Home security
As summer gets into full swing make sure your home is as secure as possible for when you go away. Follow Helaine Clare’s easy eight-step guide to bolster up doors, windows and lights and keep the burglars at bay.
With holidays and weekends away booked, it’s worth spending some time checking that everything has been done to protect your home from thieves. Most burglars take the obvious routes through doors and windows, which all too often are left open or are inadequately secured. Ironmongers and DIY stores sell inexpensive key-operated locks to fit most kinds of windows. Fit them to all windows that are easily accessible.
External doors should be fitted with high security mortice locks. However, if high security locks present too much of a challenge to burglars, the hinged side of the door becomes an easier target so fit security hinges, hinge bolts or dog bolts. Never be tempted to hide a spare key outside, as I’m afraid your ingeniously clever hiding place will be all too apparent to a criminal.
A friend was burgled recently – a deteriorated panel in her front door was kicked in and the villains crawled through. If you have panel doors check their condition and if necessary get them repaired. Flimsy panels or those showing signs of wear can be reinforced on the outside and/or inside with quarter-inch plywood, then painted to blend in. Glazed doors may be a risk too; replace or reinforce the glass panels with laminated glass or a toughened glass substitute.
An effective and inexpensive ploy to make your house appear occupied is to buy a few timer switches. They just go into your normal sockets, then you simply plug in a radio or a table lamp, set the dials and they will automatically turn themselves on and off during the pre-set periods. More sophisticated switches will turn appliances on and off at different times each day.
You will need...
- 4in bolts
- Bradawl
- Drill and drill bits
- Screws and screwdrivers
- Chisel and mallet
- Dog bolts
- Tape measure
- Masking tape
- Lockable casement stays
- Lockable window fasteners
- Motion-sensor light bulb
Step-by-step guide
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1. Fix sliding bolts to your front door: Buy two heavy-duty 4in bolts for the top and bottom of the door. Hold the bolt in position so it doesn’t protrude beyond the edge of the door. Use a bradawl to mark location of screws, drill pilot holes and fix lock with screws. Slide the bolt across and position the keep on the frame – mark and drive in screws. |
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2. Reinforce hinges with dog bolts: A pair of dog bolts will strengthen the hinge side of the door. Hold the rectangular mortice plate against the centre of the frame and mark the position. Use a chisel and mallet to make a recess so plate is flush with frame. Secure with screws. Make a series of cuts, then remove waste wood to accommodate the bolt. |
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3. Mark up position of dog bolts: Measure the location of the mortice plate and mark the corresponding position on the edge of the door. Hold bolt in position and mark up the recessed section. Using a drill fitted with a spade bit of the same diameter, drill a hole. A piece of masking tape on the bit makes a gauge to ensure the correct depth. |
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4. Make a recess for the dog bolt plate: Tap cylinder into hole and mark all round the plate with a pencil. Remove the bolt and make a recess for the plate by making a series of cuts and paring off the waste wood. Keep offering the plate up until you are satisfied that the recess is smooth and of the correct depth. Tap into place and secure with screws. |
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5. Secure windows with lockable stays: Before fitting a new lockable casement stay remove the flimsy modern one and give the window rim a good clean. Once you are sure of a good snug fit hold the stay in place and mark the position of the screws. Choosing a drill bit slightly narrower than the screws, drill pilot holes and drive in the screws. |
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6. Screw on the new stay pin and lock: With the casement stay closed mark the position of the stay pin and the stay lock. Once screwed in place lock the casement stay with the key provided. If you have an existing casement stay but no lock simply remove one of the stay pins and replace it with a stay lock. |
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7. Change window fasteners: Elegant period-style lockable window fasteners are available from Dartington Steel Design (when ordering, stipulate whether it’s a right- or left-handed opening). Hold in position, mark screw positions with bradawl, drill pilot holes and secure. Hold hook plate against the frame and attach with screws. |
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8. Increase outside lighting: Outside lights are always welcome when you come home in the dark. If you are fitting a new light have it installed out of reach – about 8ft high. Use a low-energy motionsensor passive infra red (PIR) light bulb that requires no installation. To avoid light pollution, check that light is directed downwards. |
Give yiour front door a makeover...
Find out how to replace broken glass...
WORDS HELAINE CLARE PHOTOGRAPHS COLIN LEFTLEY. DOOR AND WINDOW FURNITURE, DARTINGTON STEEL DESIGN (01803 868671; dartington.com)
Featured in the July 2011 issue of Period Living
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