You should feel safe when you’re at home. After all, it’s where you spend most nights, whether you’re curled up on the couch, relaxing or heading off to bed late at night. Your home is your sanctuary, your place of comfort, relaxation and safety. You want to feel secure, and if you’ve got kids, pets or elderly parents staying with you, you want them to be secure too. That’s why you should seriously invest in your home’s security. You can do this in a few ways, such as by installing deadlocks, CCTV systems, burglar alarms or a camera doorbell.
Installing a security door is another excellent way to ensure your home is secure. But a few options are on the market, making this choice somewhat tricky if you don’t know what you’re looking for. That’s why, in this helpful article, Clearshield will share exactly what you should look out for in a security door. You’ll be able to make an informed decision after reading this. So, without further ado, let’s get into the topic.
How Much Security Do You Need?
This is the first question to ask yourself, as it will inform your choice of door. If you live in an area with a high crime rate and lots of break-ins, a steel door with a steel grille or bars will provide the most protection. If you live in a safer area, you may want to give the impression of security with a sturdy aluminium door that will look sturdy but won’t be as secure as a steel door.
If you’re unsure of the crime statistics in your suburb, you can look this up online and let the data help inform your decision. It pays to be well-informed when it comes to security.
What to Look for in a Security Door
There are a few different things to look out for, which we’ll detail below. Use the following advice when researching security doors and the company to install them.
Does it Meet Australian Standards?
When speaking to security door companies, you should ask if the doors they provide meet the Australian Standard AS5039-2008 and if they also meet the standard for installation, which is AS5040. If they can’t provide a written guarantee that their doors and installation meet these standards, hang up and move on to the next company.
A Word About Frames
Most security doors will have steel or aluminium frames. Steel tends to be the most effective for a security door. However, aluminium is also more resistant to corrosion than steel. So you need to weigh this up when making a decision. The frame should have a deep receiver groove or channel for the grille of the door, so robbers can’t push the grille’s edge out of the frame with a crowbar or other tool.
What Type of Infill?
The infill is the material in the middle of the door and is what protects you and your home. The infill is usually made of steel, either as bars or in a decorative pattern, an aluminium grille, a structural aluminium sheet or a stainless steel mesh. Steel bars and grilles are the most secure of these options, with aluminium grilles offering the least protection. Stainless steel mesh is the next best option if you’re looking to secure your home against nefarious sorts.
What Type of Locks?
When researching different types of security doors and companies to install yours, you should ask about the locking mechanism. For instance, a weak wafer lock can be pretty vulnerable to being forced open. In contrast, a five-pin cylinder or a three-point lock tends to be more secure. Some locks come with extended warranties, so this is worth considering too.
Consider the Hinges
A good quality security door should have at least three hinges, with fixed hinge pins that can’t be easily removed. A fixed steel pin, or “dog bolt”, that can be welded into the hinge will offer superior protection and security for your home. A larger dog bolt is better than a small one.
The hinges should be installed so that they can’t be jimmied open with a crowbar or other tool that a burglar might use to access your home. Some security doors have a single, long hinge that runs the entire length of the frame, which is also a safe option.
Research the Company
Finally, your last step is to research the company that will install your security doors thoroughly. Read their website’s Google reviews and customer testimonials, and enquire about their terms and conditions. You want to choose a reputable company, like Clearshield Victoria, which can provide stellar service and high-quality security doors for your home.
Need Security Doors Installed?
If you’re looking to secure your home and protect yourself, your family and your possessions, contact Clearshield Victoria. We can provide a free quote, and all our security doors meet Australian standards. Contact us today to speak to one of our friendly staff, and we can assist you in making your home secure and safe.
