Strengthening what exists, or fitting a complete set
Retrofit armouring keeps your door: a folded steel skin on the leaf, angle sections on the frame, a multipoint lock, anti-lift pins. A complete reinforced set replaces everything, and its resistance no longer depends on the quality of the original surround. The state of the frame decides, not the brochure. So we look at the frame first, then at the wall holding it: those take the force, not the steel.
In village houses the frame is bedded into stone masonry that gives remarkable anchorage, provided whoever fits it knows how to work that material. In exchange, the doors are off-standard and often arched: made to measure is the rule here rather than the exception. A full survey precedes any order: height under the lintel, depth of the reveal, hand of the door.
One purely practical constraint remains. A door set destined for rue Moncollet goes up by hand, under vaults and over uneven steps. Its weight and bulk are part of the choice, just as much as the level of resistance you are aiming for. Two carriers and thirty steps is something to plan before the quote is signed.
Consent, co-ownership and overall consistency
The village sits under its keep and its surroundings are protected. Changing the outward appearance of a door visible from the lane can require a planning declaration and the opinion of the Architecte des Bâtiments de France, the heritage architect. The town planning department will say what applies at your exact address. Better to ask before ordering a made-to-measure door than after it is delivered.
In the blocks of Le Cabbé and Saint-Roman the obstacle lies elsewhere: co-ownership rules frequently govern the appearance of landing doors. Ask the managing agent for agreement before ordering, and the owner's written agreement if you are renting the flat. Some buildings require the same finish and colour along an entire landing.
Finally, armouring moves the weak point rather than removing it. A Cap-Martin villa whose door becomes impregnable still has its windows onto the pine wood; a garden-level flat in Carnolès still has its French windows. Consistency across the whole home counts for more than one outstanding opening. Reinforcement is worked out opening by opening, starting with the most reachable.
How does this service work?
Techniques, typical situations, standards and things to watch out for: it is all on our door reinforcement page. This page focuses on what the service involves in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.