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Doors
Filed measures for Doors.
Doors
How a Solid Core Door Slows a Forced Entry
ThreatOpportunistic forced entry: shoulder charges, boot kicks, pry-bar attacks, and repeated body slams against the latch and hinge side of an exterior door.
CostSolid-core slab alone typically $150–$500; prehung solid-core unit $400–$1,200; professional install and hardware add $200–$800 depending on frame repair and lock upgrades.
InstallModerate to high. Hanging a heavy slab requires two people, precise mortising, and frame reinforcement; a licensed carpenter or door professional is recommended for prehung replacement or structural frame work.
DetersDeters and delays physical breach by absorbing impact and resisting flex; it does not detect, record, or alert. It is a delay layer, not a surveillance or alarm device.
A door is the largest moving part of your home's exterior envelope, and it is also the weakest point in a typical wall assembly.
Doors
Kick-In Attacks and the Plate That Stops Them
ThreatForcible entry by kicking or body-checking a door, which concentrates force at the lock and strike area and can split the jamb or tear the strike plate free even when the lock cylinder holds.
CostParts typically range from about $15 to $80 for a reinforced strike plate, heavy-duty screws, and a jamb reinforcement kit; professional installation, if hired, commonly adds $75 to $250 per door depending on framing and trim work.
InstallModerate for a competent DIYer when replacing a strike plate and upgrading screws into existing framing; a licensed carpenter or door professional is recommended if the jamb is split, the frame is misaligned, or structural repair is needed.
DetersDeters or delays kick-in and shoulder-charge attempts by spreading force across a larger area and anchoring deeper into the wall framing; it does not detect, record, or alert, and it does not stop an attacker who defeats the door through glass, an open window, or an unlocked opening.
A door is only as strong as the weakest part of its frame.
Doors
Hinge Pins on the Outside Are an Open Invitation
ThreatOpportunistic and semi-skilled burglary via hinge-side entry, including pin removal, door lifting, and pry attacks on outswing doors
CostParts typically $15–$60 for security hinge pins, studs, or hinge-side reinforcement; professional installation $100–$300 per door depending on door type and existing hardware
InstallModerate for a competent DIYer on standard wood or metal doors; high for steel doors, fire-rated assemblies, or doors with concealed hinges; a licensed carpenter or door specialist is recommended for structural changes, and electrical work must be deferred to a licensed electrician
DetersDeters hinge-side prying, pin removal, and door lifting on outswing doors; does not deter forced entry through glass, lock bypass, or inswing door kick-ins; it provides no recording capability
Exterior doors are built to swing, and most residential doors swing inward.
Doors
Door Frames Fail Before the Lock Does
ThreatOpportunistic and semi-skilled forced entry: kick-ins, shoulder hits, pry-bar attacks, and door-frame spreading that defeat the lock without picking or bumping it.
CostReinforcement plates and strike kits typically run $20–$150 in parts; professional installation, frame repair, or replacement adds roughly $150–$600 depending on the door, frame condition, and local labor rates.
InstallModerate for surface-mounted reinforcement plates and longer strike screws, which most handy homeowners can install with a drill and chisel; high for frame replacement, structural repair, or anything involving load-bearing walls, which requires a licensed carpenter or contractor.
DetersDeters and delays forced entry by reinforcing the frame and strike area, where most kick-ins succeed. It does not detect, record, or alert; it is a physical delay measure, not a monitoring device.
Most residential break-ins do not involve sophisticated lock picking or electronic bypass.