Doors and windows are the most vulnerable parts of a property, as majority of burglars gain access into a home or office through a door or window that is either not strong enough or left unlocked. Poor lighting around doors and windows and other factors also aid burglars break-in. To keep your home or office secure, it is highly important to assess the state of your doors and windows when moving into a new home and from time-to-time.
Here are some door and window security tips to help you keep your home and office secure from burglary.
Door security tips
Change your Door Lock
If you have just moved into a new house, it is advisable to change the door locks, especially the exterior doors. This is because you can never always be completely certain or feel comfortable if all previous occupants, their relatives, neighbours, or workmen have returned their key copies. Also, it could be that you are not comfortable with the quality of the current lock and wish to change to a new lock of higher quality. It is a good idea to change the door lock so as to give that peace of mind and control over your door.
Choose Door with Multipoint Locks
If you choose to change your door entirely, consider doors with a multiple lock system. They add an extra layer of security. For example, you can install a deadbolt. In addition to a latch and deadbolt, multi-point locks are equipped with a bolt that comes out of the top of the door panel (head bolt) and another that comes out of the bottom (foot bolt). It would take a formidable offender indeed to break through a door secured in four separate places.
Make sure your Doors are well lit
Walking up to a door that is surrounded by complete darkness would give most of us the chills. That is why having a well lit door is a key tip to keeping you safe. If there is no light at your door there are a few easy fixes for that. The simplest and cheapest fix could be getting a strand of decorative lights and hanging them up around your door or porch. This will give off enough light to brighten up the door space as well as the simplicity of small lights that can be easily removed. If you want a more permanent fix, there are outdoor lights available at most hardware stores that can be bought.
Replace Glass with more solid options
Glass doors and glass inlays on doors are nice to look at but could also pose a danger if hit. Glass can be a pain to clean up and could also result in injury. Try replacing the glass with tempered glass or finding a door with fiberglass inlays to decrease the dangers of broken glass. Tempered glass is much stronger and is more heat resistant than regular glass. It falls apart into small pieces rather than large shards with sharp edges making it much easier and safer of a clean up. Tempered glass is great in any window or door for the increased safety benefits it provides.
Window security tips
Get Windows with interior locks
It is important to have interior locks on your windows. Many windows now have security latches at two different levels to allow for the window to stay open for ventilation in a safe way. This allows for fresh air as well as the safety of having your window locked.
Consider Windows with Tempered glass
It doesn’t take much to break standard window glass. But a window fitted with laminated glass is not so easily penetrated. Laminated glass is made by sandwiching a thin, virtually invisible, vinyl film between two layers of glass. That thin layer won’t prevent the glass from cracking, but if it does get broken the glass will stay in place within the window sash or frame.
Window Safety for Children
Keeping children safe around windows is a top priority. You should keep all furniture away from open windows. Children are full of energy and if they are playing on the furniture near an open window it increases the likelihood of an accident happening. Make sure all furniture is a good distance away from the window so that a child could not easily access it.
Install Smart Windows and Doors
You can either set up motion detectors that detect movement within the house or install lock status sensors that will let you know if your doors and windows are locked or if someone unlocks them. Both systems can be built into a new or existing home.