Buying Guides
Front Door Security: What Actually Makes an Entry Door Hard to Break Into
A door is only as strong as its weakest part, and the weak part is rarely the slab. Here is what police advise, how frames, strike plates, hinges, locks and glass work together, and what to ask before you buy.
By EHI Custom Doors
Key Takeaways
- The weak points are usually the frame, strike plate, hinges, lock and nearby glass, not the door slab.
- Police advice includes a deadbolt with a 1-inch throw, a strike plate with long screws that reach the wall stud, tamper-proof outside hinges, and glass that is unbreakable or at least 40 inches from the lock.
- A multipoint lock secures a door at several points and spreads force along the frame. EHI doors can be built with one.
- Steel is stronger against extreme force, but in practice the frame and the lock decide security more than the slab material.
- Habits count too: lock the door every time, keep keys and valuables out of view, and light the entrance.
Front door security starts with one idea: a door is only as strong as its weakest part. Most forced entries do not break through the slab. They defeat the frame, the strike plate, the lock or the glass next to it. This guide explains how those parts work together, what police advise, and what to ask before you buy a new door.
We are EHI Custom Doors. We manufacture and install custom fiberglass front doors and back doors, and we build the frame and slab as a matched set. No door is unbreakable, and we will not claim ours is. We can tell you what makes one harder to force.
How Front Doors Get Forced
The common attack is force at the lock side: a kick or a pry bar aimed at the latch and the strike plate, where a weak frame splits. The other common attack is glass. If a pane sits close to the lock, someone can break it, reach in and turn the handle. Both attacks go after the parts around the slab, which is why the parts below matter more than the material of the door itself.
The Parts That Decide Whether a Door Holds
| Part | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | A solid frame with a snug fit, fastened to the wall studs | The frame takes the force. A door in a weak frame fails at the frame. |
| Strike plate and screws | A four-hole security strike plate with screws at least 2 inches long, and longer where possible, so they reach the structure behind the frame | Short screws pull out of soft trim. Long screws tie the plate to the wall. |
| Deadbolt | A quality deadbolt with a 1-inch throw | A deeper bolt is harder to spread out of the strike |
| Hinges | Long screws into the studs, and tamper-proof hinges on outswing doors | Exposed hinge pins can be removed unless the hinge locks them in place |
| Glass | Unbreakable glass, or glass at least 40 inches from the lock | Glass near the handle lets someone reach in and turn it |
| Slab | A solid, dense core | A hollow or thin slab is easier to break through |
These points come from police advice. The Vancouver Police Department recommends deadbolts with a 1-inch throw, long strike plate screws that anchor into the wall stud, tamper-proof outside hinges, and glass that is unbreakable or at least 40 inches from locks. The Toronto Police Service advises a quality deadbolt and a minimum four-hole security strike plate with screws at least 2 inches long.
Locks: Single-Point, Multipoint and Mortise
- Single-point: a deadbolt that secures the door at one spot, at the handle. Simple and common, and the strike plate and frame carry all the force.
- Multipoint: a system that engages several points along the frame, typically at the top, middle and bottom, so force is spread along the door edge and the door also seals tighter. EHI doors can be built with a multipoint lock system.
- Mortise: a steel-cased lock set into the edge of the door. Our back doors can also be ordered with a mortise lock.
Lock type is one of the things that moves the price, as our guide to custom exterior doors cost in Toronto explains. A lock helps only if the frame around it holds, so check both together. Our guide to front door hardware covers handle sets, lock grades, smart locks and finishes.
Glass and Sidelights
Light through a door is worth having, and the rule is to control where the glass sits. Keep panes away from the handle and the lock, or choose laminated glass, which holds together longer than tempered glass when struck. Frosted, textured and decorative glass change what people can see. They do not make a pane harder to break. Our guide to exterior door glass options shows layouts that keep daylight and reduce risk.
Does the Door Material Matter?
A little, and less than most people think. Steel is the strongest slab against extreme force, wood depends on thickness and core, and fiberglass has a solid core and holds up well. In practice the frame, the strike plate and the lock decide more. Our guide to fiberglass vs wood vs steel doors compares the three on security and everything else.
Double Doors
A double door has a centre seam and an inactive leaf. If the inactive leaf is held by light surface bolts, it is the weak point. Bolts that go into the frame at the top and bottom, a solid frame and a good lock on the active leaf fix that. Our guide to single vs double entry doors explains the hardware to ask about.
Habits That Matter as Much as Hardware
- Lock the door every time you leave and at night, even for a short trip
- Do not hide a spare key near the door
- Use a peephole or a camera to see who is there. The Vancouver Police Department prefers a peephole to a chain lock.
- Light the entrance so the door is not in shadow
- Keep keys, wallets and valuables out of sight of any glass
Signs Your Door Is a Security Risk
- A frame that is split, cracked or soft near the lock
- A strike plate that keeps working loose
- A door that is warped or will not latch cleanly
- Glass close to the handle with no way to secure it
If you see these, our guide on when to replace an exterior door has a repair vs replace test. Some fixes on a sound door are small, such as longer strike plate screws or a better deadbolt. Those are jobs for a handyman or a locksmith. A damaged frame is a reason to replace the door.
How We Build Doors for Security
Our slab, frame and brickmould are solid composite fiberglass, and we build the frame and slab as a matched set so the door fits its opening. Composite rails with mortise and tenon joints hold the door together. Our installer takes final measurements before we build, so the door sits snug in the frame. We can build it with a multipoint lock system, and we can place glass away from the lock. Browse the door catalogue and photos of doors we have installed to see the options.
Get a Quote for a More Secure Entrance
Send photos of your door, the frame and the lock area. Call EHI Custom Doors at 647-952-2311 or request a quote. We are open Monday to Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and there is no pressure to book on the spot. Read what customers say on our reviews page.
Front door security is a system, not a single part. A solid frame, a well-fastened strike plate, tamper-proof hinges, a good lock and careful glass placement, together with good habits, do more than any one upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a front door more secure?
A solid frame that fits snugly, a security strike plate with long screws, a quality deadbolt with a 1-inch throw, tamper-proof hinges on outswing doors, and glass that is unbreakable or well away from the lock. A multipoint lock adds securing points along the frame.
How long should strike plate screws be?
The Toronto Police Service advises screws at least 2 inches long, and longer where possible, so they reach the structure behind the frame. The Vancouver Police Department advises long screws that anchor into the wall stud.
Is a multipoint lock more secure than a deadbolt?
A multipoint lock secures the door at several points along the frame and spreads force along the door edge, and it also pulls the door tighter to its seal. A deadbolt secures one point. The frame around either lock still has to be solid. EHI doors can be built with a multipoint lock system.
Are glass front doors less secure?
They can be if the glass is close to the lock. Police advise glass that is unbreakable or at least 40 inches from the lock. Laminated glass holds together longer than tempered glass, and sidelights set away from the handle keep the light without the risk.
Which is more secure, fiberglass, wood or steel?
Steel resists extreme force best. In practice the frame, strike plate and lock decide security more than the slab, so a solid frame and a good lock matter on any material.
Do outswing doors need special hinges?
Yes. Hinges on the outside can be exposed, so police advise tamper-proof hinges with pins that cannot be removed.
Should I replace or upgrade a front door for security?
On a sound door, small upgrades such as longer strike plate screws or a better deadbolt help. If the frame is split, soft or damaged, or the door will not latch cleanly, replacement is the fix that lasts.
Can you build a front door with a multipoint lock?
Yes. EHI Custom Doors can build doors with a multipoint lock system. Lock type is one of the things that changes the final price.
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