Project Difficulty:
Moderate Estimated
Project Time: 15 to 30 minutes, depending upon the type of door
Tools and Materials:
Yardstick or measuring tape
Pencil
Drill and drill bits, or a hole saw and hole saw arbor and bit
Sandpaper
Broad-bladed screwdriver
Stepladder
A door viewer is one of the easiest home security devices to install. Economical and simple in design, it lets you see who's standing on your welcome mat without opening the door or alerting the visitor to your presence.
Door viewers come in a variety of materials including decorative brass, rustproof plastic, and stainless steel. You also can choose different ways of viewing your entrance: select a regular lens for a non-distorted view of the other side of the door, a wide-angle lens to see your entire front porch, or a large-projection lens (a several-inch diameter display on your side of the viewer) which lets you identify the visitor from several feet away without walking up to the door (Fig. 1). No matter which model you choose, you'll find it quick and easy to install.
1.
Determine the Location
On the inside face of the door, choose a comfortable height for your door viewer, and pencil a mark at that location (Fig. 2). Whatever their height, viewers usually are centered between the left and right edges of the door; also check that the location you've selected from inside won't damage any decorative molding on the door's outer surface. If you have children, consider placing the viewer low enough for them to use, or put one at their height and one at yours.
2.
Drill the Holes
From the inside, use a drill or hole saw to create a hole the correct diameter to accept the barrel of the viewer. (The viewer comes in two halves which screw together.) If you're drilling the hole at eye level, you may want to stand on a stepladder for a more comfortable angle while drilling. To avoid splintering the outer face of the door, stop drilling once the tip of the bit just breaks the door's outer surface. Then move outside, set the tip of the bit against the point of the broken surface, and drill through. Once the hole's been drilled, smooth its edges with some rolled sandpaper, if necessary. (Fig. 3)
3.
Insert the Viewer
Insert the outer and inner halves of the viewer into the door, and screw them together. Many models have notches on the lip of the inner barrel that you can use to ensure a snug fit: angle the flat blade of a screwdriver against a notch and, with a hammer, gently tap the screwdriver's handle to rotate the viewer's barrel clockwise.
