Are French doors secure? It’s a common misconception that French doors aren’t secure, and one that you shouldn’t take any notice of.
Listen to the experts, and then make an informed decision based on the facts.
The Maghull Double Glazing team have been fitting perfectly secure French doors for decades now, and we are here to dispel the myth associated with these stunning creations.
In reality, the security of any door is dependent on the build quality of the door itself. Given that we have been the trusted window company of Merseyside and beyond for years, the quality of our work is unquestionable. In fact, it’s what we pride ourselves on.
Should you choose our team to install your beautiful new French doors, or even if you opt for a different company, we want to ensure that you are as safe as possible in your home.
Read our below top tips on French doors security.
French Door Security: Our Top Tips
There are many ways to improve the security of your French doors, and the below are some of the most important steps that you should take.
Always Go With Toughened Glass
The most common way for a burglar to enter a home is by smashing the glass on a window or door. Usually, they would smash one of the panels of a door, in this case a French door, and create enough space to put their hand inside and unlock the doors.
It goes without saying that toughened glass will make this increasingly difficult for any potential trespassers, and Maghull Double Glazing would always recommend this type of glass. Want to know more about how your double glazing can protect you and your property? Our blog on double glazing thickness discusses the science behind difference glass window and door options.
Insist on a Three-Point Locking System
French doors are usually set up for one to be the master and the other to operate in conjunction of that. The master door is typically the one that opens first.
Our advice is to install top and bottom deadbolts, or even shoot bolts on both doors. The master door will be the more secure of the two, given that it is fitted with the lock, so the other door should have a bolt of some sort fitted.
Three-point locking systems are installed with metal rods that extend upwards from the door into the door frame and down into the floor. That’s more than enough locks for your French doors, but absolutely necessary to ensure you and your loves ones can relax with peace of mind.
Install a Double Cylinder Deadbolt
A singular key on the outside of a door is fitted when opting for a standard deadbolt. A thumb-turn inside the lock itself then operates the lock.
This is a serious problem for French doors that aren’t fitted with toughened glass. Burglars will easily be able to break the glass and reach in to unlock the door.
A double cylinder deadbolt requires keys on both sides, meaning that your unwanted guest won’t be able to unlock your door this way.
Fit Secure Hinges
It may seem like a lot of effort to go to, but some criminals wouldn’t think twice about removing a door from its hinges in order to enter your home. After all, given the value of a lot of items in your home, it is an effort worth making for such people.
Some hinges on outward opening doors can expose the hinge pins, making them easy to remove. If this is done, the doors can be taken off, making for a straightforward entry into your property.
Be Sure to Lock Your Doors
We know this may seem the most obvious point of all, but not when you take into account that over a quarter of UK residents (26%) don’t lock their doors when they’re in their home.
Of course, you should always lock your doors and windows when leaving your property, but have you considered locking them when you are home? You don’t want to make the job of a criminal easy for them.
What to Look for When Checking if French Doors are Secure
Once the installation is complete, be sure to check for any spaces in the frames and also any gaps between the threshold and the actual door.
Open and close your doors a few times after the fitting to make sure that they are stable and that no spaces appear at the bottom.
Oh, and another thing. Have you considered hurricane-resistant glass? We know, hurricanes aren’t exactly common in Liverpool, but any glass that can withstand such a rare force of nature will certainly be a match for a criminal fist.
Alarms and Screens
We don’t really want to go down the route of advising that you have security alarms and shutters fitted, so consider this a last resort.
However, if you truly believe that an alarm system is necessary in your property, then it probably is. You can have vibration sensitive alarms fitted that alert you should anyone try to force entry through the glass of your doors and windows.
While not the most aesthetically pleasing of options, shutters and screens can also offer another layer of protection to your home. French door grills can easily be fitted with security grills which can be removed comfortably when not in use.
Trust the Experts
We discussed our top tips earlier on, but all of the above is a given when you hire Maghull Double Glazing to fit your French doors.
You want to feel at ease in your home, and ensuring that your French doors are secure will go some way to achieving that.
Please, don’t listen to the scaremongers who suggest that French doors aren’t as secure as other options. It simply isn’t true.
The key to security with any door or window fitting is in the quality of the job itself. That is where the Maghull Double Glazing team come into their own.
With over 40 years of experience already under our belt, and over 30,000 happy customers already taken care of, why not give us a call on 0151 526 8200?
We look forward to hearing from you.