How to Secure Sliding Glass Door: 2024 Full Guide

Please check out our comprehensive guide on how to prevent burglar intruding your home if you are interested in learning more about them.

In this post, we will walk you through a range of effective strategies and techniques to secure your sliding glass doors. Keep reading!

Sliding glass doors offer a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living spaces. They flood your home with natural light and provide easy access to your patio or garden. However, their large glass surfaces and sometimes inadequate locking mechanisms can make them vulnerable entry points for intruders. Ensuring the security of your sliding glass doors is paramount to safeguarding your home and family.

Why Is It Important to Secure Sliding Glass Doors?

Sliding doors are often considered easier targets for break-ins due to their large glass surfaces and inadequate locking mechanisms. Their sizable glass panels can be quickly shattered, providing intruders with a discreet entry point.

Many sliding doors come with basic latch locks that are vulnerable to manipulation, and outdated or poorly maintained hardware can further compromise security.

Additionally, even if sliding doors are locked, it's possible to shift or lift a sliding glass door from its track, granting intruders easy access to your home.

4 Optimal Measures to Secure Sliding Glass Door

Ensuring the safety of sliding glass doors against potential intruders requires a comprehensive approach. There are various security measures at your disposal to enhance the protection of your residence.

1. Installing a better lock for sliding glass door

Sliding glass doors typically include a built-in lock mechanism, but these may leave your home's security vulnerable. To fortify the security of your sliding door effectively, you need to consider robust locking options.

The most secure method to protect your sliding door is by installing a specialized sliding door lock. These locks are positioned at the top, where the stationary and sliding glass panels meet. They work with standard door locks and can only be operated by adults or taller children.

These locks eliminate the possibility of anyone tampering with the door, whether from the inside or outside. Many of these locks offer dual locking positions: one to completely secure the door and another to allow for partial ventilation with the door locked at either 3 or 6 inches open.

Another worthwhile option is the immediate installation of a double key deadbolt when fitting the door, making it one of the primary security features. This is certainly a superior alternative to the standard lever-based latch commonly provided with the door. Double key deadbolts elevate security by necessitating a key to both lock and unlock the door from both sides. Even if an intruder shatters the glass, they won't be able to simply turn a thumb-turn knob or lever handle to open the door from the inside.

2. Installing a security bar for sliding glass door

A door security bar serves as a valuable tool, providing added reinforcement that significantly deters unauthorized access, making it a formidable challenge for anyone attempting to manipulate the door's lock.

You can easily obtain specialized safety bars from hardware stores or online retailers. Selecting a safety bar of the appropriate length is essential to fit snugly into the door's track when it's closed, preventing any potential movement. Alternatively, you have the option to DIY the installation of safety bars for your glass sliding doors. This can be achieved by cutting a piece of wood or locating a suitable tenon to insert into the track when the door is closed, effectively thwarting any external entry attempts.

Regular inspection and maintenance of the safety bar are imperative to ensure its continued functionality, as wear and tear over time can compromise its effectiveness.

3. Getting a security film for sliding glass door

Despite having robust door locks and security bars, burglars may attempt to breach sliding doors by breaking the glass. An effective solution is the application of shatterproof window film. This film is easily applicable to the door's glass surface and boasts a potent adhesive that adheres firmly, rendering it resistant to impacts. In the event of glass breakage, the film acts as a barrier, preventing it from splintering into small, hazardous fragments.

Many of the shatterproof films on the market offer added safety features. Among these features is the ability to maintain an unobstructed view from the interior to the exterior while simultaneously obstructing the view from the exterior to the interior. This dual functionality enhances security by discouraging potential trespassers.

4. Protecting sliding glass door with security system

For security, consider incorporating electronic security measures into your home protection strategy. While these options may not be foolproof in preventing break-ins, they excel at providing valuable alerts to you or the authorities.

One option is the use of sliding door sensors, which can promptly notify you if a door is opened or left ajar. Some advanced sensors even come equipped with mobile apps, ensuring that you receive instant alerts on your smartphone or have the option to contact security services.

Another effective choice is glass break detectors designed for sliding glass doors. These sensors can be easily mounted directly on the door and emit an alarm if the glass is shattered, promptly drawing attention to a potential breach.

To further fortify your security, consider the installation of both exterior and interior security cameras. Visible cameras act as a powerful deterrent, dissuading potential burglars who know they are more likely to be captured and identified.

When selecting a security camera system, prioritize high-quality cameras with features like HD video recording, PTZ capabilities, and motion detection. Brands like Reolink offer home security cameras that excel in these aspects, providing enhanced protection and peace of mind.

What to Consider When Choosing Sliding Doors for Security?

When choosing your optimal security strategy for your sliding doors, you should consider the following:

• Minimal view interference: Choose security measures that have minimal impact on the unobstructed view and natural light provided by the glass sliding doors. Security should not compromise aesthetics or visibility.

• Ease of installation: Opt for solutions that are easy to install. While some may require professional installation, prioritize options that can be DIY projects for homeowners with basic handyman skills.

• User-friendly operation: Ensure that the security measure is easy to operate. Complex or cumbersome solutions may deter their consistent use. An effective security measure should be convenient and hassle-free to apply.

• Strong deterrent: The selected security measure should be highly effective against intruders. It should not merely delay forced entry for a minute or two but serve as a substantial deterrent to discourage determined intruders.

FAQs

1. Can you put a smart lock on a sliding door?

Yes, you can install a smart lock on a sliding door for keyless and remote access. Ensure compatibility with your door type, follow the manufacturer's instructions, and enjoy added security and convenience.

2. What are the options for locking sliding glass doors?

There are several options for enhancing the security of sliding glass doors. These include traditional keyed locks, mortise locks with multiple locking points, surface-mounted sliding bolt locks, security bars or rods that fit in the door's track, smart locks for keyless and remote control, pin locks that secure the door to the frame, foot-operated locks at the bottom of the door, auxiliary locks for added security, reinforced frames and tracks, shatterproof or security film on the glass, bars for the door's track to prevent lifting, and window locks if the sliding door has a window.

3. How do burglars open sliding doors?

Burglars employ various methods to gain access through sliding doors. One approach involves the application of force, where they push or pry the door to exploit weaknesses in locks or frames. Picking locks is another tactic, with skilled burglars attempting to manipulate standard pin tumbler locks. They may also bypass locks using tools or techniques that allow them to manipulate the mechanism without visible damage.

Lifting the door off its track is yet another effective method if it lacks proper security or has a weak frame. Additionally, breaking the glass panels is a straightforward way for burglars to unlock the door from the inside, while tools like crowbars and screwdrivers may be used to force entry or manipulate the lock.

Conclusion

Securing your sliding glass door is vital to home safety and protection. By implementing the right security measures, you can greatly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and potential break-ins.

Remember that no single security measure is foolproof, so combining multiple methods for comprehensive protection is often a wise strategy. Regular maintenance and periodic security assessments can also help ensure that your sliding glass door remains a strong barrier against intruders.

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If you’re lucky enough to have a sliding glass door in your living space, you’ve probably marveled at the amount of light that floods your home. Sliding doors bring the outdoors in, offering portals for sunshine, beautiful views of leafy scenery, contemplative snowy vistas, or a cheerful view of kids playing in the yard. When open, nothing compares to the fresh air that a sliding door allows to breeze through your home. Sliding doors really have only two significant drawbacks: they’re a bear to keep clean, especially if you have pets or children, and more importantly, they can be a significant security risk. These doors that let you see outside can also let would-be thieves or intruders see in, and if not properly secured, may give them easy access to your home. So how can you best secure a sliding glass door?

Before You Begin…

Securing your sliding glass doors can involve several steps. Before you get started, take a critical look at your door. Is the framing surrounding the door sturdy and strong enough to provide a solid foundation for locking mechanisms? Do both panels of your door slide, or is one fixed?

Sliding doors run on tracks, which means that securing them isn’t as simple as installing a new deadbolt and a sturdy hinge. Tracks provide more leverage points for handy burglars to use to their advantage and can make it tricky to fully secure the doors. Your first order of business will be to secure the door as firmly as possible using a combination of locking options.

The expanse of uninterrupted glass is also a security concern on several levels. While you can feel reasonably secure behind a solid steel or wood door with a good deadbolt, a glass pane offers an easy workaround: An intruder could simply smash the glass to gain access. In addition, large windows allow for a more unobstructed view of valuable possessions. Peer through the door from the outside. What can you see? Would a curtain or blinds obscure some of the view? What about shifting the furniture around—or simply tucking away some belongings that look like an easy grab? Take the simple, free steps first before moving to larger solutions. Covering a slider all the time defeats the purpose of having one, so you’ll have to strike a balance between securing your home and letting the light in, and you may need to enhance your security in other ways.

STEP 1: Apply a shatterproof window film to the sliding glass door.

This is an easy, inexpensive option that provides two layers of security. Adhesive security film is available in precut sizes or rolls that you can trim yourself. When applied correctly, it can be invisible. The thin vinyl will bond with the glass, making it extremely difficult to break—and if the glass cracks, the vinyl will prevent it from shattering out of the frame, continuing to provide an obstacle for anyone trying to gain entry to your home. The film is removable and replaceable. Clear film will allow a full, clear view out of your home, almost as if there’s nothing there but glass—but it also allows a full view into the home, so if you’re not planning to install curtains, blinds, or other window treatments that will allow you to close off the door when necessary, you can consider some of the alternatives.

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Mirrored films let in light and allow one-way viewing, though it’s important to remember that mirrored film will allow the side with the brightest backlight to be seen. During the day, when it’s sunny outside, you’ll have a clear view out through your window, and anyone looking in will see a reflective surface. At night, however, you’ll have the lights on, so you’ll see a mirrored surface from inside and anyone looking from the outside will have a clear view of you and your home.

Frosted films provide the greatest degree of security. These films can be smooth-frosted, with just a hazy finish, or patterned. They are translucent enough to let in light, but they block the view through the doors. If you like your view, these won’t be practical; it would make just as much sense to replace the sliders with wood or steel doors or a wall and windows. If, however, security trumps the view in your situation, frosted films can provide peace of mind and still keep your space brighter.

If you’re investing in new doors, you can choose reinforced glass, which has a non-shattering layer impregnated into the glass already. You may find that you still want more privacy and choose to add a frosted layer, but the glass itself will be more secure from breakage.

STEP 2: Add a rod or a deadbolt lock.

Once you’ve protected the glass, you’ll need to prevent the door from being jimmied. Tracks offer a great place for a burglar to use a crowbar to pry the door off its track or pop a weak deadbolt and slide the door open. Securing the door will take several steps. First, you’ll want to choose from several types of sliding glass door locks, making sure that the bolt that locks the door closed is strong enough to withstand some force. The tiny flip locks that most doors are supplied with during manufacturing aren’t sufficient; in fact, some are so flimsy that they can be popped open with a credit card. Adding an aftermarket deadbolt will make your door stronger and easier to secure. These bolts can drive into the side of the sash or into the floor or ceiling mid-track. Some even provide an option to bolt the door open a few inches, similar to a night lock on a window, by featuring an additional strike plate that is placed a few inches from the closed position to secure the bolt. If your door is a regular entry point for your home, you can choose a sliding door lock with keys to make the door more functional.

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Adding an extra lock for doors that don’t arrive well equipped from the factory is a good first step, but the potential for a criminal to force the door open on its tracks is still present. Overnight, and anytime you prefer extra security, you’ll want to block the space where the door would slide open if forced. This can be accomplished by fitting a rod or large dowel into the tracks between the door that moves on the tracks and the doorframe. This simple step physically prevents the door from being opened.

For the highest level of security, the rod should extend from the edge of the door all the way to the frame and fit snugly, so there’s very little wiggle room if someone should manage to pop open the lock. Some homeowners choose to keep rods in a few lengths so that they can open the door a few inches for air but prevent it from opening any farther. This is a great option during the day, but when you’re asleep or not at home, the door will be at its most secure with a lock fastened and the rod in place.

If a loose rod seems like an inconvenience, you can choose to purchase a sliding door lock bar, which is a two-part mechanism. The adjustable metal bar attaches to the doorframe with hardware, and a receiver bracket is screwed into the edge of the functional door. The homeowner simply extends the bar and lowers it into the receiver bracket, which then prevents the door from being opened or the bar from being popped free. This option is more visible than a rod dropped into the track, which provides a visual deterrent to anyone interested in breaking in, but some homeowners may find it unsightly.

STEP 3: Invest in a home security system with cameras, alarms, sensors, monitoring, and more.

You’ve created the option to obscure the view into your home, reinforced the glass, and installed a sliding door lock, possibly a sliding glass door lock with key. What’s left? The fact is that no matter how many security features you add to a sliding door, it will never be quite as secure as a solid core door with a standard door security lock. So your best option may be to add more eyes to keep an eye on potential threats to the entryway.

A home security system, whether self-monitored with an app and a smartphone or professionally monitored by a home security company, can bolster the physical security you’ve already added to your door. Cameras will provide a warning that someone is loitering in proximity to your home, and they potentially may ward off would-be intruders by letting them know that someone is watching. If a break-in does occur, cameras may help identify the intruder and help you reclaim stolen items.

Security systems offer glass-break sensors and door-opening sensors, as well as cameras, so you can be alerted to someone trying to get into your home should they manage to bypass your patio door lock. If you’re home, this notification can give you time to exit the home from another location or secure your family in a safe room in the home; it’s best not to confront someone trying to break in. These sensors can also be programmed to trigger loud alarms that should scare off an intruder. Alarms are particularly important if you have opted not to install glass security film; the loud alarm may convince a burglar who has smashed the glass to run immediately without taking anything once they’ve broken the glass on the door.

Your patio door or sliding glass door can make your space feel larger and your day feel brighter, and with some carefully chosen security components, it can be a secure part of your home’s envelope. The best way to secure the door and enjoy the light and views it provides is with a layered approach: Strengthen the glass, strengthen the lock, and increase the monitoring of the area beyond your own eyes. Then you can relax in your bright room with peace of mind.

Hello, Todd:

The easiest thing to do is control the outside PIR so it is turned off during certain times, and then lock it with a maglock.

Any idea of what make/model the sliding door operator is? In some cases the controller is built for inputs from an access control system.

Failing that, can you connect a relay inline with the PIR power? During a certain time, the relay can always make contact, but the PIR can be left unpowered during a specific schedule. You can use a door controller to lock/unlock the relay on a schedule, just as if it were a lock. THe right relay could alternate between firing a maglock and releasing it and turning on power to the PIR (DPDT).

On the point about using a maglock to hold the door shut even when it pulls open: You are 100% right! Do not do that!!! You'll bend or break the door, frame, motor, and armature of the maglock! That would be a very expensive door!