Sliding glass doors offer numerous benefits, including natural light, inviting ambiance, and beautiful views. However, due to their large glass panels and complex mechanisms, they can present security challenges for homeowners. To ensure your home’s and loved ones’ safety, it is crucial to implement adequate security measures specifically designed for sliding glass doors. In this article, we will explore various strategies and tips to enhance the security of your sliding glass doors and provide you with peace of mind.
Adding unique and formal features and concepts to the newly constructed house sounds appealing, but exclusive and complementing inventions also come with a high-security risk. Many homeowners prefer securing the regular doors, windows, and exit and entry points by installing a video camera or a digitalized sensory-based security-based alarm system directly linked with law enforcement agencies. Safeguarding regular entry points is the priority before moving to the house and considering overall home security. However, sliding doors are often neglected and overlooked in full-proof security, exposing the house’s back to would-be burglaries. This can ultimately be a massive breach of house security, allowing instant invasion resulting in a robbery or any other physical damage.
How to Secure Outside Track Sliding Glass Doors?
The best way to secure the outside track sliding glass door is to replace the latch with an actual lock. Next, you can drill self-tapping screws into the door’s upper track for additional protection. Finally, you can use a barricade (security bar) to make the door unopenable for extra security.
Please check the top 10 ideas on how to secure outdoor track sliding glass doors:
- Lock Replacement:
- Most sliding doors have a simple latch system, which is not the most secure option.
- Replace the latch with a robust, high-quality lock system.
- Install a Double Bolt Lock:
- A double bolt lock provides added security because it requires the door to be locked at two points.
- Add Security Bars or Rods:
- Place a metal or wooden bar along the track inside; it prevents the door from being opened from the outside, even if the lock is bypassed.
- Ensure the bar or rod fits snugly into the track to work effectively.
- Install a Security Door Brace:
- This device strengthens the door and makes it more difficult for intruders to force it open.
- Use an Alarm System:
- Install an alarm system that triggers when the door is moved without deactivating the alarm.
- Consider using a glass break sensor that triggers the alarm if the glass on the door is broken.
- Apply Security Film on Glass:
- Apply a security film to the glass of the door.
- The film makes the glass more challenging to break and slows down potential intruders.
- Install Security Cameras:
- Having visible security cameras can deter potential intruders.
- Drill Self-Tapping Screws:
- Insert self-tapping screws into the upper track of the sliding door.
- The screws will prevent the door from being lifted off the track.
- Use Anti-Lift Devices:
- These devices prevent the door from being lifted off its track from the outside.
- Consider using reinforced glass or Plexiglas:
- Regular glass is easy to break, but reinforced glass or Plexiglas is a lot tougher, making it harder for an intruder to get through.
In the following video, you can see how to secure the outside sliding door and replace the door latch:
Sliding glass and French doors contribute to the house’s beautiful vision but are not adequately adjusted for security. They can be pretty difficult to secure, triggering a security threat in invasive situations and keeping the kids safe in the house. With consultation from interior designers and decor experts, most homeowners prefer sliding glass doors, especially if they live in a warm, sunny area to soak up the sunshine. They provide striking views and might render an unending scenic picture if the surroundings are naturally beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
Still, such situations can also pose a considerable safety risk. Adding a sliding door to your home acts as a cherry on top, as the house gets a bonus entry point and added daylight. It increases positivity and boosts the mood. Adding a sliding door to the home allows you to enjoy the outdoors and indoors simultaneously.
However, the sliding door offers a straightforward approach to homeowners and potential burglars, keeping the advantages aside. According to recent research, about 70% of burglaries are invasions forcibly breaking through a sliding door. In addition, they can create an entrance by breaking the screens, damaging the door handles, or even taking out the door entirely. However, considering these potential scenarios, homeowners can increase their overall home security by learning the fundamental drawbacks of sliding doors.
Using latches instead of conventional locks is one of the drawbacks and limitations leading to break-ins. A safety and a key accompany traditional wooden doors, and most patio and deck doors are locked, But burglars can also disable them. Even in newly reconditioned houses, sliding glass doors tend to slip off their tracks. This becomes a challenge for the homeowners to put the giant door back on its original track, but this can be an opportunity for the burglars to slide the door off the main track for easy access to the inside of the house. Besides that, the sliding doors’ glass material allows intruders to break the windows conveniently. The glass windows and screens without privacy can create an uncomplicated entrance for intruders.
Sliding Glass Door Security
To increase sliding glass door security and protect the home from burglary, you can do the following:
Assessing Vulnerabilities
Before addressing security concerns, evaluating the vulnerabilities associated with sliding glass doors is essential. Typical weak points include:
- Flimsy Locks Many standard sliding glass doors come with basic latch mechanisms that can be easily bypassed or forced open.
- Fragile Glass panels can be shattered, enabling unauthorized access to your home.
- Accessibility Sliding glass doors often have large handles or locks visible from the outside, making them easy targets for burglars.
Strengthening Sliding Glass Door Security
To enhance the security of your sliding glass doors, consider implementing the following measures:
- Install a Secondary Locking System Enhance the existing lock by installing a secondary locking mechanism, such as pin locks, Charley bars, or security bars. These additional locks provide an extra layer of security and prevent the door from being quickly forced open.
- Reinforce Glass Panels Consider reinforcing the glass panels to prevent break-ins. Options include applying security film, a transparent adhesive film that makes the glass more difficult to shatter, or using laminated glass, which consists of multiple layers with a plastic interlayer that increases its resistance to impact.
- Install a Security System Integrate a home security system with sensors specifically designed for sliding glass doors. This setup can deter intruders and alert you to unauthorized attempts to access your home.
- Implement Motion Sensor Lights Illuminate the exterior of your sliding glass doors with motion sensor lights. Well-lit areas can discourage potential burglars and make it more difficult for them to approach your home unnoticed.
- Use Window Treatments Consider using blinds, curtains, or frosted glass films to limit visibility into your home. This prevents potential intruders from scouting your property and reduces the temptation to break in.
Additional Tips to Enhance Security
In addition to the specific security measures mentioned above, keep the following tips in mind:
- Regular Maintenance: Conduct regular maintenance to ensure that your sliding glass doors are in good condition. This includes lubricating the tracks and mechanisms, fixing loose components, and replacing worn-out parts.
- Secure Outdoor Access: Keep the area around your sliding glass doors well-maintained and free from obstructions. Trim bushes and trees that could provide cover for intruders and ensure that no objects could be used to climb onto balconies or access higher levels of your home.
- Reinforce Door Frames Strengthen the door frame by installing a metal or wooden bar along the track to prevent the door from being pried open. Reinforcing the frame adds an extra layer of security against forced entry.
- Consider Security Cameras: Install security cameras near sliding glass doors to provide surveillance footage during a break-in. Cameras act as a deterrent and can help identify intruders if an incident occurs.
- Create the Illusion of Occupancy When away from home, use timers to turn on lights or electronic devices to create the impression that someone is present. This can discourage potential burglars who may be monitoring your property.
Conclusion
Sliding glass doors are aesthetically pleasing and functional in a home but can pose security risks if not adequately protected. By assessing vulnerabilities, strengthening security measures, and implementing additional tips, you can enhance the security of your sliding glass doors and provide peace of mind for you and your family. Remember, the key is to create multiple layers of defense to deter potential intruders and make your home a less attractive target.
From 2022 onwards, Mark has also been contributing author of home repair articles at nimblefreelancer.com.
Read more on Mark Brown's biography page.
Contact Mark: mark@nimblefreelancer.com