In this article we discuss how to secure a door from the inside using door barricade systems. Standard door locks won’t keep a would-be intruder out 100 percent of the time. Homebuilders strive to build the most affordable homes possible, and they cut costs anywhere they can, including your home’s security. Your door is most likely attached to the framing with 3/8 to 1/2 inch screws and your lock’s strikes plates are most likely kept in place with the same tiny screws. A forced-door entry is conceivable with these items.

Forced Door Entry Can Be Prevented With Door Braces

You can fix this by addressing the issues listed above or by installing door security systems to reinforce the door and prevent it from being kicked in. Even though the door is reinforced, if the door locks are not addressed, they can be circumvented – and it isn’t as tough as you might believe.

Plastic pieces are used in the majority of modern door locks, which are installed by builders and supplied by large box merchants. Furthermore, while the Kwikset SmartKey locks used by builders are very resistant to bumping and picking, a bypass tool exists that can easily defeat those locks.

How can you keep someone from coming in once they’ve gotten past your locks? You want a simple device that would provide optimal protection against home break-ins even if the door locks are not engaged.

A door brace is one of the greatest ways to secure a door from the inside. They don’t require any particular door modifications and are simple to install and remove. They prevent the door from being forced open, as well as being opened if your locks have been left unlocked (from a key, picking or lock bumping). They are, in many respects, the best door security solution you can install.

Here is a examination over door braces in detail to help you choose the right one for your needs. Door braces are a simple first step in reinforcing the door, and many of them don’t require any tools or adjustments.

 

What Is A Door Brace And What Does It Do?

Door bracing are fitted from the interior of the house to keep unwanted or forced entrance out. Portable door braces, security bars, half deadbolt or flush bolts, barricade bars, and door closer covers are the five different types of door braces (used primarily on commercial doors).

Types of Door Braces

Each style of door brace has its own set of characteristics. Choose what to buy based on the level of security or mobility you desire. Some are moveable, while others are permanently installed. Door security braces provide security by preventing the door from swinging inward or outward, making it resistant to kicks and forcible entrance.

A burglar will need more pounds per square inch of pressure to get into your home or business if you use security bracing. The various bracing are compatible with most residential and commercial doors. Because the front and back doors are the principal entrance sites, heavy-duty bracing should be used.

A security brace must be installed from the inside of the house, as they cannot be used on an exit door.  The door brace security solutions can be employed on the main front and back entry doors if the garage is used as your exit.

One of the most important advantages of a security brace is that it can prevent someone from entering the house even if they have a functional key.

When it comes to choosing a door brace, there are a few things to keep in mind.

 

Dimensions of the Door

Standard doors range in size from 30 to 36 inches wide and are roughly 80 inches tall. This isn’t the case for every door, either. So, before you buy a door brace, measure the height, thickness, and breadth of the door to ensure that the product you’re considering fits within the product’s functional dimensions.

Placement

Consider where you’ll put the security bar on your door. Some are designed for hinged doors exclusively, while others are designed for sliding doors.

There are outward swinging door braces as well, although they are mostly for commercial doors and are only briefly addressed below.

Make a note of the flooring adjacent to the door you wish to secure before purchasing the door brace, as some security bars may not work on linoleum or carpet flooring.

 

Are Door Security Bars Effective?

When you purchase a high-quality product, door security bars work well to reinforce a door. The most effective door barrier devices are made of metal or steel and are designed to provide secure reinforcement without causing damage to the floor or the door. Choose a product that can endure more than 350 pounds of force.

 

Methods of Installation

If you don’t know how to use tools, look for things that are simple to install without the assistance of a professional. Some braces are as easy as positioning the security bar against the doorknob and securing it with pressure. Installing these bars takes only a few seconds. There’s no need to drill. Others require foundation (concrete) anchoring but are still relatively straightforward to install. The most difficult methods necessitate drilling additional holes in the door. These might provide the finest door security enhancement, despite being tough to install.

 

Doors that are resistant to being kicked in are available in a variety of products.

There are various methods for making doors more secure and preventing them from being forced open. Select the door that is most suited to your requirements. As previously stated, there are five different types of door bracing systems. You can secure a door from the inside by bracing it, installing more locks to distribute force from the door, improving the quality of the door’s locks, and installing superior screws that connect the door to the studs behind the framing rather than merely the framing.

 

Jammers for doors

Door jammers are one of the tiniest door bracing available. Door jammers use either pressure or a base plate secured to the floor to secure the door at the base. In effect, they “jam” the door, preventing it from opening. Travelers can use portable door jammers to secure doors while on the road.

At the base of the door, on the far corner of the swing side (opposite the hinge side), door jammers are utilized. Door jammers are divided into two categories. To keep the door in place, strain is applied between the door’s base and the floor. Door wedges, for example, use tension from the door pressing against them as it opens, while others use a base that extends and retracts by turning the base into the ground. Tension-based door jammers are portable and can be used outside the home (such as a rental home or hotel).

The other sort of door jammer is attached to the ground by a plate. This floor plate is slid or snapped into by the jammer. Because the base is fastened into the flooring, these are more secure, but they are not moveable.

If force is detected, some door jammers include an alarm or siren to inform anyone in the house.

Amazon has a reliable door jammer.

 

Advantages of a Door Jammer:

The portable door jammer does not require any tools to set up and can be used on the go.

Cosmetically, the small footprint is pleasing.

Disadvantages:

A door jammer’s vulnerability is that it prevents the door from opening at the bottom.

If the door is unlocked (for example, by picking the locks, using a key, or bumping the locks, all resistance from a forced entry will be at the base of the door. Weaker doors can bend and possibly break if all of the effort is applied high on the door, allowing someone to get through. The strength and overall proportions of the door will determine how serious this is.

Door jammers are only effective on doors that swing inward.

 

Security Bars for Doors

Door security bars, like door jammers, work by applying pressure to keep a door closed. The bottom of the bar extends to the floor, providing tension between the floor and the closed door. This bar can be extended at a 45-degree angle to provide maximum door fortification and resistance to force. Many types of door security bars can be used on both sliding and hinged doors.

Many fold to as little as two feet long and a few inches wide when not in use, allowing them to be placed out of the way in a corner next to the door.

 

Advantages:

Because a security bar resists force in the middle of the door, a door brace that secures at the bottom of the door does not have the same issue. As a result, the strength will be nearly entirely determined by the strength of the door knob/lever you’re locking it to. If that’s strong enough, this is one of the safest door braces you can employ, providing hundreds of pounds of force resistance to the door.

Disadvantages:

Security bars are not movable due to their length.

They will not resist an attack if they are not fitted appropriately.

Only inward swinging or sliding doors can be secured with door security bars.

Bracing the Door with Half Deadbolts or Flush Bolts

At the top of the door, a half deadbolt has been installed.

Half deadbolts are an excellent technique to strengthen a door. Half deadbolts are deadbolts that are visible from inside the house but have no proof of being present on the outside due to the lack of a keyhole.

The half deadbolt is usually fitted above the current deadbolt to further strengthen the door’s center by transferring any stress across additional bolt.

Half deadbolts can be fitted at the bottom and top of the door if further security is desired. This gives the highest level of protection against forced entrance.

Flush bolts extend into the floor or header of the door and are positioned on the back of the door. Because they are screwed into the door, their usefulness is mostly determined on the door’s strength and the size of the screw. Half deadbolts are preferred over flush bolts because they are stronger and more aesthetically pleasing.

 

Advantages of the Half Deadbolt:

Maximum protection against forced entrance.

Work on swing doors that open inward and outward

 

Disadvantages of the Half Deadbolt: 

Installation by a local locksmith is almost typically required unless you’re a carpenter.

 

Barricades are bars that surround a room

Barricade bars are simple to install and provide reliable security for both inward and outward swinging entry doors. The majority of them are used on business doors, however some are also built for home usage. One bar and two door barricade brackets make up a barricade bar. On a door, the barrier brackets are mounted to the left and right. To prevent inward swing doors from being forced open, a bar is fitted onto the brackets. Because they are unattractive, they are virtually usually employed in commercial applications.

Wooden barricade bars were used in the older design. Steel is more commonly used in modern ones.

Several types have a hinge on one side for simplicity of use, allowing you to secure the barricade bar in seconds.

Advantages:

Exceptionally safe.

Disadvantages:

Your door has a large, unsightly bar on the inside.

Commercial use may be in violation of fire codes. You should consult with the fire marshal. Many counties will permit barricade bars if they are clearly marked as having to be removed during business hours.

Installation is required.

Covers for Door Closers

Door closer covers are a one-of-a-kind door brace that works well in business doors (or any door that has a door closer installed).

Door closer covers are commonly found in offices, hospitals, and commercial buildings.

The devices are designed to slide over the surface mount door closer’s rods. When a door is opened, these rods move. Locking the door closer rods in place is a service that locks the door in place since the rods are no longer free to move, preventing the door from opening.

Advantages:

Extremely cost effective.

It’s quite simple to set up.

Commercially viable applications.

Disadvantages:

The door’s security brace becomes the door closer’s screws, which can be ripped out with enough force to allow the door to open.

This is not a product for securing residential doors.

Commercial use may be in violation of fire codes. You should consult with the fire marshal

 

Conclusion

Door barricade devices can be installed without altering your existing locks or door, and they give a high level of improved door security to prevent forceful entry or kick-ins.

There are a variety of options available, including some for travelers. The OnGuard and NightLock door jammers, which have a floor plate and a vertical bracing, are a favorite for do-it-yourselfers.

For the most streamlined look and finest door security, we recommends half deadbolts, however door security braces are fantastic alternatives if you don’t want to employ someone to install the door security protection. If you need more details or advice on these door barricade systems please contact us.