Frequently targeted by burglars and thieves, the garage doors are a vital part of your homes defense. Operated by a secure remote, powered garage doors usually have functions to block out the remote or outside access panel, in the event you are not going to be home for long periods of time.
Overlooked and usually forgotten about, the door that allows you to leave the garage is usually unlocked. The doors of your garage should be shut and locked before you go to bed each and every night. It should also be locked when you are away from your home of course.
Resources:
Columbus Garage Door Pros
homedepot.com
sears.com
Choosing Door Locks
Replace standard door locks that usually come with garage doors as they are not resistant to picking, hammering, and other attacks. For overhead doors that roll up or tilt up, secure them with bolts or padlocks that are installed in the center of the tracks one-fourth of an inch above the roller when the door is closed.
You can also choose a lock and bolt combination and extend the bolt into the metal sleeve and have it recessed into the driveway by about two or three inches. If you choose a padlock and latch combination, make sure the hasp is correctly installed and that the screws are not exposed.
Pick a lock that is able to work with your existing automatic door closer, remote control device and alarm systems. For safety purposes, make sure that your automatic closers have safety mechanisms that enable them to reverse and stop if they are obstructed.
Before installing door locks, make sure that the garage door, hinge mechanisms, rollers, tracks are working properly. See to it also that your door handles, lever, pulls and bells are installed correctly, not only for aesthetics purposes but for convenience.
How to keep your Garage and Home secured
High-Security Door Locks – Using a good garage lock on the garage’s entrances can make sure that you and your family are safe. When looking to improve home security, here are a few things you can do to secure your garage door.
Padlocks – Install a sturdy security hasp across the opening of your exterior doors and secure with a padlock to as a deterrent against potential burglars. Make sure that the padlock in question is made from thick metal and strong enough to handle any abuse.
Here are some garage door locks to consider
Keyed Cylinder T-Handle Lock in Chrome
This is an all-metal garage door lock from Prime-Line, available at hardwarestore.com. It is used together with an interior Swivel Lock Handle or a locking hub and it can replace most overhead sectional steel or wood garage doors keyed with some kind of T lock handles. This lock can as well be used on doors of mobile homes and recreational vehicles.
Anchors
Concrete anchors can drill into the ground and prevent the doors of your garage from opening. Because they are mounted inside, there is no way a thief can reach or access them. Use a good garage security bolt lock.
Bolts
Otherwise known as deadbolts, by installing a bolt latching system or even forcing a bolt through your garage door tracts you can increase the security of your garage door. Being able to remove this bolt quickly and easily is a big bonus when you want to get out of the house quickly.
Stanley Aluminum Deadbolt Lock & Key Cylinder
This deadbolt lock is ideal for garage doors that have locking cores. Its chief cylinder lock has a solid tumbler, and it supersedes most overhead garage door locks made of steel or wood. All its parts, including the mounting hardware, fasteners and plates are all made of metal.
National Hardware Deadbolt V7651 Garage Door Lock
This aluminum deadbolt lock, available at shop.com, is resistant to burglar attacks because the two-inch lock cylinder is installed on the outside while the lock body is mounted on the inner side of the door, making a rectangular notch in a locking bar assembly which is 3.5-inch long. It is in chrome finish and weighs 0.75 pounds.
Securing your home against burglaries can boost its security to a stage of actually preventing a robber from gaining entry to your premises. Use a good quality door and install an iron gate and window grilles. You can also enhance your security by installing an alarm, CCTV, etc.