Preventing a door from getting kicked in

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C

cross6

Senior member
Jun 16, 2005
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Besides the obvious tie in to the studs with long screws, what else can I do? Someone about 4 doors down got robbed at gunpoint last night after he (stupidly) opened the door at 4 am for strangers.


I was thinking about cutting up some square tube stock, and making hangers on either side of the door. Then placing a bigass pipe across it like old school storm doors.

?
 
M

mordantmonkey

Diamond Member
Dec 23, 2004
3,075
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they sell these kits that have a bar and two plates. one plate goes on the door the other on the floor, the bar slips inbetween. obviously not a good choice if you have carpet...
 
J

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
The weak spot is where it latches. You could go NYC-style and have 14 deadbolts...

Old school storm doors are even better, if more ghetto-looking. Well...I suppose that's subjective.
 
Rubycon

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
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Turn it around and make it open out. It is impossible to kick in a outswinging door. If you have someone really heavy set they can charge the door and it will swing open smacking the perp hard enough to really knock him for a loop.
 
S

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,349
106
106
Originally posted by: jagec
The weak spot is where it latches. You could go NYC-style and have 14 deadbolts...

Old school storm doors are even better, if more ghetto-looking. Well...I suppose that's subjective.
Click to expand...

A friend of my parents lived in NYC years ago and had that sort of crazy lock setup in an apartment. The burglers ended up tunneling through the plaster wall next to the door. :Q
 
C

cross6

Senior member
Jun 16, 2005
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Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
they sell these kits that have a bar and two plates. one plate goes on the door the other on the floor, the bar slips inbetween. obviously not a good choice if you have carpet...
Click to expand...



Carpet and concrete :frown:
 
C

cross6

Senior member
Jun 16, 2005
508
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Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Turn it around and make it open out. It is impossible to kick in a outswinging door. If you have someone really heavy set they can charge the door and it will swing open smacking the perp hard enough to really knock him for a loop.
Click to expand...



you can just flip it around?
 
Rubycon

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
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Originally posted by: cross6

you can just flip it around?
Click to expand...

Well that suggestion is REALLY oversimplified. The door has to be re-hung and you would have to address the access to the hinge issue. Of course any handy person that knows how to weld can address these issues easily. :)

 
B

BlueFlamme

Senior member
Nov 3, 2005
565
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Originally posted by: cross6
Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Turn it around and make it open out. It is impossible to kick in a outswinging door. If you have someone really heavy set they can charge the door and it will swing open smacking the perp hard enough to really knock him for a loop.
Click to expand...



you can just flip it around?
Click to expand...

Yep, that way the screws on the latches will face the outside world :D

Actually, there are some latches that dont' have this problem, but the best way is to install a 4" deadbolt directly into the framing. Since it is an appt I am not sure how much you are allowed to do on your own.
 
So

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
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Originally posted by: cross6
Originally posted by: So
You have bars on your windows?
Click to expand...



No.
Click to expand...


Then what's the point of seriously securing a door? If they want in, they'll get in.

I suggest building a panic room.
 
F

ForumMaster

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2005
7,792
1
0
Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Turn it around and make it open out. It is impossible to kick in a outswinging door. If you have someone really heavy set they can charge the door and it will swing open smacking the perp hard enough to really knock him for a loop.
Click to expand...
MD Dawn is right again. that is a good idea. you can't kick open a door that opens to the street. also, get a video camera outside?
 
E

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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81
Originally posted by: ForumMaster
Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Turn it around and make it open out. It is impossible to kick in a outswinging door. If you have someone really heavy set they can charge the door and it will swing open smacking the perp hard enough to really knock him for a loop.
Click to expand...
MD Dawn is right again. that is a good idea. you can't kick open a door that opens to the street. also, get a video camera outside?
Click to expand...
Uh, what exactly is the difference between a door that swings in, and out?
 
nakedfrog

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,785
18,981
136
Originally posted by: So
Originally posted by: cross6
Originally posted by: So
You have bars on your windows?
Click to expand...



No.
Click to expand...


Then what's the point of seriously securing a door? If they want in, they'll get in.

I suggest building a panic room.
Click to expand...

No kidding. Here at work, we have a cipher lock on the front door.
And windows all over the building. :confused:
 
mugs

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: ForumMaster
Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Turn it around and make it open out. It is impossible to kick in a outswinging door. If you have someone really heavy set they can charge the door and it will swing open smacking the perp hard enough to really knock him for a loop.
Click to expand...
MD Dawn is right again. that is a good idea. you can't kick open a door that opens to the street. also, get a video camera outside?
Click to expand...
Uh, what exactly is the difference between a door that swings in, and out?
Click to expand...

You'd have to use enough force to bust through the door jamb (no big deal) and rip the hinges out of either the door or the door frame. But I don't think that's really an effective way to prevent it, and of course it leaves the hinges exposed to the outside.

I like the method the guy used in the thread last night - a 30-06.
 
J

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
18,834
1
0
Smashing down a door is too noisy and obvious. The kind of people who try to get you to open the door so they can rob you at gunpoint will go to a different door if you don't answer instead of waking up the entire building smashing the door open.
 
R

rezinn

Platinum Member
Mar 30, 2004
2,418
0
0
The best way I can think of for keeping someone from kicking in your door is to place a bar about 2/3 up between the floor and handle, which slides across the door. By the time they actually got in they'd have to have broken the door, injured themselves, and the police would be on the way. Plus you'd have time to barricade yourself in your secret room.
 
dug777

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
It's sad that you have to care.

Here, i sleep with a cricket bat by the bed, but that's just beause i'm paranoid by our standards...
 
K1052

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
52,663
46,356
136
Steel door, quality deadbolt (Grade 1) and knob, and striker box for deadbolt.

Also, use VERY long wood screws to secure knob striker, deadbolt striker box, and hinges.

 
M

mercanucaribe

Banned
Oct 20, 2004
9,763
1
0
Originally posted by: dug777
It's sad that you have to care.

Here, i sleep with a cricket bat by the bed, but that's just beause i'm paranoid by our standards...
Click to expand...

To protect yourself from crickets?
 
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