Good points here, especially about reinforcing the hinges. When I upgraded my door last year, I went with a reclaimed solid wood door (trying to stay eco-friendly...) and noticed a huge difference right away. One thing I'd add is weatherstripping—it's not just for insulation. A snug fit around the frame makes it harder to pry open quietly, plus it helps with energy efficiency. Small detail, but worth considering if you're already upgrading anyway.
Good advice on weatherstripping—I didn't think much about it from a security angle before, mostly just energy savings. I'm tackling my front door upgrade next weekend and already have reinforced hinges and a decent deadbolt planned. But now you've got me wondering about the lock itself. Do you guys think smart locks are actually secure enough for a front door? I've heard mixed reviews—some say they're super convenient and secure because you can monitor them remotely, but others mention potential vulnerabilities to hacking or malfunctions. I mean, tech is great...until it isn't. Would appreciate some real-world experiences here before I commit.
I switched to a smart lock about two years ago, and honestly, it's been mostly great. The convenience is awesome—no more fumbling for keys when my hands are full of groceries or tools. But...I did have one weird glitch where the app randomly logged me out, and I had a mini heart attack thinking I'd been hacked (turned out to be just an update issue). Security-wise, I think they're solid enough if you stick with reputable brands and keep firmware updated. Nothing's foolproof though, so I still keep a traditional backup lock just in case tech decides to have a bad day.
Had the same mini panic moment myself a few months back—got home late, phone battery was dead, and for a second I thought I'd be sleeping on the porch, lol. Totally agree with keeping a traditional backup lock as a safety net. Tech glitches happen, but overall, smart locks have been a huge convenience for me too. Good call on sticking to reputable brands; regular updates really do help keep things secure.
"Totally agree with keeping a traditional backup lock as a safety net."
Had a similar situation last winter—battery died on my keypad lock during a cold snap, fingers freezing while trying to swap batteries in the dark... not fun. Smart locks are handy, yeah, but honestly, sometimes simple beats tech convenience for peace of mind.
