Adding Security to a UPVC door with permanent changes ?

Cakeeater_2

I'm about to rent an apartment with a UPVC front door - fairly typical with a multipoint lock and opens into the property.

I am after some additional internal to the house security I can add to the door thats not going to make any permanent changes to the infrastructure. Something that would give me the same effect as an internal manual bolt or chain - so someone outside isn't getting in even with a key (I got burgled in my sleep years ago so since I've been fairly paranoid about door security).

If it was a wooden door I could just use a rubber wedge, but with the vertical lip on the bottom of the UPVC door that idea doesn't really work.

ormus

summat like this?
ive seen em in the usa.

1jim

could you just fit a door chain

cybergibbons

I don't want to worry you any more than you already do... but door chains and bars are pointless.

You can undo them from the outside using a piece of cardboard or a rubber band.

But worse still, if you're ever removing a door, or in a building being demolished, get someone to shut the door, chain it, and then re-open it so it hits the chain. Now give the door a hard kick. Notice how the chain won't hold.

sillygoose

Fix a portable PIR alarm aimed at the door. Like this...
YALE PIR ALARM AT SCREWFIX

1jim

cybergibbons wrote: »

I don't want to worry you any more than you already do... but door chains and bars are pointless.

You can undo them from the outside using a piece of cardboard or a rubber band.

But worse still, if you're ever removing a door, or in a building being demolished, get someone to shut the door, chain it, and then re-open it so it hits the chain. Now give the door a hard kick. Notice how the chain won't hold.

surely that would all make a noise to wake the op and alert them to the intruder and wouldnt most intruders want to keep the noise down when attempting a breakdown in an appartment at night?

Have you thought about asking the landlord if you can get the locks changed, these multipoint locks are pretty good these days and I would have thought they would be pretty resistant to some one breaking in at night

The Pir seems a good idea though

premkit

you could put a length of timber under the handle so it can not be turned down, i know the handle can be raised up to lock. the bigger the better so it wont fall over, stick a lump of blu-tac so it sticks to the door and wont fall. then store it out of the way when not needed.

cybergibbons

1jim wrote: »

surely that would all make a noise to wake the op and alert them to the intruder and wouldnt most intruders want to keep the noise down when attempting a breakdown in an appartment at night?

You can open them quietly from the outside using a rubber band in the case of the chains, and a piece of cardboard with the bars. Unless you sleep in the same room as the door, you'll not be woken.

A lot of people use the chains when opening the door to unexpected visitors. If they want in, they'll just kick the door.

Most from doors are only strong when closed. Open them even a bit and the hinges are much weaker.

So they fail for both uses.