Door reinforcement in Ottery St Mary
Looking for professional door reinforcement help in Ottery St Mary? Hembury Contracting provides reliable small jobs services across Ottery St Mary and surrounding areas.
Price Guide
£60-£110
Typical Duration
1-2 hrs
Location
Ottery St Mary
Door reinforced to resist forced entry. Security strike plates around the lock area, longer screws in the hinges, frame strengthening where needed - making your door much harder to kick in without replacing the whole thing.
### Your Door Probably Isn't As Secure As You Think
Here's an uncomfortable truth: most doors can be **kicked in** in seconds. Not because the lock is bad, but because the door frame splits, the hinge screws pull out, or the strike plate tears straight through the frame.
The lock did its job. The *door* failed.
> 💡 **Door reinforcement fixes this:** Strengthen the weak points so when someone tries to force the door, it actually resists.
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### Where Doors Fail (And How To Fix It)
| Weak Point | What Happens | The Fix | |------------|--------------|---------| | **Strike plate** | Thin metal rips through soft frame timber | Heavy-duty plate with long screws into solid timber | | **Hinge screws** | Short screws pull out when door is forced | 75mm screws into the frame studs | | **Door frame** | Soft timber splits under force | Reinforcement plates or frame strengthening | | **Lock area** | Frame around lock is weakest point | Security strike box distributes force |
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### What Door Reinforcement Includes
**🔧 Hinge Reinforcement** - Replace short screws with 75mm screws into solid timber - Prevents hinge side being forced - Surprisingly common entry method (less obvious than lock side)
**🔒 Strike Plate Upgrade** - Heavy-duty strike plate instead of flimsy standard one - Long screws (50-75mm) into frame studs - Distributes force across larger area
**⚡ Lock Area Strengthening** - Security strike box if door/frame allows - Frame reinforcement plates - Stops frame splitting when door is forced
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### Before & After
**Before Reinforcement:** - 12mm hinge screws barely into frame - Thin strike plate with short screws - Soft timber frame around lock - Door looks secure, actually isn't
**After Reinforcement:** - 75mm screws into solid timber/studs - Heavy-duty plates distributing force - Reinforced weak points - Door genuinely difficult to force
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### Pricing Guide
| What You Need | Estimated Time | You'll Pay | |---------------|----------------|------------| | Basic reinforcement (strike plate + hinge screws) | 1 hr | **£60** | | Full reinforcement (strike plate, hinges, frame work) | 1.5-2 hrs | **£85-£110** | | Multiple doors | 1-2 hrs per door | **£60-£110 per door** |
*Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Security hardware extra if I'm supplying it.*
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### This Service Is Perfect If...
✅ **Home security upgrade** - after a break-in nearby
✅ **Older property** - original screws and fixings
✅ **Rental property** - improving security for tenants
✅ **Insurance requirement** - sometimes reduces premiums
Why Choose Us for Door reinforcement in Ottery St Mary?
Doors much harder to force or kick in
Hinge side reinforced properly
Lock area strengthened with strike plates
Better security without replacing the door
What to Expect
### Step 1: Assessment I'll check your doors and frames to see what needs reinforcing. Hinge condition, strike plate quality, frame timber solidity. Work out what will make the biggest difference. ### Step 2: Reinforcement Replace hinge screws with long ones into solid timber. Fit heavy-duty strike plates with proper screws. Add frame reinforcement if needed. Methodical work through each weak point. ### Step 3: Test & Explain Test everything works smoothly (door should close and lock normally). Explain what I've done and why. You'll have a much more secure door.
Our Ottery St Mary Service Coverage
We cover Ottery St Mary and a 30-mile radius from Exeter, meaning you get local service with the backing of an established business. Whether you're in the centre of Ottery St Mary or in the surrounding villages, we're here to help.
Good to Know
> 🎨 **After a break-in nearby?** This is when most people think about door security. Don't wait - reinforcing doors is much cheaper than replacing what gets stolen, and gives real peace of mind. **Insurance discounts:** Some insurance companies offer discounts for improved security. Worth checking if door reinforcement qualifies - might pay for itself. **Back doors too:** Everyone focuses on the front door, but back doors are actually more common entry points (more secluded). Worth reinforcing both if security is a concern. **Old Exeter houses:** Those solid Victorian doors are great, but often still have the original short screws. The timber is excellent, just needs proper fasteners to make it truly secure.
Frequently Asked Questions about Door reinforcement in Ottery St Mary
What is door reinforcement?
It's strengthening the weak points on your door so it's much harder to force open. Usually means adding security strike plates around the lock, longer screws in the hinges, and sometimes reinforcing the frame. Simple upgrades that make a big difference to how secure your door actually is.
Why do doors need reinforcing - aren't they secure already?
Most doors come with short screws that barely go into the frame. Kick the door and those screws pull straight out - the door looks secure but actually isn't. Reinforcement means longer screws into solid timber and metal plates distributing force. Much harder to force.
Will reinforcing damage my door?
I'll need to remove and refit things, but there's no damage. Longer screws go in the same holes, strike plates screw on over the existing lock area. Makes the door stronger, not weaker.
How long does door reinforcement take?
Usually 1-2 hours depending what needs doing. Replacing hinge screws, fitting strike plates, possibly adding reinforcement to the frame. Not a huge job, but needs doing properly.
Is this instead of a new lock?
Different things. A good lock stops someone picking or drilling it. Reinforcement stops someone kicking the door in. Ideally you want both - a decent lock AND a door that won't just break when forced. Most burglaries are forced entry, not picked locks.
Get a Free Quote in Ottery St Mary
Call us today for a free, no-obligation quote for your door reinforcement job in Ottery St Mary.
01392 964094Request Online QuotePricing for Ottery St Mary
* Same rates for all locations in our service area
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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