After a forced-entry break-in, the strike plate and door frame absorb most of the damage. Frame reinforcement with a Door Armor kit costs $45 plus $85 for installation. 3-inch screws in the strike plate are mandatory.
A homeowner on Fourth Street in Santa Rosa called us the morning after a kick-in burglary. The deadbolt held — the door frame did not. The wood around the strike plate split into three pieces and the door swung open. This is the most common forced-entry failure we see in Sonoma County: the lock works fine but the frame gives way because it is held by half-inch screws into a thin pine jamb.
Why Door Frames Fail During Break-Ins
Most residential door frames are 3/4-inch pine with a routed pocket for the strike plate. The strike plate is held by two 1/2-inch screws that only grab the jamb — they do not reach the structural framing behind it. One solid kick snaps the jamb around the strike plate and the door swings open. The lock itself is usually undamaged. We see this on older homes across Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and Sebastopol where builder-grade door frames have never been reinforced.
How to Reinforce a Door Frame
Step one: replace the 1/2-inch strike plate screws with 3-inch screws that anchor into the wall stud behind the jamb. This alone stops most kick-ins and costs almost nothing. Step two: install a Door Armor or EverJamb reinforcement kit — a steel plate that covers the entire strike area from hinge to latch. This distributes the force of a kick across 4 feet of steel instead of 2 inches of pine. Kit costs $45, installation $85. Call (707) 775-7069 to schedule frame reinforcement.
After a Break-In — First 24 Hours
Secure the door immediately — even a temporary fix. We board up, install a temporary deadbolt, or repair the frame same-day. File the police report. Photograph all damage for your insurance claim. Do not clean up until the police have documented everything. Then call us for permanent repair: frame reinforcement, new strike plate, new deadbolt if needed, and a security assessment of every other entry point. Full post-break-in security overhaul runs $350 to $500. Call (707) 775-7069.