The indoor/outdoor lifestyle that traditional sliding glass doors offer provides fresh air ventilation and unobstructed vistas. Despite how beautiful they are, they might pose security risks that shouldn't be disregarded. It's just as important to choose the right design for the door itself as it is to decide how to keep sliding glass doors secure from intruders. Criminals seeking a quick entrance into a residence often focus on sliding glass doors. They frequently have extremely simple locking mechanisms, are left unlocked, and are blocked from view. Traditional sliding glass doors typically have one fixed panel and one panel that opens to the outside and are functional. They permit enjoyment of the natural landscape's beauty without subjecting a house to the elements. They unfortunately pose some security difficulties. Therefore, choosing how to protect sliding glass doors is crucial for ensuring your safety.
5 Ultimate Ways To Secure & Protect Sliding Glass Doors From Burglary
The majority of contemporary homes today, it may be argued, feature sliding glass doors that give access to a patio, a backyard, or a side space. Although many see sliding glass doors to be a weak point when it comes to preventing forced entry from a thief or home invader, we will be going over some of our top five techniques to secure sliding glass doors in this tutorial. It's critical to not overlook a sliding glass door's security because a home's protection is only as strong as its weakest link, which is occasionally unquestionably a sliding glass door.
Way 1: Shatterproof Film
- Customers who inquire about how to increase the security of their sliding glass door from break-in attacks are typically given the advice to put a shatterproof film to the glass and, if necessary, a blocking bar. Applying shatterproof film will make the glass more difficult to break and is typically a cost-effective alternative. It can be transparent or colored to aid with the sun. If you reside in a region where hurricanes frequently occur, installing a shatterproof film on a sliding glass door might be a good option since it may also aid with that.
- Many businesses sell impact-resistant sliding glass doors as an alternative to shatterproof film, which can achieve the same outcome. Some businesses sell hurricane-proof sliding glass doors that can withstand being flung at high speeds with bricks and other hard things. Out of the two, shatterproof film is typically thought to be the more economical option.
Way 2: Blocking Bars
- A sliding glass door usually has blocking bars installed in the tracks to prevent the glass door from opening because the blocking bar will prevent door from opening. Typically, blocking bars are simple straight pieces of wood or metal.
- Many businesses provide blocking bars for sale online, but we typically advise consumers to buy an inexpensive wooden broom at the dollar shop and trim the handle to the exact size of their sliding glass door. Even though this may be the most economical option, metal will always be more resilient to a brute force attack than wood.
Way 3: Window Locks Or Security Pins
- On sliding glass doors, window locks can occasionally be applied, adding additional layers of security. Similar to a blocking bar, window locks, and other sliding patio door locks can be bolted onto the frame or track to prevent the door from opening.
- Additional security pins can be added. A homeowner will drill a hole large enough for a metal pin to fit into the bottom right inner corner of the sliding door and partially into the frame. A security pin is a steel pin that has been hardened and can be inserted into the hole to hold the two doors together.
Way 4: Alarm System & Glass Break Detector
- A excellent technique to protect sliding glass doors against a break-in attempt is to install alarm system alerts all around the door's outside. It has been established that homes with alarm systems are less likely to be broken into by burglars. A glass break detector on the window is strongly advised in addition to an alarm system for the sliding glass door. This is typically a straightforward and affordable solution that, when implemented properly, will sound a loud alarm as soon as the glass of the sliding glass door is cracked.
- Modern times make it quite easy to find DIY alarm kits that are also fairly priced. The F. B. I. has reported that burglars are 2.7 times more likely to target homes without alarm systems, even if an alarm system might not be able to physically lock the door. There are several products available on the market that, aside from the cost of the original equipment, don't require installation or monthly fees. A motion-activated floodlight covering the exterior of the sliding glass door works nicely with an alarm system. Today, a lot of alarm systems may be connected to the homeowner's smartphone, enabling warnings and instant messaging.
Way 5: Strong Locks
- It's crucial to take care of the locks that are installed on the sliding glass doors and to check that the latches are sturdy and secure enough to withstand an attempted forced entrance by a thief using a crowbar. Due to how easy it would be to force open sliding glass doors or throw a brick through a window, these doors are sometimes seen as being extremely susceptible.
- If the security of a sliding door is a concern, purchasing one of the many various types of sliding glass door locks that are available online and at neighborhood home improvement centers may be a wise investment.