Door Question for Brick Bungalow

[teresanc]

Hello all! Waving to you from North Carolina! I live in a brick bungalow that will be 100 years old this year. After the original restore/remodel projects that involved work in the kitchen, partial new bathroom, plumbing and wiring updates when I first bought the house in 1997, I'm now looking at smaller projects to tackle.

One project is the front door which is at present a solid wood door, old and ugly because it is unfinished. Driving around town, I see on many older homes like mine the use of paned glass door which look original. But I wonder how secure these doors are. Would I need a deadbolt lock for maximum security?

Do any members here have wood and glass paned doors on your homes? Did you get them because that was the original style door? Are you satisfied with the security of paned doors? Thanks for any suggestions you might have!

Here is a pic of my home:

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL93/969683/7821423/103158539.jpg

[Gigi]

Just darling! We have since moved, but our past home several french window doors- security was never a problem because each had a deadbolt with the lock-

[chyna]

There is a film that you can install on the glass that improves the security, no idea what it is called though but they used to mention it all the time on a show I used to watch about how to thwart thieves. If you contacted a security business I bet they could steer you in the right direction. The would be thieves can still break the glass but the film keeps the glass from falling out and they have broke the glass for nothing.:p

[yarborough house]

Welcome fellow NC historic home owner. I live in Sanford, NC and have a 1929 foursquare with bungalow influeneces. That is what the write up says:)
We have a lot of glass front doors here in the neighborhood. We have never had things taken or broken into- now cars- that is another story.

I'll try to get out some this week and take some pics of various doors for you to see.

[teresanc]

Hi Tammy! Pictures would be great! You are a sweetheart!

Love your foursquare home and I took a look at your blog - very nice. I live in Burlington, a little town of less traffic between Greensboro and Chapel Hill. I guess you would call it my home town now that I am back here after living away for many years.

[Heather]

Welcome Teresa to the forum! You have a nice home.
What about a door like this:

[yarborough house]

Okay here are some doors. The first one is of our house up close. Notice it has a big pane of glass and yes we have a deadbolt. But for the lock to be of use it has to be the one that has a keyed interior.
1381

This next one is of the whole door entry. We have two sidelights so yes we have lots of glass at the front.
1382

Next is a bungalow down the street.
1383

This is our friends bungalow...
1384

And they too have a door with a big pane of glass.
1385

pretty much bungalows had doors with glass on them. Most did not have a solid wood door. It was all about letting the outside in- so to intertwine nature with the home.

Hope these help some...I'll keep an eye out for more.

[teresanc]

Thank you so much, Tammy, for posting those photos! You have some great homes in your area. What I have seen driving around the streets near me is more like the gray bungalow's door with the many panes and the sidelights. I'm used to the sidelights with no sheers covering them since I've lived here 12 years now. Having a wood and glass paned door might prompt me to make a sheer curtain for it, mainly because I live so close to the street. I'd just have to see how I feel about it. I'd love to have a screened door too, for fresh air when I'm home. A lot to think about!

Thanks again for taking the time to take the pics and post them here. I really appreciate your effort.

[yarborough house]

We have the storm door that has the full pane of glass but can be swapped out for the full screen in warmer months. It is a Godsend as the old door does not seal well and that storm door seals like a glove. I can have the main door open all day in the winter to let the light in and that storm door doesn't let any heat out -or cold in.

You might check the salvage store in Goldsboro for a door when you get around to looking for one. They have an amazing array of doors and pretty much everything you can think of that they strip off of houses that are being demo'd. It is an awesome place.

[mac78]

Your house is adorable.