficiently reinforced. Photo: Metro Locksmiths, Inc. (2016)</div>
Your home may have a high-end alarm system, but if your doors are second-rate, you’re running an unnecessary security risk. Exteriors doors are a home’s first line of defense, which is why a weak one represents a major point of vulnerability. Use the following checklist to make sure your doors have what it takes.
Door 
Door hardening starts with the door itself. While interior doors are typically 1 3/8-inch thick, exterior doors should be 1 3/4 inches of solid wood.
Door edge 
When a deadbolt is installed in a door, it creates a 1-inch bore through the outer edge, leaving the actual wood around the deadbolt only 3/8 of an inch thick. To address this vulnerability, install a door edge stiffener, which sandwiches the weak spot with two pieces of metal fastened with two binder bolts.
Deadbolt strike plate 
The deadbolt strike plates on many doors are only 2 inches long, fastened by 1/2-inch screws, which provide little resistance against kick-ins. To provide maximum reinforcement, upgrade to an 18-inch door strike plate that’s fastened by 3 1/2-inch #9 deck screws.
Hinges 
To provide adequate reinforcement, exterior doors should have three hinges, each with a four-screw hole pattern. Replace any 3/4-inch screws with 3 1/2-inch #9 deck screws.
Locks 
Door locks come in three different grades, with Grade 1 being the strongest and Grade 3 being the weakest. Any exterior door lock should be a minimum of Grade 2 (a UL 437 high-security lock is a good choice). Deadbolts should have a 1-inch steel bolt that extends into the door frame and be UL Listed for pick and drill resistance.
To find a Diamond Certified locksmith company that can help you with your home security needs, visit <a href="http://www.diamondcertified.org">www.diamondcertified.org</a>.

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As a home’s first line of defense against break-ins, it’s critical for exterior doors to be sufficiently reinforced. Photo: Metro Locksmiths, Inc. (2016)Your home may have a high-end alarm system, but if your doors are second-rate, you’re running an unnecessary security risk. Exteriors doors are a home’s first line of defense, which is why a weak one represents a major point of vulnerability. Use the following checklist to make sure your doors have what it takes.DoorDoor hardening starts with th

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