I didn’t say so explicitly, so I’ll mention that I have a new steel door now, complete with no less than three deadbolts. It is a serious installation with 10″ bolts sunken into the wall through the steel frame, and concrete injected into that to seal it in place forever. There is even a marvelously satisfying shunk when the bolts slide in place. However, it is a clear triumph of function over form.
To call it ugly would be too easy. This is the kind of door one finds in the alley behind a chinese restaurant in the bad part of town, a door that should have “Deliveries 8-10 AM only” stenciled on it, slightly askew. Knocking on it will bruise your knuckles — I’ll need to buy a doorbell, I suppose — and you probably not be heard, anyway.
According to the installation team, would-be intruders will now have an easier time getting in by backing a tow truck up to the house and using the chain and winch to rip a window and its bars right out of the house. If someone wants to go to that much trouble to get into Hidden City HQ, then who am I to say no.
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I’m glad you’re less likely to get robbed again. I’m always a fan of plain grey metal but if you don’t like your new door I imagine you could paint it to match your trim or something.
I don’t have any objection to the industrial look, but it looks odd in this context. At any rate, I have the paint already. Now I just need to get off my ass and use it.
So is the door heavy, or did they balance it so that it swings easy on the hinges?
For the door, big, medieval iron spikes, and some iron bands across the top and bottom, secured by fat square-headed rivets. Then a high perimeter wall, with portcullis and sally port. Sentry tower, ballistae, Greek fire, and a cauldron or two on swing frames ready for dousing the entrance with boiling oil.
That’s all you really need.
Not bad, some brown paint and a peephole and you’ll be right as rain!
The newly-painted brown door swings smoothly, sans cast-iron struts.
Is that a sign saying your have an alarm system I see in your front yard?