How To Harden French Doors

A metal plate over the lock mechanism on both sides of the door secured with bolts through the door are an easy way to prevent the door from splitting.

How to harden french doors.

While interior doors are typically 1 3 8 inch thick exterior doors should be 1 3 4 inches of solid wood. Reinforcing both door and frame should make for a very secure entrance. Three point locking mechanisms are best for french doors. The more you use your french doors the more likely the thread of the screws will drag against the walls of their casings and loosen.

Attach it with 3 in. Reliabilt steel patio door 96 in x 80 in clear glass steel right hand inswing double doors french patio door with screen. The door will split and the the lock mechanism will just twist out. Before installing caulk behind the nail fins of the doorframe to help create a weather tight seal.

For doors with a bolt that slides to lock along the top and bottom of the door you can permanently lock the door by drilling a hole into. Tighten the screws in the hinges at the edges of the doors and at the faces. Predrill with a 1 8 in. Jeld wen 72 in x 80 in external grilles primed steel right hand inswing double door french patio door.

Apply three beads of 100 percent non hardening silicone don t use constructive adhesive onto the sill plate to help keep the weather out. Set up a power or cordless drill with a screw tip attachment. For pricing and availability. Door edge when a deadbolt is installed in a door it creates a 1 inch bore through the outer edge leaving the actual wood around the deadbolt only 3 8 of an inch thick.

Predrill and attach a new plate with no. To further reinforce the doorjamb install a new strike plate in place of the old lip door strike plate that serves the doorknob lockset. Screws that are angled in slightly to catch the stud. Door hardening starts with the door itself.

In this video are. If the french doors have dropped due to loose screws in the hinges attempt to tighten them before you test the doors again. If this is the case you may need to remove the entire doors so you can renew the holes. In response to our ultimate home defense security plan we were asked numerous times how to harden doors and windows.

Pre hung doors eliminate many of the steps necessary to installing a door. Before installing the french doors frame check the sill plate for any deformities nails or obstructions. Older homes have non standard sized openings so you may need to install a new jamb inside the opening to fit the french doors of your choice.