A kicked-in door is the most common forced entry we attend, and it almost never involves a broken lock. The deadbolt is usually still locked, still intact, still sitting in its strike plate. What failed is the wood around it.
Typical range: $325–$2400 CAD. Ranges are typical for the GTA and depend on the door, the hardware and the time of day. We confirm the price before dispatching.
Why the jamb loses and the lock does not
On a standard door, the strike plate is held by two screws around three-quarters of an inch long. Those screws bite only into the jamb — a piece of softwood, typically three-quarters of an inch thick, nailed to the structural stud behind it.
A kick from an adult delivers several hundred pounds of force concentrated on that small area. The softwood splits along its grain, the strike plate tears through, and the door opens with the bolt still thrown. The lock was never tested. The wood was, and wood is what lost.
This is why a more expensive lock does not prevent a kick-in. The lock was not the limiting factor.
How we repair it
A split jamb can nearly always be repaired rather than replaced, and repaired properly it ends up stronger than it was originally. We glue and clamp the split, back it with a steel reinforcing plate spanning well past the damage, and re-anchor into the stud with long screws. Where the jamb has torn out entirely, we scarf in a new section rather than filling it.
The finish is made good so the repair is not obvious. What matters more is what goes back on top of it.
The reinforcement that actually changes the outcome
A full-length reinforcing strike — a steel plate spanning several feet of the jamb, fastened with three-inch screws driven through the jamb into the framing stud — moves the load from the softwood into the structure. The same kick that split the original jamb will not defeat it.
Paired with three-inch screws in the hinge plates on the other side, and a deadbolt with a full one-inch throw, this changes a door from something a single kick opens into something that takes sustained, loud, visible effort. That is what deters forced entry: not impossibility, but time and noise.
The cost of this reinforcement is a small fraction of the repair it prevents, which is why we fit it on every kick-in repair as standard rather than as an upsell.
Doors that get kicked
Side and rear doors, overwhelmingly. They are out of sight from the street, they are often older than the front door, and on a lot of GTA housing they were added in a renovation with lighter framing than the original build.
Scarborough, North York and older Etobicoke housing stock are particularly represented in our call volume for exactly this reason — 1960s and 70s side entrances with original softwood jambs. Rear service doors on commercial plazas share the same profile and the same vulnerability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a kicked-in door frame be repaired, or does it need replacing?
Repair is possible in the large majority of cases, and done properly it leaves the frame stronger than original. We glue and clamp the split, back it with steel spanning past the damage, and re-anchor into the stud. Replacement is needed when the frame is racked out of square or the split runs the full height.
Why did my deadbolt not stop them?
It probably did everything it was designed to do. On nearly every kick-in we attend, the deadbolt is still locked and undamaged — the jamb around the strike plate split and the bolt tore through the wood. The lock was not the weak point and a better lock would not have changed the outcome. Reinforcing the strike into the structural stud would have.
How do I stop my door being kicked in again?
A full-length reinforcing strike fastened with three-inch screws into the framing stud, three-inch screws in the hinge plates, and a deadbolt with a full one-inch throw. That combination addresses the actual failure mode. It is inexpensive, it is fitted in under an hour, and it is materially more effective than upgrading the lock itself.
How much does it cost to fix a kicked-in door?
A jamb repair with reinforcement is at the lower end of the range. Costs rise if the door slab itself is damaged, if the frame is racked, or if hardware needs replacing as well. We quote on site once we can see whether the damage is confined to the jamb or extends into the frame and door, and we will tell you before we start.
Is the door still usable after a kick-in?
Often it closes but no longer locks securely, which is worse than it appears — it looks fine and provides almost no security. Do not leave it overnight in that state. We can make it secure the same visit in most cases, with a permanent repair to follow if parts are needed.
Kicked-In Doors across the GTA
We provide kicked-in door repair throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Pick your city for local detail, or call and we will tell you straight away whether you are in range.
Related services
Door Frame Repair
Split jambs, corroded steel frames and torn-out strikes repaired and reinforced — because no lock is stronger than the frame holding it.
Break-In Repair
Same-day repair and re-securing after a forced entry — doors, frames, locks and hardware, with documentation for your insurance claim.
Post-Burglary Upgrades
A structured review of every opening after an incident, with upgrades prioritised by what actually gets exploited.
Emergency Board-Up
Doors and openings secured the same night when a proper repair cannot be completed immediately.