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There are several ways to improve the security of the doors to your home or business. High tech security systems, commercial grade locks and regular spot checking are all ways to further secure your entryways.

However, break-ins are often executed the good old fashioned way, with brute force or door prying. So, how else can you prevent intruders from gaining access to your building by essentially walking through your front door?

Latch Protectors

Chances are you’ve seen latch protectors in your daily life but didn’t realize their purpose. A latch protector is a either a stainless steel or a cold-rolled steel plate that is affixed to the door itself. The plate overlaps with the door jamb which helps prevent prying and jamb spreading. Since it’s affixed to the outside, it also makes it more difficult to kick a door in.

Levels of Security

There are three levels of security offered by latch protectors.
Level 3: Commercial grade security preventing forced entry
Level 2: Includes an anti-spread pin preventing forced entry and door jamb separation
Level 1: Contains 2 anti-spread pins providing an optimum deterrent for forced entry and door jamb separation.

Depending on your needs, you may choose to have the most heavy duty option or the basic latch protector.

Aesthetics

We can never forget about the fact that our doors add a level of aesthetic appeal to our homes and office buildings. Just like with many other security features, latch protectors come in several finishes to match your overall décor scheme. Aluminum, antique brass, chrome, stainless steel, mirrored brass…there are plenty of options to choose from.

Latch protectors are often overlooked by homeowners because they seem a bit too commercially driven. However, if you’ve ever had your home broken into you know that you can never take too many security precautions. With latch protectors coming in so many finish options, it should be simple to choose one that works well with your home’s overall appearance.

Installation

Latch protectors provide additional security for the latch and deadbolt. To be sure you’re not interfering with the door’s other mechanisms, it’s best to seek the advice of a professional locksmith before installation. Installation plans will revolve around several factors such as door type, amount of surface area to cover, how the door swings and ensuring that once it’s installed the door will latch properly. During installation people often find that there are adjustments which need to be made to the door beforehand. A professional locksmith will be able to assist you with any snafus that may appear.

As always, be sure you’re following basic door security tips on a regular basis. No matter how many bells and whistles you have installed on your entryways, if they’re not properly maintained you could be asking for trouble.

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When’s the last time you took a good look at the state of your door jambs? If you haven’t paid them much attention recently, take a second on your way out and give it a peek.

Chances are that if you haven’t recently had new doors and jambs installed, they’re looking pretty haggard. If you do notice that they’re a bit worse for wear, consider installing a jamb jacket to provide a higher level of security to your home and office doorways.

At Risk Doors

Wooden doors weaken and become damaged more easily than most other materials. Constant use and weather may cause the wood to soften, splinter or deteriorate, making your doors less secure. Look at the door jamb. If it appears to be worn down or pieces easily splinter off then you need to address the issue sooner rather than later.

Even if your doors are made of another, less soft material, the door jambs will need reinforcing at some point in time. Aluminum and other metals may become dented preventing the door from properly latching.

Concerns with Reinforcing Door Jambs

Often times, people leave their crumbling door jambs as they are because they’re under the impression they’ll need to do a rip and replace of the entire door set or frame to fix the issue. Fortunately, jamb jackets are the perfect solution for someone with this concern. The jamb jacket is installed over the existing door jamb so there’s no need to replace anything.

Another concern is that the jamb jacket will interfere with aesthetics. In actuality, if appearance is something you’re concerned with, jamb jackets can help! They create a smooth, clean surface and are available in a few color options.

Installation can also seem too complicated for the everyday homeowner. If ease of installation is a barrier for you, contacting a professional locksmith to pop one in is a safe bet. Realistically, any time you’re installing new hardware on your doors you’ll want to get a professional to take on the project with you. You can never be too careful when it comes to securing your home or business.

Benefits of Jamb Jackets

The primary benefit of installing a jamb jacket is added security. If your door jambs are weakened from overuse and deterioration, a burglar can easily kick in the door and gain access to your home or business. Even if you’ve installed the most sophisticated high grade lock you could find, a weak door jamb will never hold up to brute force. The disappointing part is that it could have all been easily prevented if properly addressed.

A side benefit is that they truly do streamline the look of your doorway. Also, if you’ve got little ones running around, you could mitigate the risk of some nasty injuries from splintering wood or sharp metal projections.

Talk to your local Boston area locksmith if you see some signs of wear in your door jambs. They’ll be able to make recommendations and help with your new jamb jacket installation.

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Our homes’ doors and locks need to serve two purposes: provide safety and add to our home aesthetically. Commercial buildings have it a bit easier, mostly focusing on the practical issues when purchasing door locks, but when it comes to our homes, they not only need to keep intruders out but must also be appealing to the eye. Here are a few options to consider when choosing your new decorative residential locks.

Keyed Handle Set

Handle sets add a regal look to your entry way. With a handle, thumb operated latch, and matching deadbolt, this particular variety of decorative locking system not only looks polished but also offers a single or double cylinder deadbolt option to up your home’s security. Many manufacturers offer “dummy” sets for French doors to ensure both sides are perfectly matched.

Electronic Door Locks

An electronic lock or smartphone operated lock adds a greater level of security, convenience and value to your home. Many different manufacturers have a variety of faceplates to choose from to match the style of your home. This way you won’t have to worry about being stuck with a futuristic looking faceplate if you live in a traditional house.

Passage Door Lock

This type of lockset is best used for interior doors, or doors leading into a secure area such as your backyard or patio, as they only lock from a single side or not at all. They look like standard door knobs but come in many different finishes, making them virtually customizable to any design scheme.

Using this lockset on non-main entry doors (think back, side and patio doors) provides an added security benefit. Since they require a key to unlock, there’s no chance of an intruder breaking a window, reaching in and simply turning the locking mechanism to gain entry.

Additional Security Hardware

If you’ve found the perfect lockset to compliment your design preferences but feel like you need additional security measures, consider having a professional locksmith install extra hardware, such as:

• Night latch – secures the door from the inside only
• Door viewer – a standard peephole
• Door jam security hardware – designed to strengthen vulnerable areas of the door jam to help withstand applied force such as kicking

There are different grades of locking mechanisms for all the doors in your home. Once you’ve chosen the perfect look, check with your local Boston area locksmith about your options to feel more secure in your home.