Steel Entry Door

[James m]

All you really need is a chainsaw and a tow rope.

The path of least resistance. Why bother the guy with 20,000 rounds when you can take your tow rope to the gas station ATM.

[Montana Rancher]

All you really need is a chainsaw and a tow rope.

The path of least resistance. Why bother the guy with 20,000 rounds when you can take your tow rope to the gas station ATM.

I am guessing you are being glib as the easy counter to your post is, if you need 20,000 rounds money will be worthless.

I'd be willing to be educated.

Also on the post about windows, I would easily prefer defending a window against invaders than a door, much easier.

Before SHTF if you are moving booty out of a window you are a felon, if you are moving it out the door, who knows?

Also as it was recently posted that policemen have the highest obesity rating of any profession, I again choose the window as a great alternative to a wide open door.

Actually a case could be made for a 24" door and anyone in a tactical body armor would wedge up trying to pass.

[dsdmmat]

Unfortunately that door can still be breeched with a hydraulic ram by those who want to get in bad enough. It is better than the average door though. in addition to the door a strong bar across the back of the door when closed that is securely anchored in the walls beside the door will prevent the hydraulic ram breaching method.

I have always wanted to build into my house a foyer area for both entry doors, at the end of the foyer area a safe door which eithe allows or denies entry to the main house. Of cours all of that is for not if they can burn your house down around you.

[Sparkyprep]

No shelter is siege proof. But, as was said earlier, the idea is to make your shelter difficult enough to make a would-be intruder move on to a softer target.

With unlimited resources, I could get into Ft. Knox

[dsdmmat]

No shelter is siege proof. But, as was said earlier, the idea is to make your shelter difficult enough to make a would-be intruder move on to a softer target.

With unlimited resources, I could get into Ft. Knox

Well they say engineers build weapons and civil engineers build targets.
Police entry teams have been known to use hydraulic Rams to penetrate tougher doors because most houses are made of wood so bending the door frame to bypass the locks is an easy solution. Won't be long before the scum get a hold of one of those and start doing the same thing. Takes less time and less effort to break into a house.

[Pauls]

A 12 gauge shotgun will tear the hinges of even a steel door. Three quick shots and you are in. The door knob lock is a waste of time in most cases and the only lock that is secure is the dead bolt - but only if it is a security dead bolt. They are hardened steel with at least a one inch throw. Door hinges are the weakest point of most doors - even if you use 3 1/2 " screws into the fram the hinge is held to the door with very short screws that are only #8 or #10 screws. Since most doors open inward there is little to stop then from being breached. Three solid 2x6's into steel hangers that are bolted to studs would be very effective in keeping out most anyone, police included.

Windows are harder to harden but not impossible. A tripple glazed window with the center pane of 1/4" lexan will make it difficult to breach but it is not bullet resistant. Bars and screens on the outside are easy to circumvent but if they are on the inside of a lexan window then they can be more effective. Shutters on the inside are another good level of defense.

The best way to keep your house safe is to have a secret way out. You can exit the home and deal with the attackers at your leisure.

[James m]

I want to breach a door with a shotgun every time I'm waiting for a public rest room to open up. What do those people do in there, BANG! No more problem.

[rice paddy daddy]

Agreed, some 3.5" screws.

And also replace a few of the hinge screws with long screws that go into the stud. The typical hinge screw that goes into the door frame is only 3/4" long.
And if your door opens out, and you do not have safety hinges, the hinge pin can be popped right out with a hammer and screw driver.

[Pauls]

Door hinges are easy to weld the pins in - it doesn't look pretty but no more wondering if you have "safety" huinges or not.

even with a good hinge and 3 1/2" screws into the frame 6there are still short, weak screws into the door itself. There is no way to use longer screws unless to order the door as a "barrier" door.

Nearly all entry doors in residences open in. That way if it snows three feet you can still open your door. Commercial doors open out because OSHA requires that exit doors in a public access areas allow for easy egress. It also makes it difficult to kick the door in. I like having a double door entry. The exterior door opens in to a "mud room" or "air lock" and the door into the residence actually opens out. The purpose of such an entry is to keep the warm air in the house and the cold air outside (or vice versa in the summer). The added benefit is that it is a double bottle-neck for unwanted guests with a confined area that has no easy access to the inside. It would be an ideal place to spray said unwanted guests with a flammable liquid to discourage the use of firearms or other ignition sources.

[James m]

Spray flammable liquid in the foyer? What's going to stop them from backing up and lighting your house?