That large, sliding glass patio door that you love because it lets in so much natural light? Yeah, burglars love them, too. What is a beautiful home feature to you is a welcome sign for many burglars. Well, according to one former burglar it’s because sliding glass doors:  So what’s one to do? Board up the sliding glass door permanently? Replace it with large, locking steel doors? Both are options, though not great ones.  Below, we’ll show you the 3 ways burglars break in through your sliding glass door and how you can prevent or deter each one. Most sliding glass doors come with a lock that is really just a latch. It shouldn’t be relied on to keep burglars out of your home. Here’s a video demonstration of a homeowner unlocking his simply by jiggling it a bit. Install a better sliding glass door lock. You have a lot of options, but here are the best ones we recommend: Security bars Security bars are strong metal bars that attach to one side of the door frame and then are extended or folded into place and brace against the sliding door to lock it into place.

Master Lock 265DCCSEN Dual-Function Security Bar shown bracing a sliding glass door You can create something similar yourself. Cut a dowel or piece of 1x1 wood to the width of your tracks when closed. Then place the brace in the tracks to “lock” the door.  Traditional sliding door locks The most common type of sliding door lock is a basically a bolt that attaches to the sliding door. When shut, the bolt slides up into the frame of the door to secure it. A key then locks the bolt in position. How sliding door locks work. Double bolt locks This is a newer type of sliding door lock. Double bolt locks are 2 pieces. One piece attaches to the frame of your door. The other attaches to the sliding door. When shut, the piece that attaches to the frame nests inside of the piece that attaches to the door. Metal bolts then slide into the piece attached to your frame to secure the door. Check out this video to see how they work. Door sensors While not a substitute for a good lock, door sensors help keep your family and belongings safe.

When the door is opened, they will trigger your alarm. And a sounding alarm can be enough to scare off some burglars because they don’t want attention called to what they’re doing. A Honeywell wireless door/window contact sensor Another way burglars break in through your sliding door is by physically lifting the door. Using a crowbar, burglars can actually lift up the door, move it off the tracks and out of the way. Well, this is how the door was put into the frame when it was made. The burglars are just reversing the process.  With the exception of the security bars, all the options listed in the first section also work well to prevent thieves from just lifting the door out of its frame. Even with the best door lock and working door sensors a thief can still break in through your patio door simply by breaking the glass. “Won’t that make a lot of noise?” you might be thinking. Sure, but if you’re not home they’ll still get a bunch of stuff before anyone gets there. Plus, if they see something they really want and think they can get in and out quickly, they may simply smash the glass, grab it, and go—even if you’re home.

Glass is always going to be a weak point in your home’s security system. But here are some ways to strengthen it: Replace your door with an impact-resistant sliding door Many door and window companies make impact-resistant or “hurricane-proof” sliding doors that cannot be easily broken. door knob with lock and key home depotHowever, they are expensive, heavy and difficult to install. lamborghini door kit for 2010 camaroWindow film Security window film is a thin, protective sheet that can be applied to glass to make it more difficult to break through. auto glass repair fort collinsIt won’t make your sliding doors impenetrable. garage door opener noise reduction kit

But it can make your home a more difficult target and give more time for authorities to get there, especially when paired with a glass-break sensor (below). maytag french door ice maker troubleshootingCheck out this video demonstration. pocket door repair miamiGlass-break detectors Glass-break detectors will sound your security system’s alarm when glass is broken in your home. shower door repair fresnoJust like with door sensors, a sounding alarm can be enough to scare off some burglars. In fact, in an interview, one former burglar said the mere presence of them was enough to make him go to the next home. “When they see that glass break [sensor] attached to that window, they know that this is a well-secured home.

Stay away from it." We suggest installing dual-tech glass-break detectors. A traditional acoustic glass-break detector senses the frequency of glass breaking and sounds your security system’s alarm.  However, that can lead to false alarms if, let’s say, a glass vase drops. Dual-tech glass-break detectors combine acoustic glass-break technology with shock glass-break technology. That means the detectors must sense both the frequency of glass breaking and the shock against your window before setting an alarm off, reducing false alarms.  A Honeywell dual-tech glassbreak detector Did you find this article helpful? Read our other articles on home security tips and tactics.  Ackerman Security is dedicated to protecting you, your family, your home and your belongings. If you have any security-related questions ask one of our experts in the Atlanta, Philadelphia or DC-area. Incorporate top-performing windows and doors from H.B.S., Inc. into your home designs. Consult with one of our engineers today.

Our technical expertise helps contractors choose the best windows and doors, taking into consideration code compliance, structural requirements, energy efficiency, and more. Don’t settle for the “lumberyard” experience. Let H.B.S., Inc. advise you on the best performing window and door products for your home. “ I have been involved with building luxury residences and renovation projects in Vero Beach for over 12 years now, and as any contractor can tell you, our industry is one of constant change. However, some things never change. The long-term commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction by H.B.S. is a shining example of that. As a company, they’ve certainly undergone their share of change, but always in the name of improvement. From their professional staff, to their quality products and workmanship, to their service after the sale, H.B.S. has become known as a name you can count on. pay day loan california – Rick Hope, The Hope Company, General Contractors

“ From the planning stages all the way through their expert installation, H.B.S. has the knowledgeable and professional staff to help keep our projects running smoothly. ” – Roy Wissel, Wissel Construction, Inc. “ Peirce and Associates Architecture and Construction, Inc. designs and builds unique custom luxury estate homes in and around Vero Beach. In our harsh coastal environment these homes require the finest quality and the most sophisticated products available. Pierce and Associates demand suppliers know their product, install and service their product within our stringent quality control conditions. At the heart of the design are windows and doors. H.B.S. Glass has continually met our requirements for over fifteen years and has been an integral part of our success. – Mark Peirce, Peirce and Associates Architecture and Construction, Inc. “ In 2010 they celebrate their 32nd anniversary. During this time, we have been privileged to build several hundred homes and condominiums in John’s Island, Windsor, Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club and The Moorings as well as other beautiful areas on the Treasure Coast.

Without hesitation, I can tell you that H.B.S. has provided my clients sustained service, customer support, and product knowledge that has been exceptional for each and every home we have constructed. In my entire building experience, no other window and door dealer has even come close! – David Croom, Croom Construction Company “ H.B.S. has consistently provided professional service. They have always been helpful while understanding and maintaining respect for the design intentions of a project. When H.B.S. is chosen to provide windows and doors it is reassuring to know that the results will be excellent! – Peter D. Moor, Moor & Associates, Architects, P.A. “ We have worked with and specified H.B.S.'s products for over twenty years. It's been a great relationship. They simply do what they say. – Clem Schaub, Clemens Bruns Schaub / Architect and Associates, PA The window and door industry has become an extremely technical and specialized field, especially in hurricane-prone areas like Florida.

As a result, H.B.S., Inc. has chosen to specialize in the distribution and installation of premium window, door, and glass products. We leave the sale of other types of building materials to more general home building supply companies. Our location in the central business/industrial area of Vero Beach and Jupiter makes service calls and deliveries to all areas of the Treasure Coast and the Palm Beaches. If you’d like to learn more about how H.B.S., Inc. can help you, contact us now or call at 772-567-7461. We’ve been distributing top-quality, high-performance products since 1973. Window and Door Installation We have more than 30 years of experience in new construction installation of windows and doors, as well as remodeling and retrofit applications. We employ only qualified, experienced estimators to completely review our projects for code compliance and produce accurate and honest proposals. Our installation staff are experts in code-approved window and door installation.

This is important because impact-resistant products have to be exactly positioned and meet stringent fastening criteria. To that end, we use high-tech laser equipment for window and door alignment to assure everything fits perfectly. To facilitate the final inspection process, we pre-inspect our own products and installation, as well as waterproof our own windows and provide bucking services. We bring our engineering knowledge to every job we do, meaning we can often create innovative products or find solutions that would evade other installers. You can count on the fact that our products go beyond what you can buy off-the-shelf—and our deep knowledge of code requirements means we can make modifications or adaptations as necessary to ensure your finished product is as safe as it is beautiful. Florida Building Code Experts On March 1, 2002, Florida adopted a new building code enforcing stricter requirements for homeowners and builders. Builders in coastal counties are now required to strengthen houses to withstand winds of 140 to 175 miles per hour depending on location.

This translates to the requirement of approved hurricane shutters or impact-resistant windows and doors on all new construction and remodeling projects. H.B.S. has been working with impact-resistant products and meeting the highest standards of hurricane code approval for more than half a decade. Our staff are experts in interpreting the new Florida Building Code, and all of our products are tested and approved according to Miami-Dade County or SBCCI standards. We also offer window and door repair, replacement, service, and installation. Our engineering experience means that we can provide structural modifications or adaptations necessary to provide a safe and beautiful product for our customers. Our Vero Beach building is a 20,000 square-foot multi-use structure which houses our offices, a modern, up-to-date showroom, and has a rear shop area with warehouse space. This location affords us the availability of additional warehouse/storage space in very close proximity to our building for storing materials for very large projects.