Which type of door is the most secure? As an Edinburgh locksmith, here are some things I would suggest you look out for
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Hero Locksmith is a friendly independent mobile Edinburgh locksmith. We offer a wide range of locksmith services for customers including emergency locksmith services, lock repairs and uPVC door repairs. We also work in Bonnyrigg, Dalkeith, Loanhead, Penicuik and Musselburgh. Unlike many other locksmith companies, we don't charge a call-out fee, or VAT and quote for the whole job, not per hour.
Which Type of Front Door is the Most Secure?
Most burglars break in through the front or back door of a property. That means having a secure
door is vital. Doors come in a variety of materials and as a locksmith I often get asked which type I
would recommend. Unfortunately, there is no clear winner to this question as it is not just the door
that is important. Three factors need taking into account: your budget, the material the door is
made from and the type of lock fitted to the door.
Common types of front (or back) door
Wood
Wood is a strong, solid material for front doors but needs regular maintenance to keep it in
good condition. Wooden doors can be expensive to buy but have the advantage that
additional locks can be fitted to them to boost security and convenience e.g. a nightlatch or
rim lock
uPVC
UPVC doors are very popular due to their affordability and low maintenance. They are also
thermally efficient and a stylish option for many people. On the downside, additional locks
cannot be fitted to this type of door.
Composite
Composite doors are made from a number of different materials compressed together. Cost-
wise, they fall somewhere between wood and uPVC. A good quality composite door will be
very strong, durable and low maintenance.
Most secure locks for your front door
Wooden Doors
The 5 lever mortice deadlock is the most secure type of lock for timber doors. It should also
be BS3621 compliant. You can check this by viewing the lock when the door is opened.
BS3621 should be visible somewhere on the lock face.
UPVC Doors
UPVC doors use a multipoint locking mechanism connected to a euro cylinder lock. Although
the multipoint locking mechanism is extremely strong, many old uPVC doors are fitted with
cylinder locks that can be easily snapped. This technique is called ‘lock snapping’ and even
today this flaw is responsible for many break-ins. Fortunately, anti-snap euro cylinder locks
have been developed which fix this problem. As well as being fitted on new uPVC doors,
they can also be retro fitted on older uPVC doors to make them extremely secure.
Composite Doors
Composite doors are similar to uPVC doors and are usually secured with a multipoint locking
system and anti-snap euro cylinder.
Additional security for your front door
Other features that can be added to your front or back door to increase security include
Peephole
Door chain
Door alarm – a beep sounds when opened or closed
Letterbox cage – to prevent letterbox burglary e.g. fishing for car keys, house keys through
the letterbox
Most burglars break in through the front or back door of a property. That means having a secure
door is vital. Doors come in a variety of materials and as a locksmith I often get asked which type I
would recommend. Unfortunately, there is no clear winner to this question as it is not just the door
that is important. Three factors need taking into account: your budget, the material the door is
made from and the type of lock fitted to the door.
Common types of front (or back) door
Wood
Wood is a strong, solid material for front doors but needs regular maintenance to keep it in
good condition. Wooden doors can be expensive to buy but have the advantage that
additional locks can be fitted to them to boost security and convenience e.g. a nightlatch or
rim lock
uPVC
UPVC doors are very popular due to their affordability and low maintenance. They are also
thermally efficient and a stylish option for many people. On the downside, additional locks
cannot be fitted to this type of door.
Composite
Composite doors are made from a number of different materials compressed together. Cost-
wise, they fall somewhere between wood and uPVC. A good quality composite door will be
very strong, durable and low maintenance.
Most secure locks for your front door
Wooden Doors
The 5 lever mortice deadlock is the most secure type of lock for timber doors. It should also
be BS3621 compliant. You can check this by viewing the lock when the door is opened.
BS3621 should be visible somewhere on the lock face.
UPVC Doors
UPVC doors use a multipoint locking mechanism connected to a euro cylinder lock. Although
the multipoint locking mechanism is extremely strong, many old uPVC doors are fitted with
cylinder locks that can be easily snapped. This technique is called ‘lock snapping’ and even
today this flaw is responsible for many break-ins. Fortunately, anti-snap euro cylinder locks
have been developed which fix this problem. As well as being fitted on new uPVC doors,
they can also be retro fitted on older uPVC doors to make them extremely secure.
Composite Doors
Composite doors are similar to uPVC doors and are usually secured with a multipoint locking
system and anti-snap euro cylinder.
Additional security for your front door
Other features that can be added to your front or back door to increase security include
Peephole
Door chain
Door alarm – a beep sounds when opened or closed
Letterbox cage – to prevent letterbox burglary e.g. fishing for car keys, house keys through
the letterbox