Carbonman
100+ Head-Fier
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- Aug 29, 2001
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Commercial fire-labelled hollow steel doors are usually stronger than the typical residential metal-clad or solid core wood doors.
Metal-clad doors have a wood edge that the metal is crimped to, all the way around. It's actually a wood frame with a foam core to act as a sound and thermal barrier. These doors are easy to defeat (no free lessons).
Hollow steel doors are manufactured in different gauges, depending on the price range, fire rating and application (interior, perimeter, ballistic, security, etc.). I've installed deadbolts on hollow steel doors that were composed of 3 layers of 16-gauge steel laminated together, wrapped and welded to a standard 1 3/4" thickness. It even had a 12"x12" ballistic window. It wore out 5 hole saws.
If you get a really well made solid core wooden door, nobody will get through it easily. Contact a door company directly and tell them that you are looking for a sturdy door with security as the primary consideration. Ise a wraparound plate under the lock to prevent the door from splitting under force.
Don't forget the frame. Use 2" screws to secure the hinges through the frame into the stud. If you use a wooden door, use 2" screws to secure the hinge to the door as well. Consider replacing the wood frame with a pressed-steel frame. Make sure it is backed inside with wood studs to prevent it from collapsing under lateral pressure.
If you use a wooden frame, get a Bolt Buddy to prevent the frame from splitting on a kick-in attack.
Medeco and Multi-Lock are both ASSA-Abloy subsidiaries. Different product lines, but both deadbolts are UL437 rated for resistance to picking and other forms of attack. I've worked with both products and can recommend them both, though I like the silky smoothness of the bolt that Multi-Lock (and ASSA and Abloy) uses.
Hope this is helpful.
Metal-clad doors have a wood edge that the metal is crimped to, all the way around. It's actually a wood frame with a foam core to act as a sound and thermal barrier. These doors are easy to defeat (no free lessons).
Hollow steel doors are manufactured in different gauges, depending on the price range, fire rating and application (interior, perimeter, ballistic, security, etc.). I've installed deadbolts on hollow steel doors that were composed of 3 layers of 16-gauge steel laminated together, wrapped and welded to a standard 1 3/4" thickness. It even had a 12"x12" ballistic window. It wore out 5 hole saws.
If you get a really well made solid core wooden door, nobody will get through it easily. Contact a door company directly and tell them that you are looking for a sturdy door with security as the primary consideration. Ise a wraparound plate under the lock to prevent the door from splitting under force.
Don't forget the frame. Use 2" screws to secure the hinges through the frame into the stud. If you use a wooden door, use 2" screws to secure the hinge to the door as well. Consider replacing the wood frame with a pressed-steel frame. Make sure it is backed inside with wood studs to prevent it from collapsing under lateral pressure.
If you use a wooden frame, get a Bolt Buddy to prevent the frame from splitting on a kick-in attack.
Medeco and Multi-Lock are both ASSA-Abloy subsidiaries. Different product lines, but both deadbolts are UL437 rated for resistance to picking and other forms of attack. I've worked with both products and can recommend them both, though I like the silky smoothness of the bolt that Multi-Lock (and ASSA and Abloy) uses.
Hope this is helpful.
