A standard door with a deadbolt is not a high-security door. We supply and install forced-entry-resistant door assemblies across Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley, with reinforced frames, multi-point locking systems and security-grade hardware.
Steel strikes, reinforced jambs, and security-grade doors for homes and commercial sites.
A solid door with a good deadbolt can still be kicked in, because the weak point is usually the jamb, not the lock. The thin wood around the strike plate splits, and the deadbolt goes with it, still thrown. This is a common way forced entries happen, and it’s why a high-security door is about the whole assembly, from the framing to the hardware, rather than just a stronger lock. At Fix My Door Now Ottawa, we design and install high-security door assemblies that address each weak point.
A reinforced door performs best when its lock, cylinder, strike and key system are selected as one security package. Can-Lock Security can help match high-security locks in Ottawa — restricted keyways, upgraded deadbolts or related hardware — to the stronger opening.
A high-security door should be assessed as a complete assembly. Depending on the existing door, improvements may include frame reinforcement, security hinges, stronger locking hardware or a replacement door. We recommend upgrades based on the actual weaknesses of each opening.
The frame and rough framing. Standard residential jambs are typically 19mm softwood, and the strike plate is held by 25mm screws that don't reach the structural framing behind it. A high-security frame extends continuous steel reinforcement behind the jamb at the strike, hinge, and deadbolt locations, and is anchored with 75mm or longer fasteners that bypass the jamb and reach the rough framing stud. This helps the frame resist a kick instead of splitting at the strike.
The door slab. Security-grade steel door slabs use heavier gauge steel than standard residential doors and are typically filled with a rigid foam or steel stiffener that prevents flex under impact. A door that flexes under a kick transfers that flex to the frame and strike — and wood frame that sees repeated flex eventually cracks. A rigid slab keeps the impact at the point of contact rather than spreading it.
The locking system. A single-point deadbolt creates a single point of failure. Multi-point locking systems — which engage locking bolts or hooks at three or more points around the door perimeter simultaneously with a single handle or key operation — distribute the load across the full height of the door and frame rather than concentrating it at one strike. Spreading the load this way makes the door harder to force than one held by a single deadbolt, as long as the frame and hinges are also sound.
The hinges. Standard residential hinges use removable pins — which means an outswing door can be opened from the hinge side by driving the pins out. Security hinges use non-removable pins and incorporate set screws or security studs that prevent the door from being separated from the frame even if the hinge barrel is defeated. On inswing doors, hinge-side studs engage the frame when the door is closed, providing resistance even if the hinge itself is removed.
We rebuilt and reinforced a forced residential entry in Ottawa this way after a break-in — the split jamb was backed with steel and fitted with full-length security strikes so it holds under a kick rather than folding. See the full break-in repair & reinforcement project →
For Ottawa homeowners, high-security door installations most commonly involve exterior entry doors — front, side, and back entries that represent the primary perimeter of the home. The trigger is usually a break-in in the neighbourhood, a previous attempted entry at the property, or a decision to improve the home’s security. We assess each entry for its specific risk profile: which direction the door swings, the condition of the existing rough framing, the door's exposure and visibility, and the locking hardware currently in place. From that assessment we specify a complete assembly — frame reinforcement, slab, locking hardware, and hinges — that addresses each weakness we find.
Commercial applications for high-security doors are broader: storage rooms for high-value inventory, server rooms and data storage areas, pharmacy and dispensary entries, cash handling areas, after-hours entries for businesses with high theft risk, and back-of-house entries on commercial properties that are difficult to monitor. The same whole-assembly approach applies, but the hardware specifications differ — commercial applications typically require higher-cycle-rated hardware, compatibility with access control systems, and in some cases compliance with insurance requirements that specify minimum door and lock grades. We work with business owners and property managers to specify hardware that meets both the security requirement and any applicable insurance or code standards.
On one Ottawa job we rebuilt a crushed exterior door jamb around a full-length steel security strike, anchoring it deep into the framing so the lock finally had something solid to catch. See the jamb repair & security strike installation →
Multi-point locks are one of the most effective upgrades for a door. A standard deadbolt throws a single bolt into a single strike at the lock height. A multi-point system operates three to seven locking points simultaneously — typically a central deadbolt plus hook bolts or shoot bolts at the top and bottom of the door, all driven by a single handle lift and key turn. Because the door is held at several points, it is harder to force than a door with a single deadbolt, provided the frame is in good condition. Multi-point locks are common on European-style doors and are now widely available for Canadian homes. We supply and install multi-point systems on new and existing doors, including retrofit options for doors that were originally installed with single-point hardware.
Every high-security door installation starts with an assessment. We walk the entry with you, explain what each component does and why it matters, assess the current rough framing to determine what reinforcement is needed, and specify an assembly that matches your actual risk profile and budget rather than simply the most expensive option. A homeowner who has had one break-in attempt and wants to prevent a second has different needs from a business protecting high-value inventory. We explain the options and trade-offs at each price point so you can make an informed decision.
Ready to make your door more secure? Book a security assessment. Call 613-265-3667 for a free, flat-rate quote across Ottawa & the Valley — or request a free quote online.
High-security installation connects to lock, frame, and hardware work. These pages go further:
Real door repairs, installations, and security work completed by our Ottawa and Ottawa Valley team.
Property managers and facility teams — get pricing and book a site visit that suits your hours.
Fast commercial response with flat-rate quotes — book a site visit that fits your operating hours.
Related Ottawa door work.
Lock repair and replacement across Ottawa and the Valley — deadbolts, knob sets, mortise, multipoint and smart locks fixed fast.
Door frame repair in Ottawa — we fix cracked, split, rotted and kicked-in frames for homes and businesses.
Fire door repair and servicing in Ottawa — closers, latches, hinges, frames and assemblies that will not self-close.
What Ottawa homeowners and businesses ask us most about forced-entry-resistant doors.
Call for a security assessment and flat-rate quote across Ottawa & the Valley.
