Help me harden my front door - SD issues

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skidmark

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:cuss: :banghead: My landlord just finished installing a new front door to my apartment.

It has two strips of glass, one on each side, running almost the full vertical length. They form sections #2 & 4 of 5 equal sections vertically. The door has a single-key deadbolt (key poutside, turn-latch inside). I got a flyer telling me to buy some venetian blinds to cover the inside of the door (lease requires that windows have venetian blinds visible from the street).

On top of that, I had one of the few remaining screen doors in the complex. They took it away.

I have to go get copies of the new key made - one stored off-site, one for each of three keychains (do not ask why, just accept them as necessary). Plus I will have different keys for the front & back doors till they replace the back door a few months down the road - and then no guarantee the doors will be keyed alike.

I need ideas on hardening this pos door. I want to put film on the glass to cut the sun/heat transfer (door faces south & gets full sun from 10 AM till sunset all year long). I'm looking for mirrored film to eliminate the view in but give me a view out. Is there any brand that adds shatter resistance?

My former solid door had a bar that wedged under the doorknob & braced against the stairs. I'm thinking that with the glass strips that will be of less use now.

My motion-sensor alarm is going to be of no use till I get something to cover the glass. The lowest setting still picks up motion outside the glass.

Yes, I can move, but I want ideas to avoid that.

And yes I have discussed the security issues with the landlord - in writing and via e-mail. Got receipts and time/date stamps to show he received the mail and at least hit the "read" button for the e-mail. Bottom line is - the property is being renovated & I should continue to enjoy my tenancy as he strives to make it a more pleasant place to live.

Thanks in advance for ideas or referrals for specific products.

stay safe.

skidmark
 
Bomb proof film over the glass would be a good start, I'll see if I can get a link for you, but you can normally only get through it with an axe.
 
I'd install something like this behind your door (i.e. inside the house). You can close and lock it, it won't be visible through the blinds on your door windows, and anyone trying to break in will be sorely disappointed! The folding model is widely used in other countries, and I'm astonished that more people don't use them in the US.


S01d.jpg
 
I'm not sure I can decribe this correctly but I'll try.

Get 2 eye bolts. Screw one of them into each side of the door into the studs, hook a length of chain or cable permanently to one eye bolt. Attach a carabiner to the other end and snap it into the eye bolt when you want the door secured. Cheap to do yet very hard to defeat. Also, will hang behind the door on the eye bolt out of the way when not in use.
 
They be called sidelights 'round here...not very good for security; skidmark is very wise to be concerned.

Sawdust
 
"how about replacing the deadbolt with one keyed on both sides?"

Maybe cause it usually violates the bulding and fire codes.
You can do it on your own house, but a landlord has a real problem.
 
that and all you would need is a battery opperated saw

Punch the glass out and make two strait cuts from the window to the door jam, one above and one bellow the deadbolt. From there you can guess. Harder to do that with a solid door cause you need a hole and various cuts, two strait cuts would take all of a minute or two if that and if your neighborhood is enough to seriously worry I doubt it is one that is likely to notice either.
 
Put a large dog behind the door. Problem solved, and you have a new friend, too.

Rescue organizations have plenty of great, loyal dogs for cheap or free.
 
One of the first things I do when I move into a new apartment is change out the screws holding your door.

Typically they put in the 1 1/4" screws, never once have I seen any longer than 1 1/2" installed into the doors. I replace them with 3" ones. While this won't stop a determined perp. It makes a lot more noise and takes a few extra kicks to get through. (If you choose to do this, replace them one at a time, and you won't have to worry about having a door that sticks)

Once upon a time I installed deadbolts to the corners of my door. I was living in a high crime area and couldn't get out of my lease. Again, I didn't trust these to stop anyone but to buy me enough time to get to my shotgun.



Hope this helps.
 
Use the kiss principle on this.

Cut a 2x4 the distance from the stairs to the bottom of the door like you would for a sliding glass door. This will stop anyone dead in their tracks for as long as you need to wake up, grab your gun and make yourself ready. Cheap and effective. Good idea on the film.
 
door stop

I've seen, but don't recall where, a door stop that installed into a socket installed in the floor. In one position, the door was blocked shut. Pull it out, reverse it, re-install in the socket and the door could be opened a few inches to converse with someone outside.

How many fire exits do you have in your apartment? If you only have the one door to the outside, then you need to be carefull of your security measures. The ones you install need to be simple enough to let you out in a smokey fire!!! For that reason, deadbolts with a key on the inside are not such a good idea.

How about simple slide bolts, one at the top and one at the bottom. Even if someone were to break the glass, it would take them some time to figure it out.

RDF
 
Theres an outfit called Safe Home Int'l that markets a product that is, essentially, a full length strike plate. 10 4" wood screws anchor their strike plate to the inside of the frame. They also market a film for any glass areas, but, from what I've read from previous posts in this thread, I doubt if the film would be any more effective than other film products previously mentioned.

Run a 'Google' on safe home int'l. You can increase your security from the ' kick and grab' invaders w/o having to buy your landlord a new door.

salty.
 
I'm looking for mirrored film to eliminate the view in but give me a view out. Is there any brand that adds shatter resistance?
Click to expand...
There's nothing magical about "one way" film - it's just a partially reflective coating that allows the person on the darker side of the window to see into the lighter side without being easily seen himself. So a "one way" film will let you see out without being seen during the day, but at night, the situation is reversed; someone on the dark street can see into your lit up living room, but you can't see out.

As far as strengthening the glass, 3M makes window film that adds shatter resistance, but I don't know if it's available for DIY installation.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/WF/3MWindowFilms/Products/ProductCatalog/
 
The thing that goes into a socet in the floor may be the Door Club - I've seem them on-line do a search and you should be able to find someone selling them...one problem is you have to drill a hole in the floor - but its a rental and you can cover it with a doormat.

If you want something to cover the windows you could cut a sheet of plywood to fit over the windows from the inside or better yet cover the entire door - you can carpet it or paint it so it doesn't look so bad even mount some blinds on the inside between the glass and plywood so no one knows what you did - just screw it onto the door around the edges and maybe in the middle it the door is solid enough.

Best to change out the doorjam screws and get a good long deadbolt too - I would always put my own deadbolts in when I lived in Apts - I never told the manager and I didn't want the mgr or repair people in when I wasn't home...if they find out and you are satisfied with WHY they wanted in just tell them you lost the key and had it re-keyed & been meaning to give them a copy.
 
First thing I would do is let about a half dozen folks send the landlord a note with The Flying Fickle Finger Of Fate Award with a tube of KY.

Preacherman's gate idea is good.
Mom&Pop Locksmith and Medeco Locks, NO inside turnbolt, and if the landidiot has to have a key, do so with a sealed envelope with a wax seal. That way seal must be broken in case of "emergency" use.

Always Always have a spare set of locks.

Depends on floor, still drilling a hole, and inserting a pc of Rebar will keep a door from being opened while you sleep at night. Whether the door is opened by key, or busted open.

Yep, drill into floor where door cannot be opened. I mean where the Rebar is dead center and right up as close to door as can be. NO handles or nothing on that Rebar and being real low to the floor, folks cannot get a hold of it to pull it out.

Yes it works...allows one to sleep better - day or night ( depending on hours one works).

Simple mat to cover when not in use. Wood Floors can be plugged with wooden dowel - concrete use Plaster of Paris and color it back best can. If tile, replace tile...etc upon moving out.

You are not going to get all your deposit back anyway, just do best can filling in that hole when you leave.

:)
 
Trip sensor on door/frame rather than motion sensor. Some alarm systems
also allow this to be set to chime when opened without the system being
armed. I've used these for at least a decade and have never had a problem
with false alarms.
 
Bad Guys are more likely to enter from the side, or back of the house. Front door is too high profile.
 
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