Doors and Windows - Lowes Pre-hung Steel Entry Door - Anyone have one?

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TomBodet
03-14-05, 11:45 AM
I'm looking to replace my front door in the next few months and someone I mentioned this to said to get a vinyl door for insulation reasons. Now I've heard of vinyl windows and a quick search showed me mostly doors that were very artistic. Anyone know a plane-jane type vinyl entry door maker and/or what the price of something simple is? I'm looking for a solid door with a sunburst window at the very top, or the top two small squares done in glass.

What I have now is a steel door with a foam core and zero lock support. I changed the deadbolt and had to monkey with it for a while before it sat correctly and didn't bind because the door buckled under the tight screws.

Lowes has a door that looks good with a wood lock support: http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=21690-70991-21690

Is that a decent door? It's somewhat cheap but it's also not incredibly pretty so I'm not sure about the quality. My concerns are security first (against a brute force attack) and the doors thermal rating second. Anything I get at this point is an improvement, I just want to be sure I'm getting something that's worth the effort.

Thanks in advance!


txdiyguy
03-18-05, 01:48 PM
I think maybe they were referring to a fiberglass door.

IMHO, there isn't a door/jamb made that can't be opened with a crowbar in under 10 seconds. Thieves don't worry about tearing up the door or jamb. They just want in. They can get in with a crow bar almost silently. They'd rather do that than break a window. By the time most alarm systems go off, they've already grabbed what they were after and are on their way out.

Pendragon
03-19-05, 08:56 AM
I tend to agree.. the door isn't usually the weak part of the equation, it's the jamb. Go look at your jamb, the part that the lock goes into.. It's probably just small 2x3 plate, held in with two screws. Screws that probably don't even penetrate the door casing. A wood insert in the door may help keep the door from deforming when you tighten the lockset down, but it really won't do much for security as long as the jamb isn't supported.

Even then, if they can't get through the jamb, most door locks can be broken off with a hammer, just depends on how much noise they are willing to make and how badly they want in.

As for that door, looks decent, but you'd have to see it in person to say for sure.


TomBodet
03-21-05, 06:07 AM
I tend to agree.. the door isn't usually the weak part of the equation, it's the jamb. Go look at your jamb, the part that the lock goes into.. It's probably just small 2x3 plate, held in with two screws.

Thanks for the replies guys.

The door comes pre-hung so it will have a new jamb. I've been giving serious consideration to buying a Medeco deadbolt, but if I can't get over the cost of one, I'd still get an 'enhanced' kick plate with the 3" screws.

Thanks again!