Q: My storage unit continues to be broken into as it swings open fairly easily without much muscle. How can I strengthen the door without it looking like Fort Knox?  

A: Try reversing your door. Have the door swing out instead of in. Reinforce the frame from the inside by installing a 1 inch by 1 inch doorstop all along the doorframe. The door will close against this new frame and will make it very hard to kick in. The frame stop can be either wood or square metal tube material. The door should be a solid core exterior grade and use a good quality dead bolt lock. The hinges will be exposed, so use three heavy-duty tamper-proof hinges. If this does not stop the break-ins, it should at least slow them down considerably.

Q: I am building some work benches in my storage garage to help with my apartment maintenance jobs. But the benches are a bit wobbly and not as sturdy as I had hoped. Please help!    

A: We can’t all be master carpenters, but that has never stopped us! In this case, go to your local hardware store or lumber yard. Look for a bench and shelving kit that comes in a box and contains metal connectors, screws and instructions for building the strongest bench you have ever seen! And it is simple to build. In a couple of hours, you will have a professional heavy-duty bench.

Do you have DIY maintenance questions? Send them to DearMaintenanceMen@gmail.com.