To Secure A Shed Door Against Intruders You Need Decent Shed Door Hardware

Shed door hardware is different from standard house door hardware in the larger variety of door closing situations, including;

• Unframed doors

• Large opening widths

• Double doors

• Shed doors open outwards

in a word 'non-standard' (OK two words).

The hardware discussed below includes;

• Hinges

• Door bolts

• Locks

• Padlocks

All may be needed to make the door both secure and easy to use.

Shed door hinges

Strap hinges

The basic shed door hinge is the T or strap hinge. I say basic because although the hinge allows the door to open, the screw heads are easily accessible on the outside! If anyone was really determined to get in they could just take the screws out and lift the door off.

Standard shed door hinge

Security can be improved by using shed security screws. Security screws come in a couple of types:

Screws with a torx-pin head. Torx screws are fairly widely used these days (but using a mixture of screw types is one way to slow down the hinge removal). The pin in the centre of the torx recess is an additional security feature that means a standard torx bit wouldn't work. A less common torx-pin bit would be required.

This shed door bolt is held in place with a mixture of posidrive screws and screws with a torx-pin head

Screws with a 'one-way' head. This type of screw can be installed but can't be removed. The design of the head of the screws mean that the screwdriver will just slide out of the slot when you try to turn the head anti-clcokwise.

This shed door hinge is held in place with a mixture of 'posidrive' screws and screws with a one-way head

Shed Security hinges

An improvement on the basic strap hinge is the shed security hinge. This has a larger hole in a hole in each of the two parts of the hinge to accommodate dome headed bolts. The bolts fasten through the door ledger on one side and into the door frame on the other.

If specific hinges with enlarged holes aren't available then

This is the most secure way to secure the hinges of an unframed door.

Shed door security hinge

Concealed hinges

The next step up in security is to use a fully framed door. By using concealed hinges the problem of being able to undo the screws or bolts is overcome.

However this does require a more expensive door, rather than the ledged and braced or framed ledged and braced door more commonly used for sheds.

Concealed shed hinge

Moving on from hinges that enable a door to open the next item of shed door hardware is the shed door lock.

Shed locks and latches

There are a range of methods of keeping your shed door securely closed. These range from the simple and effective door bolt to multipoint locking doors. In my view one of the most effective locking systems for shed doors is the long throw door lock. You can find out more about the Gatemate lock and other systems here.

Concealed shed hinge

Cabin hooks

Cabin hooks are probably one of the most overlooked pieces of shed door hardware. They are so handy for stopping a shed door blowing in the wind. They look fairly straightforward and they are, but there are a few types and tricks that you need to know which can really help before you just pick the nearest one from a hardware catalogue.

cabin hook

How to choose and fit a cabin hook

Summary

A few simple choices of shed door hardware can make your shed more secure, easier to access when you want (and not for unwanted intruders) and don't forget the trusty cabin hook!