Quick answer
A thorough composite door security check covers ten areas: PAS 24 certification, cylinder star rating, cylinder protrusion, handle rating, multi-point engagement, hinge anti-lift studs, glazing bead position, glass lamination, keep fixings and letterplate type. Most homes fail on one or two items rather than the whole list, and those are usually cheap to fix.
Overview
Security is a chain - one weak link and the rest doesn't matter. Work through this checklist and you'll find the weakest link on your door.
Why a checklist beats a single 'is it secure' question
Security is a chain of individual components, and a chain is only as strong as its weakest link - so the useful question isn't 'is my door secure' in general, it's 'which specific part of my door is the weakest, and how much would it cost to fix'. Working through a structured list turns a vague worry into a short, actionable job list.
Items 1-3: the lock itself
Start with the cylinder. Check for a visible kitemark and star rating stamped on the cylinder face, and check how far it protrudes past the handle's escutcheon plate - anything more than 2-3mm gives an attacker more to grip with a snapping tool. Then check the handle: a 1-star handle needs a 3-star cylinder to reach the recommended combined rating, while a 2-star handle can be paired with a 1-star cylinder for the same result.
Items 4-6: the mechanism and hinges
With the door open, lift the handle and watch every hook and bolt along the door edge extend - any point that doesn't move, or moves noticeably later than the others, indicates a partial mechanism failure. Then check the hinges for anti-lift studs, small steel pins that prevent the door being lifted off its hinges even if the hinge pins themselves are removed or drilled out.
- Cylinder kitemark and star rating visible
- Cylinder protrusion 2-3mm or less past the handle
- Handle rating complements the cylinder rating
- All multi-point locking points engage fully
- Hinges fitted with anti-lift studs
Items 7-8: the glazing
Glazing beads should sit on the inside of the door, facing into the house - beads fitted externally can, with the right tool and enough time, be worked loose to remove the glass unit without ever touching the lock. Laminated inner panes, rather than plain toughened glass, add meaningful resistance to a glass-breaking attack and are a Secured by Design requirement for good reason.
Items 9-10: fixings and letterplate
Keep fixings should extend through the frame into solid masonry, block or timber behind it, not stop within the frame profile itself - this is the single most commonly overlooked item on older installations. Finally, check the letterplate: TS008 rated designs resist letterbox fishing (using a hook or rod to retrieve keys left near the door) and small incendiary attacks, both of which plain unrated letterplates are vulnerable to.
Turning the checklist into a job list
Once you've worked through the ten items, you'll typically have found zero to three genuine issues rather than a wholesale problem. Prioritise the cylinder and keep fixings first if you have to phase the work, since those two items carry the most real-world risk reduction per pound spent.
Typical repair costs in Cornwall
| Work | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full 10-point security checklist inspection | £45-£75 | Often credited against any remedial work |
| TS007 3-star cylinder upgrade | £75-£130 | Highest priority fix on most older doors |
| Keep re-fixing into masonry | £90-£150 | Second most common fix needed |
| TS008 letterplate upgrade | £60-£110 | Worthwhile on doors with unrated original letterplates |
Guide prices only — we confirm the cost after seeing the door.
When to call a professional
- Any item you can't confirm.
Prevention
- Re-run the checklist every 2 years.
