Installing a 12” strike plate for security

[tstex]

Hello Guys,

We’ve had 12 door break’ins in the last 2 weeks. Kicking in back doors the main MO. Wife is on edge when I’m traveling.

Besides the wife getting a .38 snub, I’m going to install these 12” strike plates and sub 3.5” stainless steel screws. In doing so, i have to remove 12” total of the copper flashing.

Is there anything that’s cost effective I can retrofit that 12” area to help keep in the cool air and keep out the heat? I have 4 of these so I’m going to repeat this process multiple times.

Pls see pic of product and 2 of the 4 thresholds. Thank you very much in advance.

 

[Midniteoyl]

If you can find the 4ft to full length anti-kick plates, those would work better.

Amazon.com

As for weatherstrip, I like the magnetic seals for steel doors.

Amazon.com

 

[Tpondel]

A big part of safety is LONG screws.

 

[tstex]

If you can find the 4ft to full length anti-kick plates, those would work better.

Amazon.com

As for weatherstrip, I like the magnetic seals for steel doors.

Amazon.com

Thank you on the magnetic seals.

 

[tstex]

A big part of safety is LONG screws.

Yes. I’m going w 3.5” screws (all 9 of them) into the strike plate and putting two 3.5” screws into each of the 4 hinges too. These doors are 8ft tall w 4 hinges. Each hinge has 4 screws and I’m putting replacing 2 of them. Each door has double studs on both handle and hinge sides. These 3.5” screws will go into all 4 studs of the two on both sides.

 

[CDBUG]

A German Shepherd..or 2

 

[jmc]

Ugh. I went thru that at my shop which had a residential grade utility door, lock, and deadbolt. From the looks of the first break-in damage, they probably only had to kick it once. The door jamb was very light weight pine.

I reinforced the jamb with angle iron and it held up better during the second break-in- maybe three kicks that time. The new weak link was the door latch and deadbolt- an assembly of flimsy metal stampings encased in a flimsy sheet metal over foam cored door.

Good luck.

 

[LouNY]

When you are replacing the screws you may want to be carefull when adding screws were there were not any as when they shimmed the door for the initial install they put them were the screws went there is likely a gap between the door and the wall studs that will distort your door frame if tightened up to much.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Hopefully you are practicing shooting with wife if she is not experienced yet...
Myself, I would prefer a shotgun for my wife. But I get the argument for a handgun, which is what is my choice for me.

 

[LouNY]

If I was in an area that the doors were getting kicked in frequently, I'd be tempted to install some heavy security doors in the outward opening as a storm door. With the outward opening they have to pull it out which is more difficult then kicking in.