Securing Patio Doors

Article by Laura Williamson

Securing Patio Doors – Home – Home Security

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While patio doors are a great enhancement to any home, they present one of the most difficult security challenges a homeowner can face. Because of their size, they provide a very convenient means for thieves to loot a house. Their being glass makes them vulnerable to being broken out by nefarious individuals. They also tend to have cheap locking hardware installed. All of this makes them a target that could only be more obvious to a burglar if it were painted with a bull’s eye. There are ways to improve the security of a patio door, though it will always constitute something of a vulnerability.

Installing a patio door is a major home improvement task and, oftentimes, a rather expensive one. Don’t attempt to reduce the cost by installing a door equipped with cheap glass. These doors should always have tempered or laminate glass installed in them. These types of glass are very difficult to break and are not prone to simply shattering wholesale, which allows a thief to enter the home without even working on the locking mechanism.

Patio door locks are generally of the privacy, as opposed to the high security, sort. Thieves know many different ways to pry these doors open. A crowbar, in cases where the thief is rather crude, or “jimmying” the lock in various ways provide fairly easy access to any thief. There are better patio door locks available but the huge window makes the lock something on which the homeowner should not entirely rely. Purchase one of the many types of bars that sit in the bottom track of the patio door and present a physical obstruction to it being opened. Even if a thief manages to disengage the lock from the outside, the door will not slide open and allow them entry. You can have a deadbolt installed on some types of patio doors. If you do, get the double-keyed type. A skilled thief may be able to remove a small piece of glass, slide their and through and turn the thumb lever on a regular deadbolt.

Remember not to provide cover near the door which a thief can use to hide their activities. It’s natural to want a private back yard, but too much privacy can be a bad thing. Given enough concealment to work at their task, most thieves will find defeating a patio door which is secured only by a simple lock a not-too-difficult task.

If you have a patio door, you need a home alarm system. While any home benefits from the security provided by a monitored alarm system, those with patio doors are doubly in need of such protection. Your patio door and deck can make outdoor activities and cooking out much more fun, but one should assume that the door will make the home a more attractive target for thieves. An alarm system provides enough security to greatly mitigate the vulnerability caused by a patio door. Make sure your door is labeled as being protected by an alarm.

About the Author

ADT Security is trusted by millions of home and business owners and is the nation’s #1 security company. With five customer monitoring centers, more than any other, ADT home security is your best choice for protection and peace of mind.

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Laura Williamson

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