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Posted: 12/13/2010 10:26:34 PM EDT
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Can anybody recommend a tumbler/dead bolt that fits an interior door?? I asked this question at Home Depot and got some blank stares.
What I hope to do is make my gun room a little more difficult to enter. I have layers of security before and after this door, but still want to slow entry to that room. I also do NOT wish to alter the appearance of the door any more than necessary, particularly on the 'outside' of the room. Thanks for any ideas, experiences, or pointers. |
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Interior doors are usually hollow and thus very weak. Replace the interior door with an exterior door of the same dimensions.
As for the deadbolt, it doesn't care if the door is on the inside or the outside, just buy one you like the look of and it will work. Replace the door first or it's not doing anything except looking pretty. |
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Quoted:
Interior doors are usually hollow and thus very weak. Replace the interior door with an exterior door of the same dimensions. As for the deadbolt, it doesn't care if the door is on the inside or the outside, just buy one you like the look of and it will work. Replace the door first or it's not doing anything except looking pretty. This |
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I live in a pretty small house, and we secured our bedroom door as follows: 1. Replaced the hollow door with a solid door. 2. Installed a deadbolt on the door...but made it so that it is not visible from the outside. Granted we cannot lock the door from the exterior, but when my wife is home alone, it should give her those extra few seconds to grab a firearm and take care of business, whatever that may be, should the need arise. CVN
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I know this is the safe/security area of the forums but its just something to consider, especially when you go to sell a home.
Having deadbolts installed on interior doors is often a "tell" that there is/has been shady activity going on; wheather that be drugs, or even locking children up. I realize the context here but its just something to consider. I worked for a guy who had 50 something rental houses aimed towards lower income persons and learned alot. Solid doors and even beefing up the door frames and adding a good locking knob are never a bad idea, but I wouldnt want security measures sticking out like a sore thumb. Thats just my .02 but you can secure your home well without looking like your preparing against a DEA raid. 
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Quoted:
I know this is the safe/security area of the forums but its just something to consider, especially when you go to sell a home. Having deadbolts installed on interior doors is often a "tell" that there is/has been shady activity going on; wheather that be drugs, or even locking children up. I realize the context here but its just something to consider. I worked for a guy who had 50 something rental houses aimed towards lower income persons and learned alot. Solid doors and even beefing up the door frames and adding a good locking knob are never a bad idea, but I wouldnt want security measures sticking out like a sore thumb. Thats just my .02 but you can secure your home well without looking like your preparing against a DEA raid. That's a pretty smart comment and I'm grateful that you offered it. Actually, we had some neighbors once who had locks on the outside of their childrens' doors. When that family moved away, I always wondered if the kids got to the destination. It was very creepy to see those locks on kids doors. I think I'll tone down my aspirations a bit. |
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Quoted:
I know this is the safe/security area of the forums but its just something to consider, especially when you go to sell a home. Having deadbolts installed on interior doors is often a "tell" that there is/has been shady activity going on; wheather that be drugs, or even locking children up. I realize the context here but its just something to consider. I worked for a guy who had 50 something rental houses aimed towards lower income persons and learned alot. Solid doors and even beefing up the door frames and adding a good locking knob are never a bad idea, but I wouldnt want security measures sticking out like a sore thumb. Thats just my .02 but you can secure your home well without looking like your preparing against a DEA raid. Good point, but not really a big deal to replace a door or 2 when you decide to sell the house. And as long as you use a deadbolt that has a knob on the inside and not a key cylinder, it shouldn't present an image of locking the kids up. |
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What I'd do;
Replace with solid door, Install Segal dropbolt lock but not the rim cylinder. This way the door can only be locked from the inside and from the exterior it appears to be completely normal. If you move you can leave the lock or remove it. You'd have a few small holes where the screws were but you could easily put in some filler and paint. One last thing, don't make the door swing out like was suggested, this would be against code. Doors on residences swing in for the simple reason that if something were to fall in front of the door (tornado, earthquake) it wouldn't prevent you from opening the door and leaving in an emergency. Same thing applies to intruders, they could block the door and make it so you'd be trapped inside. ETA: Make sure to replace the screws securing the frame for ones long enough to sink deep into the studs. |
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Quoted:
I had a friend who replaced his interior bedroom door with an exterior one, but also reversed the swing on the door, that way it could not simply be kicked or shoved open. Zach Gotta be careful with reversing the swing. An inward opening door is indeed more susceptible to being kicked or shoved open, but an outward opening door, which prbably can't be shoved open, has the hinges exposed. I took a burglary report on an apartment in which the outward opening door had the hinges removed. Hinges can be hardened, but be aware of their weakness. |
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