Securing Your Homes Glass Windows and Doors

Many criminals gain entry to homes by breaking the glass windows, or the glass part of entry way doors. A good deterrent is to have a better quality of glass at the most vulnerable points around your home. Some of the best are: LAMINATED GLASS is made by a vinyl or plastic inter layer sandwiched between two layers of glass. This adds strength to the windows and makes it much more difficult to break compared with standard glass windows or doors. To break into a burglar would need to strike in the same place over and over, which is a deterrent as most are reluctant to create this type of noise for fear of being heard or seen. TEMPERED GLASS is made by placing a piece of regular glass in an oven, bringing it almost to the melting point, and then chilling it rapidly. This causes a skin to form around the glass. Fully tempered glass is four to five times stronger than regular glass. WIRED GLASS adds the benefit of a visible deterrent. A tough wire mesh is added in between two layers of glass. A criminal would need to break the glass then cut through the wire. PLASTICS: Plastic material is divided into two types : acrylic or polycarbonate. The acrylics are more than ten times stronger than glass of the same thickness and are commonly called Plexiglas. Polycarbonate sheets are superior to acrylics and are advertised as 250 times more impact resistant than safety glass, and 20 more times than other transparent plastic. For added home "peace of mind" you may consider purchasing a glass break alarm or a alarm system with window or door sensors. With SLIDING WINDOWS the primary objective is to keep the window from sliding or being lifted up and out of the track. There are many manufactured products available for securing windows. Here are some of the suggestions: PINNED WINDOW ANTI-SLIDE BLOCK SLIDE BOLT: It is not recommended that you lock a window in a ventilated position. This is an invitation to a prying action which can result in entry. Key locking devices offer no real security, and they can be a fire exit hazard. CASEMENT WINDOWS are the simplest to secure. Make sure the latch works properly and that the "operator" has no excess play. If so, replace the worn hardware. DOUBLE HUNG WINDOW latches may be jimmied open. If a window is not used, screw it shut (except bedrooms). For windows in use, drill a sloping hole into window, and insert an easily removable pin or nail. WARNING: One window in every bedroom on the ground and second floor must be left available as a fire exit, particularly for children and guests in your home. At night, the bedroom window may often be the quickest and safest means of getting out. We offer a great selection of home security products, you can take a look at: http://www.guardian-self-defense.com/home_protection_category.asp