Securing home windows ?

**Roadking** · #1 08/16/10, 01:25 PM

Been kicking around a few ideas recently (poor weather has us pretty much cooped up), and was hoping tp get some ideas / suggestions.

Our home has 25 double hung vinyl windows; 14 1st floor, 11 second floor (29 if you count the 4 in the attic). All have the standard swivel type locks (that can be de-railed with a butter knife), and set stops (little prongs that you pull out to only alow the window to open 2 inches). I have already reenforced these security features; a barrel bolt and sturdier set stops.

My problem lie here; sure, can't open the window from the outside, but a brick beats a key. I.E. The glass is the weakest link.
I've heard of using lexan / plastic sheet goods (scratch too easily), tempered glass (very expensive), security bars (obtrusive and could be a detriment in the event of a fire), secutity system (few available, pricey, and response time here is less than comforting). We have a neighborhood crime watch, crime is relatively low (at least the reported crime) since we are not a big city, but it is creeping up recently.

I have searched eHow and diy sites without actually finding a solution that suits my mindset.

Any suggestions for a handy DIY'er, to make his windows a less attractive target to a burgular?

Thanks in advance.

Matt

watcher · #2 08/16/10, 01:41 PM

Shutters and Lexan are two options which pop to mind.

JuliaAnn · #3 08/16/10, 02:17 PM

Lexan will look like crap after a while. I don't know if it's the u.v. that makes it look bad, but it does.

I read something the other day about some kind of film you can buy to put on windows that keeps them from being bashed out?? I can't remember the details, or even where I read it (might have been this site, can't recall) but maybe there is such a product made?

Other than that, perhaps solid shutters mounted inside instead of outside? Other options are far too expensive for me, too. Nifty roll down storm shutters made of metal, etc. are way too expensive.

I think the windows are the weakest link here, too.

**GREENCOUNTYPETE** · #4 08/16/10, 02:26 PM

There is a product similar to window tinting that adhers to the window and keeps the glass in place thru several hammer strikes

if you ever hit a windsheild of a car notice it has a plastic coating that keeps it in genraly one peice even thought it is in thousands of little peices between the layers

the product i saw was used on a discovery network show called it takes a thief

**GREENCOUNTYPETE** · #5 08/16/10, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuliaAnn

Lexan will look like crap after a while. I don't know if it's the u.v. that makes it look bad, but it does.

I read something the other day about some kind of film you can buy to put on windows that keeps them from being bashed out?? I can't remember the details, or even where I read it (might have been this site, can't recall) but maybe there is such a product made?

Other than that, perhaps solid shutters mounted inside instead of outside? Other options are far too expensive for me, too. Nifty roll down storm shutters made of metal, etc. are way too expensive.

I think the windows are the weakest link here, too.

it may have been here i posted about it last week in reftrence to a similar question on survival and emergency prep

**GREENCOUNTYPETE** · #6 08/16/10, 02:32 PM

http://www.armorcoatfilms.com/index....efits.Business

here is a site i found that offers the product
not sure if this is the brand they used in the show but this is very similar

i have seen this stuff in action when they riot down town on halloween , ok i watched it from the safty of my tv but it takes some seriose force to get thru it a simple rock isn't enough the realy cool video is when they throw a trash can or somthing at it and it bounces back and hits them.

Pelenaka · #7 08/16/10, 02:33 PM

You are right about the weakest link.
I have 3 ground floor windows that are semi hidden. Two on one side of my house I have planted roses (thorns). The third is driveway side and although it is in plain sight durning the day come night there's a shadow. I hung two solar spotlights directly above this window & pointed them straight down. The beam touches the window trim & the area directly infront. Also have a lamp with a clapper near that window. Idea is that if there is breaking glass then lamp will turn on. That's the idea.
All bets are off if the B&E purp either brings a latter or barrows a lawn chair to scale the roses. The 3rd window is only as good as someone spotting a person standing there in the drive or hears breaking glass.
All 3 of my cellar windows bottom hinged open in. I screwed plastic lattice over each opening. Next to each window is a piece of 2x4 to be used to break away the lattice incase of a fire. This spring while weeding I found 3 screws that were used to attach the lattice on the ground underneath the one window that is hidden. No clue as to when someone was too lazy to finsh unscrewing the other 5.
It would be good to find an application that could be applied after market to the glass.

On a side note dd#3 bike was stolen out of our driveway in July oh about 9 feet from where the neighbor's step son keeps his pit bull tied up. 6 feet from lighted window. Trouble is that dog barks at everything. 3 weeks later Woodsrunner & dd#2 went to go pay the h2o bill @ city hall. There in the well manicured flower beds was the bike. Back wheel bent.

~~ pelenaka ~~
http://thirtyfivebyninety.blogspot.com/

Pelenaka · #8 08/16/10, 02:43 PM

[QUOTE=GREENCOUNTYPETE;4588271]http://www.armorcoatfilms.com/index....efits.Business

here is a site i found that offers the product

Thaks Pete, I'm gonna go use a neighbor's phone to make a few calls and see if I can get some pricing.

~~ pelenaka ~~

**Roadking** · #9 08/16/10, 02:53 PM

Thanks for the link GCP, interesting product. Will need to investigate this furthe.
Matt

**GREENCOUNTYPETE** · #10 08/16/10, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelenaka

You are right about the weakest link.
I have 3 ground floor windows that are semi hidden. Two on one side of my house I have planted roses (thorns). The third is driveway side and although it is in plain sight durning the day come night there's a shadow. I hung two solar spotlights directly above this window & pointed them straight down. The beam touches the window trim & the area directly infront. Also have a lamp with a clapper near that window. Idea is that if there is breaking glass then lamp will turn on. That's the idea.
All bets are off if the B&E purp either brings a latter or barrows a lawn chair to scale the roses. The 3rd window is only as good as someone spotting a person standing there in the drive or hears breaking glass.
All 3 of my cellar windows bottom hinged open in. I screwed plastic lattice over each opening. Next to each window is a piece of 2x4 to be used to break away the lattice incase of a fire. This spring while weeding I found 3 screws that were used to attach the lattice on the ground underneath the one window that is hidden. No clue as to when someone was too lazy to finsh unscrewing the other 5.
It would be good to find an application that could be applied after market to the glass.

On a side note dd#3 bike was stolen out of our driveway in July oh about 9 feet from where the neighbor's step son keeps his pit bull tied up. 6 feet from lighted window. Trouble is that dog barks at everything. 3 weeks later Woodsrunner & dd#2 went to go pay the h2o bill @ city hall. There in the well manicured flower beds was the bike. Back wheel bent.

~~ pelenaka ~~
http://thirtyfivebyninety.blogspot.com/

you may want some of the security screws , torx with a stud in the center , not the most common bit , it slows things down a lot , even square drive is less common than philips

fishhead · #11 08/16/10, 03:39 PM

Or you could use some of each kind of screw on each window. That way they would have to have several kinds of screw drivers. I do that to myself sometimes.

Could you come up with some kind of movable inside security bars that you could move out of the way in case of fire?

**Roadking** · #12 08/16/10, 03:40 PM

That crossed my mind, just trying to make them astheticly pleasing is forming a problem for me.
Matt

**highlands** · #13 08/16/10, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadking

Any suggestions for a handy DIY'er, to make his windows a less attractive target to a burgular?

Dogs. Big Dogs. One is a loud barker when people come near. The other is silent and gives people the evil eye. No tail wag. Squints and sends the message: "Make my day." It's the silent one that terrifies people.

Nothing will keep a bungler out like big dogs. More dogs are better. They don't need to be mean. Just look it.

JuliaAnn · #14 08/16/10, 05:10 PM

Thanks Greencountypete! I knew I had read it somewhere!

We have 1 window that has burglar bars mounted on the inside. The house came that way (old farmhouse moved here, long story) and as the window is in a room that is now our walk-in closet, I chose to leave it up. However, it's a booger to clean around if you want to dust or clean the windows, and it just looks bad.

ETA about dogs..... we have a couple, but they are not guard dogs, nor large. One is lazy and old and sweet natured. She sleeps a lot. The other is a small chee hwah hwah with a bad case of Jumpy Dog Syndrome and a psychological disorder called 'Something New In My World'. The former disease causes the dog to jump out of bed or off the chair, primarily after dark, at the slightest sound and tear around the house barking hysterically; and the second disorder causes severe and persistant barking at any new or strange sight/sound/odor, for example a leaf falling on the porch, a strange dog peeing on the mailbox out at the road, or an unknown car pulling into the driveway, and definitely an unknown person. He's a pretty good little alarm dog.

Pelenaka · #15 08/16/10, 08:10 PM

Pete, when I married Woodsrunner he worked QA in a machine shop. I got a lesson in screws (keep it clean peeps), screw drivers, bits, drills, ect. I just smile, look interested, bake him a pie (code word) & scratch that project off his honey do list.

Fishhead, I like that idea about mixing up flat head & phillips & square heads. Can you ever find an allen wrench when you need one?

Road King, your referring to the "pretty factor". Took me 2 days to figure a way to hide a rain barrel on the front of the house. Covered it with plastic lattice on 3 sides, put potted flowers on top in Summer. 5 years later code man is still in the dark.
When I lived in Brooklyn an artist gf painted here security bars to match her window sheers which inturn matched the drapes.

Highlands, not practical for us to have a dog right now. Couldn't afford feed & care.
Use to be a boy back in the day over on Ave. D in Rochester who would custom steal any item on order. His nick name was kibbles, cause that is what he keep in his pocket incase he ran into a guard dog.

Julia Ann, roflol on chee hwah hwah. Sometimes all you need is a big mouth.

~~ pelenaka ~~
http://thirtyfivebyninety.blogspot.com/

Called closest Armorcoat dealer - left message with receptionist. Couldn't pin her down on a cost per inch quote.

tamsam · #16 08/16/10, 09:09 PM

I don't know about you all but I want a way out in case of fire. Our windows and doors are the weak link here. I learned long ago that if someone wants in bad enough they will make a way in. And the windshield in cars doesn't have a film on them, it is in between 2 layers of glass. All the windows used to be that way in autos but they now have side and back windows that break into little pieces that has no sharp edges. Good luck with your project and keep us posted. Sam

MO_cows · #17 08/16/10, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highlands

Dogs. Big Dogs. One is a loud barker when people come near. The other is silent and gives people the evil eye. No tail wag. Squints and sends the message: "Make my day." It's the silent one that terrifies people.

Nothing will keep a bungler out like big dogs. More dogs are better. They don't need to be mean. Just look it.

Amen! I wouldn't have a vicious dog, but a good size dog that runs a good bluff is very effective. Most people won't call their bluff. We have a couple of good sized lab mixes that run a very good bluff. Hackles up and a deep bark. But we can call them off easily.

We have a friend who doesn't care for dogs but his place came with a "Beware of Dog" sign. He left it up and he's never had any theft. And everyone who comes there sees the sign and looks around and asks where the dog is.

ronbre · #18 08/17/10, 09:52 AM

as far as being able to make it so the windows can only be opened so far, is to take a good sturdy nail..

open the window as far as you want it, but not far enough so someone can get through, even the smallest person..and then you take a drill bit the size of your nail and drill through the two window sections all the way through the inside and just into the outside..and stick the nail in..on a string so you can pull it out..it will prevent the window from being opened ..or closed..until the nail is pulled out

**Roadking** · #19 08/17/10, 10:26 AM

Have done something similar already, but into the jamb rather than the window itself.
Thinking about clear plastic rods, similar ti say a towel rack in the bathroom. They are acrylic, fit the window, and can be mounted and removed easily (if you are the one installing them). Not as strong as metal security bars, but also not as unsightly. Surely not gonna stop the most determined person (not much will), but it would be an added obstical. And if ioccured at night, it would give me a bit more reaction time. i.e. hear glass break, wake up, an extra few moments to shake the cobwebs and grab the gun.
This one I kinda like... http://www.jmkdisplays.com/files/6roddiam.jpg
Matt

Helena · #20 08/17/10, 11:00 AM

If someone wants into your house they will find a way..window or door or roof. Locks just keep honest people..honest. Very rarely do we lock our doors or windows. If you gave me a $100 right now I probably couldn't find my door keys. Naive..maybe..but..of course my dogs are either in the yard or in the house so that is something to think about too. The safety issue of getting away from someone or a fire etc. is more in my mind than keeping safe from robberies. If you have a summer house or cabin maybe you could make it more robber proof somehow but the bad guys usually know when you are home or not. Neighbors are a big way for safety too. If we see a strange car in a drive of a neighbor we will stop and ask who they are..seems strange at first..but would rather be embarrased than have a neighbor robbed. Good Luck..