We know that keeping your home secure is one of the most important considerations for homeowners when choosing new windows. Your home should be a safe space for your family, where you can go to sleep with the peace of mind that your property is protected against intruders. Now, as window technology has progressed, more and more security initiatives and safety features have become available for windows, giving homeowners plenty of options when it comes to securing their home. Here are just some of them.
Shootbolts
Window shootbolts are a form of high-strength, secure locking mechanism that lock the window at the top and bottom, making it difficult for intruders to get in. They are specially designed to resist external forces, such as kicking and levering. Shootbolts can either be retrofitted to your existing windows, or built into your new windows.
Internal beading
Glazing beading is the strip around the window frame that holds the glass in place. It is sometimes fitted externally, but homeowners have found that intruders are able to remove external beading (and therefore take out the glass and enter their home) with relative ease. As such, it is more secure for beading to be fitted internally, as this means that criminals cannot get to it. In fact, this is the option preferred by the police initiative Secured By Design (SBD).
Shatterproof glass
If an intruder attempts to enter your home by smashing your windows, shatterproof glass makes it difficult for them to succeed. The glazing is filled with an interlayer (either plastic or resin), which means that, when a pane is broken, the shards remain attached to the film, rather than shattering over the floor. As such, the shattered window continues to form a physical barrier, stopping intruders from getting through. It also means that, if they decide to continue trying to break in, they will have to make a lot of noise before they are able to form an entrance point – by which time you or a neighbour could have called the police.
Safety features for patio doors
While modern patio doors are already highly secure, there are features homeowners can add to make them even safer. For example, it is a good idea to have a multi-lock system, and install mortice locks (with removable keys) at the top and bottom of both sliding doors.
Here at Hamilton Windows, we work with trusted manufacturers (such as Kommerling) that understand our commitment to providing high-quality, secure windows to homeowners in Guildford, Epsom, Hook and the surrounding areas. To find out more, contact us today.
