Step by Step Door Devil Installation Guide

I find myself increasingly paying attention to the news of looting, robberies, and crime as the riots continue to become more common. Living in an apartment downtown (any downtown) makes me feel all that more susceptible to this sudden rise in property crime.

I initially begin considering "fortifying" my apartment with things like reinforced steel doors, sensor systems, and even a guard dog. Although there is some combination of those things and more which I've employed, I found a crucial piece to that puzzle is something called a door devil. 

Note: If you need a new one then read our door devil review before purchase. 

Fortunately, the increased security you get from a door devil is also easily accessible. In this guide, I'll cover each step for installing a door devil. Before starting, make sure you have a power drill and long steel screws ready.

How to Install a Door Devil Plate

1) Examine

Check your doors strike plate and doorjamb. Take out the screws, which should be a minimum of three inches long. Remember, the longer the screw, the better as it will provide more reinforcement in the door frame.

2) Lip Strike Plate

Now remove the lip strike plate from the lockset. Attach the new plate using 8 X 3 screws (or longer). You'll also want to make sure the screws hit your stud, so angling them may be necessary.

3) Install and Mark

Now it's time to install the door strike plate lock, which reinforces the doorjamb. Now, find the deadbolt strike plate center and mark it with something like a pencil. Then, install the faceplate that came in your kit.

4) Drill Holes

Take off the plate and drill holes in the area's where you marked for the strike box and new plate.

5) Use a Wood Chisel

This step is optional. You may use a wood chisel to remove access wood to ensure the strike box plate and faceplate sit flush. Otherwise, your door devil won't work as well.

6) Screwing

Finally, fit the faceplate and box with your 3 inch or longer steel screws. That's it! By following our installation guide it will take about 30 minutes. 

In the simplest terms, a door devil is one or more species of reinforced steel that you install into the frame of your door. The thought is that most, if not all, doors can have the best locks in the world.

Even then, it's rather easy to simply kick in the weak points of the door and skip the lock altogether. You can prevent a door kick in by installing a door devil. Now with this new term in mind, I decided to do some digging into what security experts say are the best door devils and which ones to avoid.

With that in mind, I decided to compile a list/explanation of the features to look out for in a door devil.

Material/Build

Not all metals are made alike. While some bend and are rather malleable, other metal alloys like steel are far more rigid and difficult to bend or break. That's why I found that steel, which is among one of the toughest metals on earth, is probably the best option in terms of material build.

Not only is steel extremely tough, but it's affordable and light enough for this particular use. So, if you're looking around and notice a door devil isn't 100% steel, then run away because you'll just be buying an expensive frame protector but nothing more.

Price/Budget

Door devils are the poor man's door protectors. Other options like doors entirely made from steel with reinforced mounts in the walls cost a whole lot more. Even then, you'll want to make sure you invest in a quality product.

A cheap and flimsy door devil may give you an added sense of security, but in many cases, a flimsy door devil won't do you any good. So, plan out your budget and expect to throw down anywhere from $80 to $100 on a quality product. Keep in mind that you get what you pay for, and in terms of home security, you shouldn't skimp out.

Does it have a warranty?

Generally speaking, the better the warranty, the better the product works. If you come across a door devil with a very limited warranty, then that should be a sign to avoid it at all costs. Conversely, a door devil with a lifetime warranty is generally a safe buy.

In some cases, I even found companies offering to pay a full refund plus $500 if your door devil failed to stop a home invasion or just didn't work (granted it was installed properly). That, in addition to a lifetime warranty, made me feel pretty at ease in the "does this really work" department.

In the end, door devils are great choices for beefing up your home security. By installing steel plates around the frame of your door, you can reduce your chance of a home invasion pretty significantly.

Since there are so many offerings on the table, you should consider the build quality, installation time, screw length, price, and warranty of each system before buying. So, if you're looking to install the door devil, make sure to reference this article.

Related article: A complete door hardware list for you.