Plastic doors?!

[lockedin]

Hi, I know there must be a thread somewhere dedicated solely to the subject of upvc doors, but I couldn't find it. I was shocked to find out about upvc doors today in the UK and other parts of Europe (thanks Shrub). All I could think was "plastic doors?!" My question(s) is how do they fare against wooden and metal doors in terms of kicking in? Would I be corect in thinking that this must be some very unconventional plastic that is way sturdier than other types? I keep getting images of fisher price playhouses in my head.

[bonez]

some pvc doors are pretty mickey mouse!

but some are better made than others,but after you've seen a
door smashed in by a police battering ram

and then have to make it secure,you realise that hardly any are
resistant to forced entry!

[Shrub]

The advantage on some of them is that they actually bounce so resist the battering ram slightly longer in some cases.

The name of the plastic is UPVC and is a derogatrive of PVC,

Wendy house doors arent far from the truth to be honest.

[Chucklz]

You can get similar doors in the US, already framed in and all. They are usually quite inexpensive. You could pick one up predrilled for locks for about $150 in my area.

[lockedin]

$150 for a upvc in your area? wow. Sounds a little steep. You can pick up a metal security door for $120 at the local Home Depot over here.

[Edgaro55]

wow, can't someone just melt through the plastic, intruding into your home??? I see someone right now burning through someguys door while at work or somthing...

[Shrub]

Well yes i guess they can but the fumes, smoke and time it would take is all too much effort for the robbers, they do regulary take the glass out on doors and windows that are held in from the outside though as they are only held in by plastic strips snapped in.

[dazza]

Hi

when the police hit the doors with ram they knock out the middle of the door so there is just the frame. the door could still be locked but there is no middle to it if you no what i mean? so they just secure it up with a bit of chipboard in the part that is missing.

[Shrub]

Yes in the case where the door has a panel, if its a full moulded piece they cant.

[lockedin]

What about drilling? I could see a hole the size of one's hand drilled with a circular drill to reach in for a thumb turn in one of those in less than a minute.

[Bahrg]

I think the same could be said for most cheap wooden and metal doors as well. Lets be honest how hard would it be to get into most doors if you really wanted to? Even if the door is strong, the door jamb rarely is. A nice swift boot and it breaks

If I was really worried about someone getting in, I would use a nice thick solid steel door with a metal door jamb. And of course bars on the windows Id rather get broken into and shot then put myself in a prison like that. Course thats easy to say when I live in a small rural town in Canada.... I might feel differently if I lived in a dangerous area.

[Shrub]

I rarely come u against thumb turns, they are on a lot of old people homes etc but as far as residences go its very rare for me.

[Edgaro55]

eh... I guess its just paranoia

[mh]

I have one on my house and I am pretty happy with it.

It's easy to keep it nice and clean, no need to paint it, and so on.

Of course you could melt it, or cut through it, or smash the small glass insert (but not pry it open, as there is a metal frame construction and sturdy hinges and a 3-point 'jimmy proof' locking system)

But which burglar would do that in our residential area?
I think that's a rather unrealistic threat.
They would rather try (and only try ) to pry open one of the windows.

Cheers,
mh

[chrisjc33]

wow, can't someone just melt through the plastic, intruding into your home??? I see someone right now burning through someguys door while at work or somthing...

the cheap crappy doors are just thin upvc (you get what you pay for)but i am sure the good ones have sheet metal inside