window and door security

[Rich Jordan]

An inactive garage door opener is supposed to make it pretty hard to get the garage door open 'normally'. Won't stop forcing it by breaking/bending a panel though, and you get the fun of getting one with a high security remote thats hard to imitate, or using a keypad or other non-remote opening method.

Since we don't use our garage for cars (well, one, not running, plus lots of 'stuff') we have the garage door opener disabled; we pull the release to open the door, and I have a 'deadbolt' steel rod that runs through the hollow hinge between two panels into a reinforced hole in the track that has to be manually pulled.

It depends on how, and how much, you plan on using the garage door...

[Aglifter]

You can get roll up doors which are fairly secure -- many commercial buildings have them to go down over counters, etc -- they tend to be expensive, though, but they are tough. I don't know if you can get remote opening ones, but I imagine you can.

[Denis]

If you want better protection, you should replace the window glass, and maybe even add steel bars, but then we are talking higher costs. And steel bars aren't that nice to look at.

Erik, my German in-laws call the steel bars on their windows "Swedish curtains"...

[Erik]

If you want better protection, you should replace the window glass, and maybe even add steel bars, but then we are talking higher costs. And steel bars aren't that nice to look at.

Erik, my German in-laws call the steel bars on their windows "Swedish curtains"...

Is that in the context of keeping "Die dummen Schweden" safe inside, or to keep them out of the house?

[Windy Wilson]

For door locks in the US, the best are supposedly Medeco or Medco. On a case once, the locksmith we hired to drill out the lock said the Medeco lock he had to drill out was the best and also the most pick resistant. I didn't ask a bunch of questions because I was concentrating on the next steps, and after the lock was open the smith left post haste

For exterior person doors probably fiberglass would be best, unless you wanted a fancy front door. They are more durable against weather, pre-colored and almost immune to normal abuse.

I have two deadbolts in each of my big garage doors. If you want to use the surface hasps, get the ones with the metal plate over the lock part, as otherwise a thug with a giant crowbar can just pry the lock off the hasp (happened to us, so we got the "armored" hasps).

My friend the electronics engineer for the Navy has a garage door opener with the remote appliance power outlet from X-10 to cut the power to the opener. That will eliminate the chance of accidental opening from Aircraft signals and thieves with scanners. I plan to do that when I get around to electric openers.