Sliding Glass Door Security

Sliding glass doors are some of the most common patio entrances, but they can make your home vulnerable if you don't take the proper precautions. Consider the weak points of average sliding glass doors that make them a common entry point for burglars. Then, learn how to secure your sliding glass door.

Common Weaknesses of Sliding Glass Doors

• Simple latches and locks are relatively easy to circumvent. This often takes no effort because many homeowners forget to lock their sliding glass doors in the first place.
• People can see into your home through the large glass doors.
• Intruders can smash the glass.
• Sliding glass doors are often located in the backyard. After a quick hop over the fence, an intruder has privacy to work on breaking through the door.

Secure the Lock of a Sliding Glass Door

First, make it a habit to always lock the patio door behind you, especially in the evening when you're settling inside for the night.

However, even if you're good at remembering to lock your patio door, that might not be enough to deter a thief. Most standard sliding glass door locks are nothing but simple latches that can be disabled with a little jiggle. Heavy-duty aftermarket locks can be installed at the top of bottom of the door to reinforce the existing latch.

Another way to secure against lock picking is to put a store-bought security bar or wooden dowel in the door track when it's not in use. This way, even if an intruder bypasses the lock, the door still won't open.

Prevent People from Looking into Your Home

You have a few options for obstructing the view into your home through the sliding glass doors. First, you can install curtains or vertical blinds over the door. Remember to close them at night when it's easiest for people to peer inside. Consider closing the curtains more often if the door is visible from public areas.

If you want more natural light to enter your home while still maintaining privacy, install a privacy film over the glass. Countless designs are available to ensure the upgrade adds to your home's décor rather than detracting from it.

Protect the Glass from Breaking

When a frustrated burglar can't jiggle the lock free or force the sliding glass door off its track, the next step might be to attempt breaking the glass. One way to prevent this is to install glass protection film. This transparent polyester material reinforces the glass and makes it virtually shatter-proof, even with repeated, violent blows. Most intruders avoid doing this because they don't want to draw attention to themselves.

If you're in the market for a new sliding glass door, check out what Glass Doctor® has to offer. We can help you improve sliding glass door security by installing one with laminated or tempered glass in clear or privacy glass configurations.  Our solutions are also energy efficient to reduce your utility bills.

Install Security Cameras and Alarms

Want to catch the perpetrator in the act? Consider installing a security camera on the back porch. Then, install affordable, stick-on security devices that detect intense vibrations when someone tries to break the glass. The sound of the alarm is enough to scare away most would-be burglars. Even if they stick around, you can call the authorities, and they'll take care of it.

Install a New Sliding Glass Door from Glass Doctor