I was recently surprised during a visit to my parents' home. The very same people who taught me at an early age to buckle up, eat my vegetables, and avoid talking to strangers had a simple lock on an entry door sporting the same door hardware the builder installed twenty years ago. They didn't even have a deadbolt. Don't make the same mistake. Here's how to ensure your entry door is safe and secure.

Entry Door Hardware: Your First Defense Against an Intruder

My parents don't live in a metropolitan area, but their Midwestern suburb is far from crime-free. When I confronted them about this breach in entry door security, they said, quite simply, that the dog would alert them of an intruder. Sure, Phoebe can be ferocious, but I'd take quality door hardware--like a deadbolt or handle set--over that fluff ball any day.

Deadbolts, Handle Sets and Security Ratings, Oh My!

A deadbolt can be purchased separately from the lockset or together as a handle set. A quality deadbolt unit should carry at least a Grade 2 security rating. Some higher-end deadbolts even carry the commercial-duty Grade 1 rating. Make sure you check the rating of the unit as a whole; a product might tout "Grade 1 features," but it's the overall rating that counts.

Setting High Standards for Your Entry Door Hardware

Since the price of a deadbolt or handle set can range from $20 to $300, it's important to separate need from desire. You want a solid-brass plug and cylinder, not the less expensive bronze-plated zinc. A six-pin keying system is harder to "pick" than a five. You'll also want: a heavy-gauge steel or brass strike plate secured by three inch screws; a one inch (at least) throw; and a saw-proof, free-spinning, hardened-steel pin at the center of the bolt. Needless to say, you might need to seek professional installation help.

Source:

• Get a Lock on It

About the Author
Ellen Foster is a freelance writer and teacher. She has taught students aged five to forty-five.