Tip 1: Use Blocking Bars
Insert a metal or wooden bar along your sliding doors bottom track. Even if a would-be burglar defeats the latch, this physical barrier makes it impossible to push the door aside. The bar should be long enough to allow only a minimal opening, if any. Another option is a Charlie bar, a fold-down arm that blocks the door, usually at waist level, providing a more convenient interaction than bending down to the floor each time you want to open your doors.
How To Secure Double Doors Summary
Securing your double french doors from the easiest bypass technique can be achieved for practically nothing by adding just one screw. But if you have high valuables and you want to secure the french door as much a possible, numerous additional things can be done to beef up the integrity of the door to its highest security level. Which you choose depends on your desired level of security and budget.
Disclosure: As an Amazon / Google / eBay / Home Depot Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases.
Lock Up The Overhead Door
Some people lock the overhead garage door when they go on vacation by unplugging the opener. Thats a good idea,;but physically locking the door is even better. An unplugged opener wont prevent fishing, andif you have an attached garageit wont stop a burglar who has entered through the house from opening the garage door from inside, backing in a van and using the garage as a loading dock for his plunder. Make a burglars job more difficult and time-consuming by locking the door itself. If your door doesnt have a lockable latch, drill a hole in the track just above one of the rollers and slip in a padlock.
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Patio Guardian Sliding Door Lock
Using a Patio Guardian Lock is another simple way to lock a sliding glass door without a lock.
Although it requires drilling , installation is quick and uncomplicated: you have to mount one part of the lock on the fixed door panel and the other part on the sliding door panel.
It can be a great choice if you need a device thats childproof and also allows ventilation without compromising on security. To unlock it, all you have to do is pull the handle down and twist so that it stays in the unlocked position.
Keep in mind that this device will only work if you have the sliding door panel on the inside and the fixed glass pane on the outside.
Best Ways To Improve Sliding Door Security
by James Mora | Security Hacks
If you want to keep intruders out of your house, reinforcing your sliding door should definitely be one of the first tasks on your list. In this article, Ill show you my favorite methods that I have been applying successfully for many years now.
Sliding doors are, without doubt, one of the weakest points of a house. In most cases, the standard lock on them provides no real protection, even novice burglars can easily bypass them.
Check out this short video to have an idea of what Im talking about:
It took less than 30 seconds for that guy to bypass the lock and get into the house.
Fortunately, there are quite a few reliable methods you can use to secure your sliding door and prevent home invasions. Below, Ill show you the most effective ones that will help you take home security to the next level.
Burglars can get into a house through a sliding glass door in three main ways:
- Exploiting the vulnerabilities of the lock.
- Breaking the glass.
- Lifting the door out of its track.
, so its a good idea to start by fixing that issue.
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Maintain Your Doors Tracks
One of the best things you can do to have;secure patio doors is to have a regular maintenance schedule.
Remember, sliding doors move back and forth on rollers. If these become damaged, it becomes easier for someone to lift the door from its track.
In order to maintain the tracks and rollers, get in the habit of lifting the door out of the track and cleaning out debris and dirt.
Clean;tracks can prevent a thief from simply lifting your door off its track and bypass your locked door.
Energy Star Most Efficient 2021 Sliding Glass Doors
The ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2021 designation recognizes the most efficient products among those that qualify for the ENERGY STAR program. These sliding glass doors represent the leading edge in energy efficient products this year. Access the full ENERGY STAR Most Efficient certified products list in;Excel . Illustrations of all ENERGY STAR window types. Most Efficient recognizes a subset .
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Get A Security Bar For Sliding Glass Doors
Remember going to your grandmas house and always having to pick up the dowel or broomstick she had lying in the track of the sliding glass door? She was doing her best to keep her home safe, but as any enterprising kid can figure out, if you jiggle the door hard enough, you can get it to jump the track or make the stick move. Its not the perfect plan to keep a home secure, but it can work in a pinch.
One of the best ways to secure a sliding glass door is to keep it from sliding, and there are many varieties of security bars or Charley bars available that do just that. Security bars are typically placed in the track of your sliding glass door. Charley bars are placed further up the door and mounted with screws on at least one end, which allows for the bar to easily swing in and out of place. These can be great if you have small children who are likely to tamper with a security bar in the track.
After placing the security bar in the track of your sliding glass door, all you do is set it with a pressure mounting system . Many models have padded ends to make sure the pressure doesnt damage your doors.
A security bar is a two-minute install. With the Charley bar, youll need to have a drill to screw in one side. But after that, simply adjust the bar to the correct height and push it into place.
How To Secure Outside Track Sliding Glass Doors
Outside track sliding doors present a greater security challenge than their inside track variants, as they are far more easily pried open and lifted off of their tracks.
When the sliding panel is on the inside, it is a lot harder to get tools between the panel and its tracks for prying. If you ever have the choice between the two styles, always go for an inside track sliding door.
However, many of the tips described above will work with an outside track patio door. You will not be able to use a security bar effectively, but you can still replace the weak latching lock on the door and should use more than one auxiliary lock to prevent both horizontal and vertical movement.
I would double or triple up on auxiliary locks because the door will be exposed to prying tools like crowbars, which can exert a lot more force than someone without tools.
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Types Of Locks For Securing Sliding Glass Doors
While sliding glass doors can make a beautiful and functional design statement, they can also pose unique security risks. Sliders have weaknesses that are different from those associated with traditional wood or steel doors. Many homeowners are aware of the risks associated with sliding doors and may shy away from installing them on their property. Yet, there are some relatively simple steps you can take to ensure that your slider unit is secure.
The first step is determining the weak points of a sliding glass door system. Then well look at the options for reinforcing a slider. We also provide information installing new or replacing the existing lock hardware and which types of locks are best for securing these doors.
Through The Looking Glass
Picture Source
This final option is considered unconventional simply because a good number of homeowners overlook it, even though it is one of the most effective . Window security film is a easy solution for this type of work.The final way is to simply reinforce the glass of your sliding doors. The above methods that were listed work perfectly well to deter criminals, but some burglars are more determined than others, and there is nothing that will stop them from simply breaking the glass of your doors and walking right in. This is where the reinforcement comes in. The use of a layer of glass film over the doors should do the trick. Several companies offer varying options for these protective films. Some of them come equipped with tints to prevent anyone from seeing into your home, however, it still affords you the luxury of peering out and enjoying the view. These protective films are manufactured to withstand immense pressure and are used both to prevent break-ins and to also shield damage from hurricanes and strong winds. They are a really good addition to any home and they work well in tandem with the other methods described above. For instance, if a burglar becomes aware that you have chained the doors together or that you have blocked the tracks, they could simply break a portion of the glass and remove the obstruction. The more impatient ones will probably attempt to break the entire door, but with the protective film both of these scenarios are negated.
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Sliding Glass Wall Cost
A sliding glass wall system costs $5,000 to $20,000 to install or between $900 and $1,500 per linear foot on average. This modern telescoping glass door is up to 50 wide by 10 tall with stacking or sliding doors. Some styles are frameless without tracks, and each panel is up to 60 inches wide.
- Stacking doors feature multiple sliding panels that stack together as they slide off to the side. Each panel has its own track.
- The pocketing system allows the panels to slide inside the wall to create the widest unobstructed door opening. They usually have a minimum of 3 sections.
By Ellen Rogers
From sliding doors to French doors, there are hundreds of options when it comes to selecting a new patio door. Fortunately, having so many choices means you have the ability to find just the right door to match not only your homes unique aesthetic, but also your budget. First, however, you have to determine which one is right for you and your home. Heres a look at some considerations to keep in mind when making your selection.
Use A Dowel Rod Or A Security Bar To Lock Your Sliding Door In Place
Using a dowel rod to lock a sliding glass door without a lock is probably one of the simplest and most affordable methods out there. I suggest you use a dowel made of wood because that provides more solid protection than plastic ones.
To make this work, all you have to do is cut the wooden dowel rod to size and place it in the track of the sliding door. Make sure the length of the dowel is exactly the same as the length of the track , otherwise it will easily fall out of place.
Placing the wooden stick into the track will prevent the door from sliding.
The dowel can only be removed from the inside, so anyone who tries to get into your home through the sliding door will have a hard time, even if they bypass the locking system.
If you prefer a more professional solution, you can go and get a security bar .
There are two ways you can use a door security bar:
- in a vertical position it will secure most hinged doors
- in a horizontal position you can use it to lock your sliding door
The main advantage of this security device over a dowel is that its adjustable, so you dont have to spend time cutting it to size. Also, its made of heavy-duty steel, so its more sturdy than a wooden rod.
Using a security bar requires no drilling or screwing, so you dont have to change anything permanently on your home.
A fixed horizontal security bar has multiple advantages: it securely stays in place, allows ventilation, and most models are childproof.
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Flux Magnetic Screen Door
When it comes to the best patio doors, the combination of practicality, design, and price is essential. This is exactly what Flux Screen Door offers you.
It also has a very practical, magnetic mechanism, thanks to which it closes by itself. This makes it also very suitable for your pets, so you no longer have to open and close it continuously.
Another advantage of this door is that it can be easily and quickly installed and removed anywhere. The detailed installation instructions that come with it will also help you.
Follow them and use this door for front, back, patio or porch, balcony, garage and even for sliding doors. With its design and size, it will fit anywhere.
Pros
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Security For Sliding Doors Is Easy
If I had to summarize the topic of sliding patio door security, I’d tell you to add shatter-resistant security film to the glass itself, get a dowel cut to lay in the track, and add a double bolt sliding door lock as mentioned just above.
With those three things, it will take far too long and be far too noisy for any thief to consider breaking in your door. You can also consider installing sliding glass door alternatives, too.
And of course, if you can afford it, having a security system in place will run them off almost immediately. Now that you know how to secure a sliding glass door, the only thing left is to do it so you can feel safe in your own home.
It’s worth it just for the peace of mind, let alone in the event of a real break-in.
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Install A Security Barricade
Installing security bars is a reliable way to keep your sliding door securely closed.
But what if you want to secure your patio door in a less obtrusive way? This is where security barricades come in.
Theyre quite small and discrete devices that can be installed within a few minutes. Note that security barricades work only on sliding doors that operate on the interior side of the fixed panel.
Nightlock Patio Sliding Door Barricade is a patented product sold at an affordable price. You can find some really convincing reviews on Amazon , so Im definitely not the only one who finds this device exceptionally useful.
Its made of solid, extruded aluminum and can be mounted on most types of floor . It consists of two pieces: you have to anchor the base to the floor and when you want to secure your sliding door you just have to slide in the barrier itself with a single motion.
The Nightlock barricade uses the strength of the floor so it provides reliable protection.
Keep in mind that door barricades are installed on the floor so youll have to bend each time you want to activate or deactivate them. This might be a concern for those who suffer from severe back pain or mobility issues.
FYI If you like DIY stuff, weve collected some simple home security hacksin this article.
What Makes These Doors So Vulnerable
Sliding glass doors often open from the back deck or patio. This makes them easily accessible, and which means burglars dont have to search for alternative entrances. Under the guise of night, these doors are the first point of entry that thieves will target.
Sliding glass doors have larger glass panes that are far more vulnerable to breaking. They also sit much lower to the ground than a window. If your doors were not properly fitted, installed, and secured, they can literally be lifted off the track as well.
Its incredibly important to have a professional install your doors or have them checked if they were there when you purchased your home. Sliding glass doors do not come with locks that are as strong as a typical deadbolt. The entire door should be reinforced.
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Which Manufacturer Is Best For Patio Doors
All three of these manufacturers make stylish and durable patio doors, so each of them would be a great addition to your home.
Milgard products are available in popular styles and at affordable prices, NT delivers a great budget-friendly vinyl product, and Andersen offers several styles with lots of options for customization.
We definitely trust these manufacturers with building quality products for our clients and would recommend them to you as well.;
How Nanawall Products Handles Security
NanaWall folding and sliding glass door systems offer multiple security options to protect your home. Each of the NanaWall door systems features various locking options to customize the perfect door for a home.
1. How to Secure Sliding Glass Doors from Burglars Using Multipoint Locking
The multi-point lock mechanism on the swing doors of many of our products involves a latch, a deadbolt and top/bottom locking rods. With the multi-point lock option, there are lever handles both on the outside and inside of the door. Pressing down on the handle withdraws the latch, and lifting it engages the rods. Turning the key or thumb knob engages the deadbolt and operates the lock.
2. Two Point Locking
The two-point locking mechanism is standard between each pair of bi-fold panels. A 180-degree turn of the handle moves the locking rod up or down. It features a concealed locking rod and locks into both the head track and sill. The locking hardware has passed forced entry testing.
3. Deadbolt Locks
With the deadbolt mechanism, there are pull handles of both sides of the deadbolt. There is the option of having key operation on both sides.
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