Some burglars break in through windows, meaning you’ll need glass repair in Houston.
Need glass repair in Houston for a break-in? If so, you’re probably wondering how to make your home more secure. Even if you haven’t had a break-in, it might be time to think about break-in prevention. It’s important to consider how you can make your home safer for yourself, your family, and your belongings. What many people don’t realize is that their windows may leave them vulnerable to burglaries and other crimes. We have some tips to help make your home windows safer and more secure.
Avoid More than Glass Repair in Houston By Beefing Up Window Security
Windows are some of the most common ways burglars enter homes, second only to doors. So, it makes sense to burglar-proof your windows. There are a few ways that criminals might choose to break into your home through your windows. For instance, they might climb through a window left open or unlocked. In other cases, they may try to jimmy the lock. Sometimes they’ll even break the glass to open the window or to climb through it.
Specifically, you need to worry about windows that are easy to access without a ladder. This includes ground floor windows as well as any windows that you can easily get to by, say, climbing a tree.
If you’re ready to increase window security in your home, then take some time to look around the outside of your home for potential entry points. Some things that might make a window attractive to someone trying to break into your home include being hidden from view, little to no lighting, and easy access. In many cases, burglaries are crimes of opportunity, so making it hard to break into your home may just deter many criminals.
Securing Your Windows
So, how do you make your windows more secure? There are many different options for every home and budget. Two of the more popular choices for burglar-proofing windows is installing better locks and using safety glass to make it more difficult for someone to break in. Other common options include charley bars and window bars. Take some time to consider each option so you can make the best choice for your home and your family.
Add Locks
Upgrading locks on your window can help improve security for your home.
While most windows come with standard locks, these might not be enough to stop a break in. For instance, many windows come with latch locks, which are easier to force open than many other types of locks.
Here are some window locks to consider for better security:
- Wedge locks
- Keyed locks
- Pin locks
Which locks you choose depends on many different factors, including the type of windows you have. For example, wedge locks won’t work on casement windows, but pin locks may work like a dream.
Keyed locks are some of the most secure, but keep in mind that your windows are also an important safety feature for your home. Should a fire break out, you want to be able to escape your home through the window in case you can’t get out through the door. Therefore, if you choose keyed locks, you need to keep the key near the window in a spot everyone in your family knows, but not close enough that a burglar could break the glass and reach the key from the outside of the window.
As you can see, each type of window lock has its pros and cons. So, consider all your options as well as safety concerns before installing new locks on your windows.
Choose Stronger Glass
Now, some burglars will try to break the glass if their other attempts aren’t successful. While this is somewhat less desirable for the criminal because of the noise it makes, it may not stop them. In fact, many people call us for glass repair in Houston after a burglary. To help stop determined criminals, you may want to make the glass harder to break through. This may help stop burglars in their tracks and also help you avoid needing window repairs after an attempted break-in.
There are many different options to help strengthen the glass in your windows. In many cases, you can replace the glass in your windows with something stronger than your average glass, like tempered glass or laminated glass. Both of these options are stronger and more resistant to force compared to normal annealed glass.
Tempered glass is about four times stronger than regular glass, while laminated glass is about five times stronger. Tempered glass is fairly common in other parts of your home. For instance, frameless shower doors in Houston are typically made of tempered glass. It’s also typically less expensive than laminated glass.
However, laminated glass, which is what your windshield is made of, is stronger than tempered glass, and it also typically holds its shape when broken. This is because a plastic interlayer helps hold the glass in place even after it’s shattered. Whatever you choose, it will make it tougher for burglars to break through the glass to enter your home, which is a great option for better window security.
Other Security Options
If stronger locks and glass don’t quite fit your needs, there are other options, too. For instance, if your windows slide on a track, you might consider adding a charley bar. This is essentially a bar that you put in the window track to prevent it from opening. You can buy these at your local hardware store or you can even make your own by cutting a wooden dowel to the size of the window track.
You can install bars on your windows to help stop a break-in even if they break the glass in your window.
Another option is to install window security bars. These are bars that sit either inside or outside your window to prevent someone from entering your home, even if they break the glass. So, though you’ll need glass repair in Houston after an attempted break-in, they’re pretty effective at stopping burglaries.
There are even decorative options to show some flair while also protecting your home. Something to keep in mind with these, however, is you still need to be able to escape through the window in case of an emergency. So, most experts recommend leaving at least one ground floor window without any bars, or choosing window bars with an easy-to-use release so you could take the bars down and escape safely in case of fire or other emergency that would require you to get out through the window.
Glass Repair in Houston From Apple Glass
When you need expert glass solutions, choose our technicians at Apple Glass. We offer prompt, budget-friendly, and high quality glass services, whether you need window repair or Houston auto glass replacement. Our team has the skills and knowledge necessary to provide you with safe, affordable glass options. Call us now at (713) 680-1400 in Houston or (281) 296-0600 in The Woodlands to get a free quote!
