I am starting to look at new front and back doors. Any suggestions on the type I should get that would be the most secure? There is a ton of stuff on line but it seems to be mostly from manufacturers so I don't know how relable the information is.
go to recycling places, or even private dumps
find all steel doors and frames, heavy but very hard to get into.
Secure the metal frames to the house with new HARDWOOD,
you can buy hardwood timber in the lumber yard. Use long 6"-8" screws to secure them to the existing 2x4's
use, long strong screws, the standard size is about 1" to 1"1/2 inch, you need 6" or longer.
drill small pilot holes, drill/screw the long 6" to 8" screws into the hardwood.
put in 2 peep sites;
one at normal face level
one at belly level
make sure they are covered with a small door or other device so nobody can use the reverse peep to look into your abode.
for a cheaper option;
cover your existing door with a metal covering/both sides of door is best!
both sides, use security screws on outside, run to inside and secure with a locking bolt
security screws are rounded so they can not be turned from outside
replace the existing 2x4's normally softwood with hardwood
use long screws, see above
put in peep sites, see above
Deadbolts,
get good quality deadbolts or all that work is for nothing!
you can also look to security devices on existing commercial doors, see that metal bar that goes from side to side, you can put that the inside of your door as well.
use the 6"-8" screws to secure them into the wood as well, or bolts etc.
make sure you get the hinges with the door as well.
Thanks. Never thought of the two heights for the peep holes nor the covers.
I didn't realize there was such a thing as steel frames.
I wasn't sure if solid wood was as strong as the steel since most steel doors are hollow. I will try a dump or reuse place first. My doors are an odd size so unless I completely redo all of the framing and brick work, I have to custom order them. It doesn't help that it's a double bricked house.
I have been reading up on locks a bit and scratch plates made so they can't be jimmied. Guess it's a matter of finding them. Guessing the bits as I can afford makes it easier for me.
Thanks for the advice
Hollow doors are for the inside, although you should have solid doors there as well.
You could find some solid doors, cover them with metal plate, bolt the plate on and reinforce the door frames.
yes, metal plates over the bolt holes do help, so they can not jimmy the lock