By Duncan Cottrell
If you or someone you know have ever experienced a break-in, you understand how scary invasions can be. You may wonder if there’s a single deterrent you could install in your home to prevent future security breaches.
There are various levels of protection for your home. No one component is the answer, but this issues’ focus is on securing glass windows throughout your home.
Typical double-hung windows (where the window sash slides up and down) have a pivoting lock where the two sashes overlap. The window lock is attached only with short screws, which will readily pull out when a pry bar is levered under the bottom sash, allowing the window to be opened. To prevent this, window pins are inserted into a hole drilled through the wood of one window sash into the overlapping sash. A special extractor tool pulls out the pins when you want to open the window.
For glass windows and doors, a tough polyester Window Security Film is available. The security film is crystal clear, 4 mils thick, and is applied from edge-to-edge on the inside of the glass with a super-strong adhesive. If the glass is broken (like with a brick or baseball bat), the shards don’t fall out. They stay in place because they are bonded to the film, which is too tough to cut or tear. By holding the glass shards in place, the film prevents the broken window from being used as an entryway. You still have to replace the broken glass (and film), but an intrusion is prevented.
The most burglar-proof security for windows is fixed metal grilles—burglar bars. To mitigate their unattractiveness, they can be custom designed to correspond to the dividers/mullions on the window (sometimes called “invisible” window bars). Bars can be installed on either the inside or the outside of windows and can be painted to match house colors. Fire code requires that window bars installed in bedrooms are hinged with an interior latch so they are readily “openable” in case of an emergency.
Another option is Security Screens, which resemble insect screens but are much stronger They are made from stainless steel wire held in a steel or aluminum sub-frame (which appears to be part of the window), and is attached to the window opening. They are available hinged for quick exits and cleaning. The latch opens only from the inside. Security Screens are widely used and apropos for residential housing. They are typically custom-made to window dimensions. However, they should not be confused with screen products being sold by alarm companies, which have alarm sensors woven into regular nylon insect screen.
If you would like additional information or assistance with your home security plan we, at The Entry Enforcer can help. Contact: Duncan@EntryEnforcer.com; 404-289-6960. You can find out more at: www.EntryEnforcer.com
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