Everyone wants to feel safe in their own home without worrying about break ins, and although crime is relatively low and burglaries are rare in Leicester, there’s always a risk of being affected.
We don’t raise this issue to cause concern and stress, but rather to highlight the importance of being proactive and improving the overall security of your home. Most residential burglaries are opportunistic, so increasing your home security to make it tougher to access – e.g. by installing strong composite doors and secure windows – is often enough to deter most break-in attempts.
Our 25+ years in the door installation business have shown us that some choices are better than others when it comes to home security, and today we want to share our findings with you.
1) Don’t Make It Easy For Burglars
There are several ways to decrease the chances of a burglar gaining access via your front door. In most cases, burglars choose easy targets. If your front door cannot be seen from the street, this could be an added risk factor, as this could keep burglars out of sight while they break in. If you have a front garden or lots of greenery around the front entrance of your home, ensure that hedges and shrubs are trimmed so your door is easily visible. Keep your door locked when you are out, at night, and when you are in another part of the house and might not hear someone trying to access the door. The easiest way for a burglar to get into your home is to walk through an unlocked front door!
Contrary to popular misconception, most burglars do not access homes through windows – the average burglar is not an athlete, and attempting to get in through a window is also highly conspicuous and likely to raise alarm. However, opportunistic home entrances through large open downstairs windows are not unknown, and so we recommend closing your windows while not at home, and if you are in your back garden and the home is unoccupied.
2) Switch To Composite Doors
Not all front doors offer the same level of security, since some are easier to force entry to than others. This is usually down to the material they’re made of and how easily it deteriorates, which could make your front entrance vulnerable.
Generally speaking, there are three choices in the residential door market: wooden doors, uPVC doors, and composite doors. In terms of strength and longevity, composite doors offer a few advantages over the other options. For example, composite doors have a built-in steel frame and reinforced outer layers, as well as weatherproof qualities, so they will retain their security features for considerably longer.
3) Choose A High-Security Lock
Many homeowners understand the importance of installing a high-quality front door, but sometimes, locks get overlooked. There’s a wide range of options available in the market today, but in our experience, cylinder locks remain some of the best door locks for home security when used with composite doors.
A word of caution, though: there are different types of cylinder locks and not all offer the same level of protection. Many experienced locksmiths and doors installers consider Mul-T-Lock cylinder locks to be gold standard in home security, as they offer superior resistance to picking and bumping.
Next Steps – Improve Your Home Security With New And Attractive Composite Doors From Harvey’s
Composite doors are a great way to improve home security, as long as they’re installed by a professional door fitter and maintained in good condition. If you’ve noticed your front door deteriorating, its windowpanes becoming loose, or you are having trouble locking the door effectively, it could be time to consider investing in a new front door. Harvey’s Windows is an accredited contractor with ample experience in the installation of composite doors that will help to protect your home.
We only work with products of proven quality, such as 44mm-thick composite doors and Mul-T-Lock cylinder locks which are anti-jiggle, anti-pick, and anti-extraction. The cost of fitting a composite front door starts from just £1400 all fully fitted by our expert team of installers and including VAT. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need assistance in choosing the right door for your property and budget.
If you’re looking for a trusted door installer in the Leicester area, check out Harvey’s high-security composite doors for homes – we’re confident you’ll find a stylish and secure option with us.
Relax…. you’re with Harvey’s.
*Prices mentioned may be subject to change depending on the date of article publishing*
