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Armoured doors and door reinforcement in Paris

An armoured door is a front door built to resist force: a steel sheet inside, a strong frame, a heavy lock. In Paris it is common in older buildings where the original wooden door is thin and the staircase is shared with many people.

Armoured door or reinforcement?

Two routes exist. You can replace the door with a new armoured one, or you can reinforce the door you already have. Reinforcement means a steel plate fixed to the door, plus a better lock. It costs less, keeps the look of the original, and is often the only option in a listed building or a co-owned one where the owners' association controls the facade. A full new door gives more strength, but it is heavier and needs the frame to be sound.

What attackers actually do

Most break-ins are not clever. A burglar pushes a crowbar between the door and the frame and leans on it. The weak spot is the gap and the corners. That is why a good job includes anti-jemmy angles: steel pieces that wrap the edge of the door so the bar has nothing to catch. They are cheap compared with the damage they stop.

What we check first

• The state of the frame and the wall around it.
• The hinges, which are often the weakest link on old doors.
• How the door opens: inward or outward changes the choice.
• The lock type, and whether a certified A2P model can be fitted.

We do not push the most expensive door. If your existing door only needs angles and a new cylinder, that is what we say.

Before you decide

Check the building rules and your lease. In many Paris co-ownerships the exterior of the door is shared property, so the owners' association must approve any change that shows from the staircase. We can tell you what is usually accepted, and you remain the one who asks the building manager.

Price

We visit first. The call-out starts from €90, and the cost of the work is given after we have looked at the door. We do not name a figure over the phone for a door we have not seen, because the real price depends on the wall, the size and the lock.

Next steps

If your concern is the lock itself, see changing a lock in Paris. If you have already been burgled, go to after a break-in first. You can also ask for prices on the questions page or return to the English home page. The quote form is in French.