Working to Develop Your Home and Garden

To make your property as secure as possible, you want to give some thought as to the strength of the doors and windows of the home. While security cameras and other devices can be good for increasing home security, thieves may actually ignore cameras and alarms for a "grab and dash" break-in, meaning they will break in and grab what they can, and then dash off before police can arrive. Securing the home's entryways can then be what's needed to keep your property and your family safe, so note some tips on how to do this at your home.

Storm doors

A home's storm door should have a strong lock with several pins. These pins are inside the lock, at various heights, and they all need to be lined up in order for the lock to be opened; your key is cut in a pattern that pushes these pins into this alignment, so the lock can then be turned and opened. The fewer the pins in the lock, the easier it is to line them up with simple tools or lock picks. However, the more pins in a lock, the harder it is to line them up and keep them aligned, so invest in a lock with several pins inside the cylinder for better home security.

It's also good to have more than one deadbolt on a security door. If you have a doorknob that locks, a deadbolt directly above that, and then another deadbolt higher up on the door, this spreads out the door's locking mechanisms, and makes it harder to pry open one section of the door. Also, if you opt for a chain rather than a deadbolt, choose one that is short and thick, so it's difficult to cut with bolt cutters.

Screens

Opt for a screen door with hidden hinges so the door can't simply be taken off those hinges. It's also good to choose a screen with a small mesh, so a person can't slide shears through that mesh and cut the screen.

Windows

Windows should have a sliding deadbolt, just like doors, as thin locks provided by a manufacturer are very easy to break. You might also opt for vinyl or fibreglass windows versus wood window frames, as old and soft wood is easy to splinter and break with a pry bar, allowing someone to simply push the window open. Safety glass or acrylic are both very strong and difficult to break with a rock or other such item, so choose either of these at least for first-floor windows.