What to ask your contractor
Reinforced door jambs have never been standard, so most builders skip them - not to cut corners, but because no one asks. Here is exactly what to ask, and what a good answer sounds like.
One question changes the whole conversation
May I have your professional opinion of this newly patented security plate called StrongJamb Armor Plate?
Six questions worth asking
And what a good answer sounds like.
Are you reinforcing the jamb, or just the door?
Doors rarely fail at the slab. They fail at the strike side of the frame. A solid door in a pine jamb still kicks open.
How long are the screws going into the strike plates?
Factory 3/4-inch screws only bite the jamb. You want 3-inch or longer screws that reach the wall framing behind it.
Is the strike-side reinforcement steel, and how thick?
Look for a steel plate - about a quarter inch - mortised into the jamb, not just a longer wood screw or a thin surface strike.
Will it sit flush and paint in?
Good reinforcement mortises into the frame and disappears once painted. It should not bolt onto the surface where you can see it.
Does it still fit my lock and handle set?
It should accept standard 2-1/4 inch residential deadbolts and handles, so you keep the lock you chose - including a smart lock.
Can you do it while the frame is already open?
During new construction, a remodel, or a repair, adding reinforcement is about twenty minutes of labor and a small part.
Before you start
Walk through this together so you both feel comfortable with the installation.
Show This Video to Your Contractor
A quick walkthrough of the install, so you're both looking at the same thing before you start.
Do You Have a Router?
If not, here's an affordable option that gets the job done for a one-time install.
See it on Harbor Freight →Does the Template & Router Bit Measurement Make Sense?
Confirm you both understand how the jig and router bit are measured to make the proper cut before anyone picks up a tool.
Do You Understand the Backset?
Make sure the backset is clear to both of you - it determines where the plate lines up with your lock.
Want to Talk With Someone First?
Before you start, if you'd like to walk through it together.
Call 937-902-5927 →Trusted by homeowners and businesses in Dayton
Fifty years of door experience, now protecting doors across Ohio.
Prospeed professionally handled the procurement of a sliding door and 2 sliding windows for my Centerville condo (I am an out-of-town owner) and installed them with me on site. Joe Pollard and his crew performed the work and left the condo in good shape. Greg Pollard made sure I was satisfied. I recommend Prospeed for door and window replacement.
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