Check to make sure your sliding glass doors have a lock on them.  Normally they’ll only come with a latch, this isn’t the same thing as a lock.  The latches are most often made of a cast metal or aluminum, which is not sturdy.  They are easily worn out and misaligned.  Because sliding glass doors are usually located in back an inadequate latch will offer little resistance to an intruder. Sliding door security starts with making sure you can lock the door effectively.  There are locks available at the hardware store specially made for sliding glass doors.  They are relatively inexpensive and take almost no time at all to install.  It is definitely worth investing in one.

During the summer months many sliding glass doors are left open for the warm air to move through, or for a pet to come and go as they please.  The large majority of home invasions are accomplished because a door was left unlocked.  It’s very easy to open the sliding glass door and then forget to lock it again.  You don’t have to keep it locked up day and night but a few extra precautions go a long way in sliding door security.  For example, simply placing a wooden dowel in the sliding door track will greatly aid in keeping it secure.  Make sure it’s long enough that it can only be opened a few inches.

Getting a lock for the bottom of the sliding door track is another great idea.  All you have to do is drill a hole or two in the metal, one for when its closed and the other for when it’s open part of the way.  This way the lock can be moved and allow you to open the door for ventilation while remaining conscious of sliding door security.

To prevent sliding glass doors from being lifted off the track make sure the rollers are in good condition and properly aligned.  Also install self-tapping screws in the upper track.  The head of the screw will protrude just enough to allow you to open and close the sliding glass doors without allowing the rollers to be removed.

Finally, place a security system decal in plain view on the sliding glass doors.  Even if you don’t have a security system, many intruders report that just the warning that you might is enough to make them move on.  If you can’t get one of these stickers, a Beware of Dog sign will work just as well.  These are the most basic, yet likely most important, steps in sliding door security.

If an intruder is going to test your door security and the door is locked then most often the lock is not what fails.  It is usually the doorjamb that is the door security problem.  With one forceful kick the bolts from the deadbolt will splinter through the wood and all of your entrance door security will be undone.  The easiest solution to this is a strike plate.  Basically this means taking a piece of steel and attaching it to the interior of the doorjamb.  This will not take away from your door’s beauty but adds a nearly invincible element to your entrance door security.

Many entrance doors have glass panes what will further enhance your door’s look but provide yet another opportunity for your entrance door security to be breached.  It is all too easy for a burglar to break the glass, reach through and unlock the door.  There are a few different options to prevent this.  You can cover the glass in the security laminate that was mentioned for sliding glass doors, and that will work perfectly.  Or you can get a deadbolt lock that requires a key for both sides.  Some states do not allow these types of locks to be placed on the main entrance to your home, so be aware of the laws in your area before adding this to your door security regime.

Another entrance door security option is steel security doors.  Not only will they be nearly impossible to get through, they don’t have to detract from the look of your entranceway.  They are now available in many different designs and colors schemes so you can find something to fit your home easily.  Not only that they come in any size you can possibly imagine.  There is really no reason why implementing your entrance door security with a steel door cannot even add to the beauty of your home.

Of course all of these measures are only as good as their use.  You could have a military tank as part of your entrance door security, but if you leave the door unlocked it will do almost no good.  All of the door security in the world cannot replace simple vigilance.

Sliding glass doors and sliding French doors add beauty style and functionality to any home and the choices are limitless. However, not implementing some type of sliding door security can be likened to leaving the door open. They are that easy to access.

There are many types of sliding door security devices on the market today. Some work better than others. The important thing is that choose something, anything or it is a matter of time before your home or your family becomes a victim.

When sliding doors first became popular is was customary to add a cut broomstick or bar onto the track of the sliding door. That is of course until burglars and intruders figured out simple lifting the door off it mounting would give easy access to your home.

Sliding door security experts today have designed and manufactured all sorts of brackets, locks and other contraptions for secure sling doors. Some are electronic, some are mechanical, but all serve a purpose in securing your sliding doors. We will review each of those devices and offer our unbiased recommendation on sliding door security products, based on effectiveness and costs. The do it yourself inclined home owner can easily install most of these devices, and secure the home and their family

Perhaps the easiest way to security those patio sliding doors is a sliding door security bar.  There are two types of these available.  One for standard doors and one for sliding glass doors.  Be sure is has locking device and withstand 1,000 pounds of force.  If you are not sure whether the sliding door security bar you’re looking at is adequate, ask a salesperson.  This type of device will also prevent anyone from lifting the door off the track.  Sliding door security bars are also called Charley Bars, so if you see that on a label don’t worry it is the same thing.  You can get a bar that is one specific length or an adjustable one.  The benefits of the adjustable one is that it can be in place all the time, whether the sliding glass doors are open or not.

A sliding door security screen is another great option.  They can keep out flies or other bugs and provide an extra deterrent to a thief.  Unfortunately their downfall is their convenience.  It is very easy to leave it open and then it does you no good at all.  Most of these sliding door security screens are made of wire mesh with steel around the outside to give it some extra strength.  Since burglars are looking for the easiest way into a home, having an obstacle like the screen in the way could make them move on to another neighborhood.  There are also several automatic screen closers available to ensure that your sliding door security screen never stays open unintentionally.

Also available for sliding door security is a protective film to place over the glass.  The price varies by the company you go through, but it can be pricey.  This is a clear adhesive film that makes it nearly impossible for the glass to be broken.  It is still possible to break it, but it takes a tremendous amount of force and makes a lot of noise.  Not only that, the film has a ultra-violet inhibitor that will reject most of the rays of the sun that can fade your furniture.  While expensive, this provides a lot in the way of sliding door security that other methods can lack.  Whatever you do with your sliding glass doors, making it difficult to get into your home will make the biggest difference.

It’s important to door security to know what kind of doors you have.  Just with sliding glass doors, you need to know what your other doors consist of.  Solid wood doors are the most common and great for door security.  They are not easy to break or damage and will make a lot of noise if someone tries to do so.  You can also find metal doors that are paneled with wood to give it a better look.  Obviously these are the most impenetrable, but are also the most expensive.

As with sliding door security, the main security risk with your doors is accidentally leaving them unlocked.  If your home is older, check to make sure the lock is still tight.  The screws on the lock tend to loosen with time and a loose lock is one that’s easy to compromise.  Just locking your door by the handle will also hurt your door security.  The door is locked, but it is not that much more secure than if it was left unlocked.  One well-placed kick will have a burglar in your house without anyone having a chance to notice.  The best way is to lock both the handle and the deadbolt every time you leave the house.  A door chain can also serve the same purpose.  They are easy to install and very inexpensive.  They’ll allow the door to only open a short way, which is great for your door security.

Also consider getting special hinge screws.  These are longer 3” screws and are easy enough to get installed in your door.  They are specially designed to prevent the door from being pushed in if the hinge pins get removed.

The most recommended solution to entrance door security is to keep the entranceway clear.  Most police departments suggest this as the best way to keep a burglar from thinking your home is a good target.  Keep all tree and shrubs well trimmed at all times.  Burglars really only need one thing to victimize you and your family, and that is privacy.  With enough privacy all the door security in the world can be breached.  Make sure at every doorway there is enough open space that no one could possibly hide there.  These simple steps will take your door security to the next, protected level.