Door and Window Security 101

Small upgrades to door and window security can mean big wins

There are several reasons most break-ins happen at the doors and windows. They’re the natural entry points to any home and are only as strong as the materials and hardware that protect them. The good news is you don’t need expensive tools or major renovations to make your home more secure. With a few simple upgrades, you can greatly improve your home’s resistance to forced entry. Let’s look at practical ways to reinforce your doors and windows and keep your home safe.

Reinforce Your Doors

The Three Foundations of a Strong Door

Before getting into specific upgrades, it helps to understand what makes a door truly secure. There are three foundational elements that work together to resist forced entry:

1. A quality deadbolt that locks securely into the frame
2. A solid-core or metal door that can withstand impact
3. A reinforced strike plate with 3-inch screws anchored deep into the studs

These three components form the backbone of any strong door setup. Once they’re in place, the rest of your hardware and accessories can perform as intended.

Deadbolts Are a Must

The first foundational item is a good deadbolt. If you do nothing else on this list, make sure you install a quality deadbolt. It’s one of the most effective and affordable upgrades you can make. A door that relies only on a standard knob or handle lock offers minimal protection and can be forced open with very little effort. Look for a Grade 1 ANSI-rated deadbolt with a 1″ throw. Like this Schlage Single Sided Deadbolt. This helps prevent the area around the lock from splitting or being pried open.

Choose Solid Core or Metal Doors

The second foundational item is the door itself. If your exterior doors are hollow-core, replacing them should be a priority. Solid-core or steel-reinforced doors provide far greater resistance to impact and forced entry. A strong door is the base that allows all your other reinforcements to work effectively. If you don’t have the budget for a new solid-core, metal-skinned door, you can always improve the strength of your existing door by installing a metal door reinforcement plate.

Upgrade the Door Frame and Strike Plate

The third foundational item is the reinforced strike plate. Many break-ins happen when the frame splinters, not when the lock fails. A heavy-duty strike plate secured with 3-inch screws that reach into the wall studs can prevent that. Like this Brass Security Strike. Don’t want the extra work of chiseling in a larger strike plate? You can also increase security by reusing your existing strike plates and simply replacing the short factory screws with longer 3-inch screws, like those in this reinforced door screw kit.

Check Your Hinges

The lock side of a door isn’t the only side that can fail. Check your hinges. If they use short screws, replace them with those same 3-inch ones that reach into the studs. The same reinforced door screw kit works perfectly for this.

All-in-One Reinforcement Kits

Looking for a kit that can do it all? Check out this 5-Piece Door Reinforcement Set on Amazon. It comes with a door armor jamb shield, two mini door shields, and two hinge shields. With this single purchase, you can cover several of the weak areas of your door. It’s available in several finishes to match your existing hardware or door color, including silver, black, and white. For a handy person, these can be installed in under an hour.

Strengthen Your Windows

Add Security Film

A transparent security film adds a strong, shatter-resistant layer to your windows. While it won’t make glass unbreakable, it slows intruders down and makes breaking in noisier and more difficult. Check out this DUOFIRE Window Security Film if you want a simple DIY upgrade that strengthens your existing glass without changing its appearance.

Install Window Locks

Many standard window locks are weak or easy to bypass. Adding simple pin locks or sliding window locks can make it much harder to open windows from the outside. These are inexpensive, easy to install, and a great weekend project. Consider the Prime-Line Sliding Patio Door Pin Lock for a sturdy, chrome-plated option that works well on both windows and sliding doors.

Reinforce Basement or Hidden Windows

For lower or concealed windows, decorative security bars or grilles can add another layer of protection. Look for designs with quick-release mechanisms so you can still exit safely in an emergency. Choose a style that balances both safety and aesthetics so your home stays secure without looking industrial.

Consider Laminated or Tempered Glass

If you are upgrading your windows, ask about laminated or tempered options. Both are much stronger than standard glass and harder to shatter.

Don’t Overlook Sliding Doors

Sliding glass doors are a favorite entry point for intruders. Use a security bar or adjustable door stopper to keep the door from being forced open. The DIIG Sliding Door Security Bar adjusts to fit most sliding doors and windows and provides a strong, visible deterrent. Add a pin lock to prevent lifting the door off its track, like this Spring-Loaded Sliding Door Lock, and reinforce the latch if it’s aluminum or plastic.

Lighting and Visibility Matter

Let’s not forget one of the biggest things criminals hate when approaching a home: bright light. Getting lit up by a floodlight is enough to make many criminals simply walk away. Motion-sensing lights like the Philips 44W LED Security Light, which delivers 4200 lumens of daylight brightness, are a great way to deter trouble before it even reaches your door. Don’t forget to trim back bushes or trees that block the view of your home’s entry points. A well-lit, visible area makes any home a less attractive target.

Final Thoughts

Improving home security doesn’t always require new technology or complex systems. Sometimes the simplest reinforcements make the biggest difference. Stronger doors, reinforced frames, better window protection, and good lighting all work together to make your home a much harder target.

The best part is that most of these upgrades are inexpensive, DIY-friendly, and can be done in an afternoon. You don’t have to do everything at once either. Start with the weakest door or window in your home and work your way from there.

By taking a little time to secure your doors and windows, you’re strengthening your first and most important line of defense. It’s the kind of upgrade you don’t think about every day, but you’ll appreciate it every night when you lock up and go to bed.