Doors and Door Frame Security
Reinforcing doors and door frame security is a need because standard home construction methods, may not always protect entryways from forced entry adequately.
According to recent FBI statistics a home burglary occurs every 18 seconds. The most common method of entry is through an unlocked door. Next is forced entry usually via a simple kick-in attack. Fortunately there are a number of relatively inexpensive do-it-yourself fixes. These devices when properly installed will greatly harden and reinforce entry doors, windows and door frames. The following video is very well done, it is a little long. But at end gives a very good demo how the product hardens and reinforces the entire entryway.
First you need to be sure the door itself is adequate. Exterior doors should be constructed of solid wood, solid wood core, or reinforced metal. For this discussion the door going from an attached garage into your house will be considered an exterior door.
Modern home building utilizes many prefabricated parts, doors, door frames, windows etc. These prefabricated parts are then set into prepared openings. (See the illustration of a typical rough door opening). The focus is on the king and jack studs, these are usually 2-x-4 studs.
Typical door rough opening for a prefabricated door and frame will usually be inserted into that opening. The prefabricated frame is usually constructed of 1/2 inch thick by 6 inch wide jambs on each side and a header at the top. The installation of this prefabricated frame leaves up to a 1/2 inch of empty space between the back of the jamb and the face of the jack stud, (See door jamb detail)
Door Jamb Detail