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What is the most secure exterior door?

Steel doors Steel doors are among the best front doors for security. It's nearly impossible to break through; even if beaten or abused, these doors are more likely to dent than come down.

adt.com - The Best Security Doors for Your Home - ADT

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Your home is a safe place. It's where you are most secure, where you relax at the end of the day. When that is violated, it can be devastating to your sense of security. This has happened to millions of Americans over the past few years. Usually, those who break into a home do so to steal valuables. If you want to guard against this, you might want to invest in strong security doors. A security door is an essential component of any home security system. It's the first line of defense in ensuring that an intruder cannot get into your home. And yet, many people have no idea what a security door is or why it's necessary.

If that's you, don't worry!

We'll explain just what a security door is, what it does, and what the best ones on the market are. If you're looking to improve your home security with some simple tips, this is your first step!

What Are Security Doors?

You may be asking, "What's a security door? How is it different from the doors I have in my house?" Security doors are essentially exterior doors that are reinforced by steel. These doors come in two types. First, there are openwork steel doors. These are doors that look like they're made from wrought iron and have a tempered glass panel. Tempered glass is a safety glass that's manufactured to be more durable than standard glass. The second type looks similar to a normal wood door, but between the thin layers of wood are reinforced with steel on the inside. You'll also see reinforced side fixings. Not only are these doors reinforced by steel, but they are also made stronger by other features. Most notably, the hinges of a security door tend to be hidden. In addition to the hinges being hidden, they also have hinge screws installed. This makes it impossible for the door to be removed, even if hinge pins are removed. Another central feature of security doors is that keys can only be replicated by the door's manufacturer. This helps bolster your security, but you can also install a smart door lock to bypass keys entirely. A final advantage to these secure front doors is that they offer all-around protection. A security door is less likely to be damaged by severe weather or flying debris. It is more likely to withstand damage than a regular residential door. Metal doors are not only great for front door security; you can invest in metal screen doors for additional protection as well. We've just spent some time talking about a lot of the benefits that front security doors provide. There is yet another great feature that security doors have, though. Security doors are better designed to work with additional home security systems. This includes just about anything you can think of: security cameras, doorbell cameras, alarm systems, which can all be paired with a security door. However, different doors have different capacities. So, for the rest of this article, we will be talking about what the best doors are to guarantee your safety and home security.

The Best Wood Door

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While it is true that most security entry doors are built from steel, people often don't want to spend the money on steel-reinforced doors. Sometimes, it's not even an economic decision; they just prefer a wood door's look. A wood door can be durable enough to withstand a home invasion, but only if it's solid wood. A solid wood door is 1 3/4" inches thick, making it difficult to breakthrough. If you combine this door with a powerful deadbolt lock and a jamb system, then wood doors can be an effective choice for security purposes. However, you should also note that they require more maintenance than steel or fiberglass doors. Furthermore, they lack the energy efficiency that these other materials provide. One of the best wood doors on the market for home security is the Rustic Mahogany Door. This model is made by the Main Door Corporation. You can only find these doors through Home Depot. These doors are fantastic because they don't have any filler materials, like plywood or fiberboard. This is a must for any solid wood door. In addition to being durable, this door model also features a slide that allows you to view any visitor on your front step with ease without showing your face. This door comes prepared for deadbolt installation and a standard handle. They are also designed to be easy to install without needing to hire any outside services.

The Best Steel Security Door

Steel doors, along with all the previously mentioned benefits, are the most energy-efficient of the different door materials. They also tend to be more economical than their wood and or fiberglass counterparts. Steel doors are among the best front doors for security. It's nearly impossible to break through; even if beaten or abused, these doors are more likely to dent than come down. Having covered the advantages of steel doors, the best steel door is the Jeld-Wen's Camber Top Mission Primed Steel Door. This door is also designed for the deadbolt and handle installation, like the Rustic Mahogany. Not only does it have this feature, but it also includes hinges and brickmould built-in. Despite its steel build, the door is also lightweight. All of these features make it easy to install without resorting to a professional installation. A final benefit of this door is that it comes with a 10-year warranty, just in case the door does receive some damage.

The Best Fiberglass Door

Fiberglass doors are among the most economic options, even having the potential to surpass the economic utility of steel doors. Because of the material, it cannot rust, dent, or rot. As such, it requires little maintenance. Fiberglass is also an outstanding material to make security screen doors, which add another layer of protection to your front door. Fiberglass doors are also very pliant. They can be made to have whatever look you want it to have. Many manufacturers strengthen the area around the lock. Since this is the area that is most likely to receive damage during a break-in attempt, this will bolster the lock to stand up to forced entry. Steves & Sons' Oxford Mahogany Stain Grade Door model is among the best front doors for security purposes.

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This door has all the same advantages as the previously mentioned models, including the sliding window from the Rustic Mahogany door. There is a drawback to the door, however. Fiberglass can crack or break if subjected to too much outside pressure. While security doors do an excellent job in helping to protect your home from the front and back ends, they are simply the first line of defense. One of the primary reasons for getting a security door is to outfit it with even better security. This includes several potential add-ons that can help to better ensure your safety within your home. Our various security systems pair well with any of the door models named previously in this article. To help you decide on the right system for your purposes, we'll describe them in some detail below. There's been increasing talk of doorbell cameras over the past few years, and with good reason. Doorbell cameras have a basic function; they alert you if somebody arrives at your phone. The alert comes to your smartphone. From there, the camera provides a two-way audio feed. You can communicate with whoever it is on your front step from wherever you are. Our camera has a sharp, crisp visual feed at 720p. This is not only useful for front door security; it can be used for simple convenience, too. With this camera, you will know when a package arrives at your door if a guest has arrived, and more.

Outdoor Home Security Cameras

For those who would rather have more noticeable security, there are outdoor home security cameras that you can use in place of (or alongside) doorbell cameras. There are advantages to using an outdoor camera in place of doorbell cameras. In many situations, a burglar or trespasser is less likely to commit a crime if he can see a camera. Cameras can also be set up in many different places around one's home. Once again, this can serve purposes beyond security. For instance, if you have any small children, having cameras set up around the perimeter of your house enables you to watch them play outside. This can help you supervise and make sure they are playing safely. Our cameras have 1080p quality visual feed, including infrared night vision. If you hear anything outside your house at night, you can check your camera from your phone and see what's making the sound. If you're interested in a smart home security system to help protect your home and family, give us a call! Learn more about ADT Security Services and speak to one of our experts to see how we can help!

adt.com - The Best Security Doors for Your Home - ADT

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