How the Secret Service Would Do Shed Door Security

IF YOU ARE LIKE me, you probably use your garden shed for a lot more than storing junk...

Do you keep your motorcycle in it?

How about the family bicycles, your tools?

Is your neighborhood like mine, ripe with teens who break into sheds just for fun?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you need to invest heavily in the best possible shed door security. Personally, by the time I did my homework and invested in the right forms of security, even the Secret Service would have a hard time getting into my shed.

What I Found and How I Secured My Shed Door

First, let’s get started by saying there is more to making your shed secure than just hanging a new door and installing some kind of lock.

If you truly want your shed to be secure from your local teens and any other unsavory character, you need to make sure the entire shed is locked down when you are not in it.

Believe me, I tried adding a better padlock, but that didn’t stop some jerk from knocking the lock off and making off with my kids’ bikes.

A Thicker Door

The best place to start with your shed door security is to take a close look at the door itself. Depending on the type of shed you have, it may or may not have a door that is at least 44 mm thick.

Thicker doors are not only harder to kick in but can accept much larger and stronger door locks such as deadbolts. While you can get away with a thinner door (especially if you have a sheet metal shed), you can always refit your shed with a thicker one to ensure maximum security.

Thin Doors Can Be Used

The majority of smaller sheds are sold with a thinner door that is braced for added strength. While these doors can be modified with extra braces to improve security, they are not designed to accept a mortise style lock. Instead, most are designed to be used with a hasp and padlock.

You can still achieve better shed door security with this type of door, you are just going to have to work harder for it. For example, you should install extra bracing for the hinges and hasp. You can also move the hasp and staple to a point on the door where the bolts go through the framework rather than the body of the door.

A Word about Bolts

If you are going to use a padlock to secure your shed door, there are a couple of things you should know about this type of security.

To start with you must use coach bolts to secure the hasp, staple and hinges securely in place, these bolts have a smooth round head that cannot be gripped by any type of tool.

The bolts are fed through the door and door frame from the outside and secured in place by nuts and lock washers. Short of cutting the bolts, no one will be able to remove them, making coach bolts the ultimate way to secure your hinges, hasp, and staple in place.

Padlocks

Since you are already installing a new hasp and staple along with upgraded hinges, don’t you think it would be a good idea to take a good look at the padlock you are planning to use?

The best type of padlock to use in securing your shed door is one with a closed hasp. You have probably seen a version of these in use to secure bikes in place. These locks are designed in such a way as to expose as little of the hoop as possible, making it far more difficult for someone to cut it.

Be sure your lock is weatherproof and buy a well-known brand name lock such as Master Lock or Kryptonite.

Here's a quick video explaining a few different ways to secure your shed door

Your Shed Windows

If your shed is like mine, it probably has at least one window that doesn’t open. Don’t be fooled into thinking it is safe from burglars just because it doesn’t open. All a thief has to do is break out the glass and he is in.

The best way to secure these windows is to install a mesh grille on the outside using coach bolts. Add more security by frosting or tinting the windows and adding curtains or blinds to keep prying eyes out.

If your shed windows are the kind that open, you can still secure them by adding window locks and a mesh grille on the inside. Again, use tint, frosting, and/or curtains to enhance your shed’s overall security.

Your Shed Walls

Chances are good that no one will ever try to break into your shed by going through the walls, but at the same time, they do represent a possible way in.

Not only this, but if your shed walls, as well as door and window frames, are not sturdy, they do represent a way in.

One way to overcome this is to insulate the walls and then add a layer of ½-inch plywood to the inside of the walls. Not only will this make your shed warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, but it will make it much harder for a thief to rip out the door or a window to gain access.

There Is Always More You Can Do

No matter what you do to secure your shed and enhance your shed door security, there is always something more you can do. For example, install anchors on the floor that can be used to secure motorcycles, bicycles, ATVs, toolboxes, and anything else of value.

Be sure to mark everything with an engraver to reduce its resale value. Add exterior security lighting with motion sensors and security cameras to record everything that is going on.

The more you do now, the less the chances are someone is going to break into your shed and take everything you have worked so hard for.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

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