Your front door is the main entry point to your home, and unfortunately, it's also the route chosen by around 70% of burglars. A good quality, properly secured front door is one of the most effective deterrents against break-ins.

But "security" gets used as a marketing term for everything from budget doors to premium systems, and it's not always clear what you're actually getting. This guide explains the security features that genuinely matter, what the certifications mean, and how to assess whether a door will actually protect your home.

The Basics: What Makes a Door Secure?

A secure front door isn't just about the lock. It's about the complete system: the door panel itself, the frame, the hinges, and the locking mechanism all working together. A weakness in any component compromises the whole thing.

The door panel

The door panel needs to be strong enough to resist physical attack. Thin, hollow doors can be kicked through. Quality doors have solid cores (timber or high-density foam) that resist impact.

Composite doors excel here because their construction creates a strong, rigid panel. Aluminium doors are inherently strong due to the material properties. Basic UPVC doors with hollow or lightweight panels are the weakest option.

The frame

A strong door in a weak frame is like a vault door in a cardboard wall. The frame needs to be securely fixed to the building structure and strong enough to handle the forces applied when someone tries to force entry.

Good quality door frames use reinforced sections and are fixed with long screws into solid masonry or structural timber. The frame should also include steel reinforcement plates where the locks engage.

The hinges

Standard hinges can be a weak point. Better doors use heavy-duty hinges with security features:

Hinge bolts: Steel pins that engage with the frame when the door is closed, preventing the door being lifted off even if the hinges are attacked
Security screws: Longer screws that anchor deep into the frame and wall
Three or more hinges: Distributes load and provides redundancy

The locking mechanism

The lock is what most people focus on, and it is important. But not all locks are equal.

Understanding Lock Types

Multi-point locking

Modern entrance doors almost universally use multi-point locking systems. Instead of a single lock in the middle of the door, multiple bolts engage at several points along the frame edge, typically at the top, middle, and bottom.

This spreads the force of any attack across multiple points and makes the door much harder to force open. Multi-point locks are operated by a single key turn or lift of the handle, so they're no less convenient than a single lock.

The number of locking points varies. Three-point is common. Five-point or more provides additional security. For most residential situations, a quality three-point system is adequate.

Cylinder locks

The cylinder is the part where you insert the key. It's often the weakest link in otherwise good doors because cheap cylinders can be picked, bumped, or snapped relatively easily.

Cylinder snapping is a particular concern. Burglars use tools to break the cylinder in half, then manipulate the mechanism to unlock the door. It's quick and doesn't require much skill or noise.

To counter this, look for:

Anti-snap cylinders: Designed to break at a sacrificial point that leaves the mechanism protected
Anti-pick features: Internal mechanisms that resist manipulation with lock picks
Anti-bump protection: Prevents "bumping," a technique using special keys to jar the pins open
Anti-drill protection: Hardened steel pins that resist drilling attacks

Quality cylinders meeting the TS007 3-star rating provide good all-round protection. Premium options are rated to SS312 Diamond Sold Secure standards.

Euro cylinders vs British Standard mortice locks

Most modern composite and UPVC doors use euro profile cylinders with multi-point locks. Traditional timber doors often use British Standard mortice locks (the kind with a large keyhole and separate deadbolt).

Both can be secure if specified correctly. Euro cylinder systems are more common on new doors and easier to upgrade if better cylinders become available. Mortice locks are traditional and suit period properties.

Secured by Design Certification

Secured by Design (SBD) is a police-backed scheme that certifies products meeting specific security standards. It's the most widely recognised security accreditation for doors in the UK.

For a door to achieve SBD certification, it must pass rigorous testing that simulates real attack methods: kicking, shoulder-barging, using tools to lever or prize the door open. The complete door set (door, frame, locks, hinges, and hardware) is tested together.

What SBD certification tells you:

The door has been independently tested against realistic attack scenarios
It meets minimum standards for physical strength, lock security, and overall resistance
The manufacturer has been audited and approved

What it doesn't guarantee:

SBD is a minimum standard, not the ultimate in security
Certification applies to specific products; variations may not be covered
Installation quality still matters (a certified door badly fitted is not secure)

When shopping for doors, asking "Is this Secured by Design certified?" is a good baseline question.

PAS 24: The Technical Standard

PAS 24 is the technical standard that underpins most security certifications including Secured by Design. It specifies test methods and performance requirements for doors and windows.

A door certified to PAS 24:2022 (the current version) has been tested for resistance to:

Manual attack (bodily force)
Mechanical attack (using tools)
Cylinder manipulation

It's essentially a guarantee that the door has been properly engineered and tested for security, not just marketed as "secure."

Building regulations now require external doors in new builds to meet PAS 24 or equivalent standards. For replacement doors, it's not legally required but is sensible to specify.

Glass and Glazing

If your door has glazed panels, those panels need to be secure too. Standard glass is easy to break and provides a route in.

Laminated glass is the security standard. It consists of two or more layers of glass bonded to a plastic interlayer. When struck, it cracks but holds together rather than shattering into an opening. Breaking through laminated glass is noisy, time-consuming, and difficult.

For doors meeting PAS 24 or Secured by Design standards, laminated glass (typically 6.4mm or 6.8mm laminated) is required in any glazed areas large enough to reach through.

Decorative glass panels can still be laminated. The visual appearance doesn't change, but the security does.

Practical Security Tips

Beyond the door itself:

Use your locks: A multi-point locking system only works if you lift the handle and turn the key. Just pulling the door closed engages only the latch, not the deadbolts. Make it a habit to properly lock up every time.

Don't leave keys visible: Letterbox fishing (using tools through the letterbox to hook keys left near the door) is a real technique. Keep keys out of sight and reach.

Consider a letterbox restrictor: If your door has a large letterbox, a restrictor limits how far anything can be pushed through.

External lighting: A well-lit entrance deters opportunists. Motion-activated lighting is effective and energy-efficient.

Don't advertise absence: Piled-up post or a house that's obviously empty invites attention. Timers on lights and asking neighbours to collect parcels help.

Upgrading an Existing Door

If your current door is basically sound but has weak locks, upgrading the cylinder to a high-security version is worthwhile. A quality anti-snap cylinder costs £50-100 and can be fitted in minutes.

However, if the door panel is flimsy, the frame is poorly fitted, or the overall system is dated, cylinder upgrades only go so far. Sometimes replacing the whole door is the sensible answer.

What to Ask When Buying

When shopping for a new front door, these questions help establish genuine security credentials:

Is the door PAS 24 certified?
Is it Secured by Design accredited?
What standard is the cylinder (TS007 3-star, SS312, or equivalent)?
Is laminated glass used in any glazed areas?
What's included in the warranty regarding security?

At GDCG, all the entrance doors we supply meet current security standards. We can explain exactly what's included and help you choose the right specification for your situation.

Get in touch for advice on entrance door security, or visit our Grantham showroom to see the construction and locking systems firsthand.

GDCG supplies and installs entrance doors across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire. Security is built into every door we fit, with PAS 24 certification and high-security cylinders as standard. Contact us for a free survey and quote.

How Secure Is Your Front Door? A Guide to Security Features That Actually Matter