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How to Add Security to Traditional Properties

A large part of restoring a period property is preserving the existing details that give a building its character. Original doors, timber windows, and traditional joinery offer authenticity, but sometimes need updating to meet practical considerations such as security, privacy, and fire protection.

With carefully chosen From The Anvil hardware, there's no need to compromise on style as we offer a variety of door and window accessories that use modern configurations paired traditional designs. Learn more about these below...

1. Add Bolts to Internal Doors

Bolts are an excellent way to secure internal doors. Aside from being incredibly easy to install, a bolt provides one-way locking which is ideal for bathroom or bedroom doors that don't need to be locked from the outside.

For those with limited motion in their hands, bolts are a great choice thanks to their ease of use, providing locking without the need for a code or key. This simplicity also helps retain a classic, understated appearance, particularly when used on wooden doors.

Bolts can also be used to add an extra layer of security to exterior doors where desired but this shouldn't be relied on as the main method of locking (all external doors should be fitted with insurance-approved hardware).

We offer a variety of door bolts including...

Read our Guide to Bolts blog to learn which type is suited to your home or browse All Bolts.

Above: our Pewter Patina Straight knob bolt (left) and our Aged Brass Universal bolt (right).

2. Secure Windows with Locking Stay Pins

Traditional window furniture is often chosen for its authentic appearance. Many classic window fasteners and stays, however, are non-locking by design.

If you've chosen a non-locking fastener but would like additional security, a locking stay pin can provide a discreet solution without changing the appearance of your window hardware.

Our Locking Stay Pins are designed to work with our range of window stays. They can also be locked in the night-vent position, helping to provide greater flexibility while allowing the window to remain partially open for ventilation where needed.

Above: a Pewter locking stay pin paired with traditional window furniture.

A locking stay pin is particularly useful for ground-floor windows or other accessible openings where additional security is desired.

Explore our Locking stay pins.

3. Add a Locking Staple Pin to a Thumblatch

The natural aesthetic of ledge and brace doors make them a quintessential feature in many traditional properties, where they're typically paired with thumblatches and T hinges.

But how can you add privacy to ledge and brace doors?

One option would be to add bolts to the door, as mentioned previously, but for something more subtle we recommend a locking staple. This small accessory can be easily retrofitted to a thumblatch to allow for locking on one side of the ledge & brace door.

Our locking staples are supplied with a leather strap and metal pin. When engaged, the pin restricts movement of the latch bar, locking the door into place. This is ideal for bathrooms, bedrooms and other spaces that require one-way locking while retaining the classic appearance of a traditional ledge & brace door.

Above: a Beeswax Bean Thumblatch paired with a Beeswax Locking Screw on Staple.

As well as providing additional privacy, the locking staple pin complements the traditional character of a thumblatch, making it a practical addition that doesn't detract from the appearance of the door.

Explore our full range of Ledge & Brace door hardware.

4. Add a Door Viewer to Your Front Door

Your front door is the main point of entry to your home, so it is worth considering both security and peace of mind when choosing its hardware.

A door viewer, sometimes known as a spyhole, allows you to see who is outside before opening the door. It is a simple addition, but one that can provide an extra level of reassurance when answering unexpected visitors.

Door viewers can be particularly useful on properties without a glazed entrance door or where the existing glazing does not provide a clear view of the approach.

When renovating a period property, look for a viewer that complements rather than distracts from your existing door furniture. A well-chosen finish can sit discreetly alongside your door handle, letter plate, escutcheon and other hardware.

As with all security features, consider the overall security of the entrance rather than relying on any single product. A suitable lock, robust door construction, appropriate hinges and good-quality ironmongery should all work together as part of a considered approach to entrance security.

Above: our Polished Chrome door viewer fitted to a front door.

5. Add a Door Chain for an Extra Layer of Security

Another useful addition to a front door is a door chain. When engaged, a chain allows you to pull the door ajar while restricting it from being fully opened.

This adds a sense of reassurance when answering the door, as visitors cannot gain entry when the chain is in use.

Our door chains feature a decorative pattern which works well with more traditional hardware, and are available in three of our Blacksmith finishes: Beeswax, Black, and Pewter Patina.

For maximum protection, a door chain should be considered an additional security measure rather than a replacement for a suitable lock or other entrance security.

Above: our Black door chain fitted to a timber door.

6. Protect Doors with Intumescent Hinge Pads

Security and privacy are not the only practical considerations when choosing door hardware; fire protection is another major aspect.

Intumescent hinge pads are an effective, yet discreet, way to make your doors more compliant with fire safety regulations.

Our intumescent hinge pads are designed to sit behind compatible hinges, where they're largely concealed. When exposed to high temperatures, the pads rapidly expand to fill the void, which insulates the surrounding timber and prevents heat transfer through the screw holes, stopping the fire from breaching the door frame.

Although intumescent hinge pads can add further fire protection to a fire door, they cannot turn a standard door into a fire door. For compliance, ensure your doors and hardware are all fire-rated by checking the manufacturer's specifications and seek professional advice where appropriate.

Above: our Aged Bronze butt hinges with Intumescent hinge pads fitted behind them.

In addition, we also offer intumescents for our door locks and latches, which offer further protection for corresponding hardware. Discover our full range of intumescents here.

7. Protect Your Doors from Everyday Wear

Aside from safeguarding your home against fire and intruders, it's also important to protect your home from everyday wear. Busy homes and commercial properties are susceptible to knocks, scuffs, and general wear-and-tear, particularly in high-traffic areas.

Fortunately, there are several simple ways to protect your doors without compromising on aesthetics.

Use Kickplates and Fingerplates

Kickplates are designed to protect the lower portion of a door from knocks, scuffs, and contact. These are particularly useful in commercial properties where users may regularly open the door with their feet if their hands are full, i.e. restraunts, hotels, and offices.

Fingerplates offer protection around the handle area, helping to prevent the surface of the door becoming marked or worn due to repeated use. This is especially useful for light-coloured doors where fingerprints are more noticeable, or antique doors where the surface has become worn.

Aside from their practicality, both kickplates and fingerplates add an attractive architectural detail, particularly when chosen in a finish that complements your door handles and other ironmongery.

Above: an interior door fitted with our Beeswax kickplate & matching fingerplate, and an exterior entrance door fitted with our Pewter Patina fingerplate.

Add a Door Stop

Door stops are another small but worthwhile addition, particularly where a door opens towards a wall, piece of furniture, or other solid item.

By limiting how far the door can open, a suitable door stop helps prevent the handle of the edge of the door from striking the object behind it. This can protect both the door, hardware, and surrounding plasterwork from accidental damage.

Door stops can make a noticeable difference in busy areas of the home, and can be selected in a complementary finish to existing hardware to create a cohesive look throughout the space.