Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

PATIO DOOR SELECTION AND SECURITY??
August 30, 2010 | Me

Posted on 08/30/2010 6:28:54 AM PDT by SMARTY

I wonder if any one has some input about security for patio doors.

I plan to put two in the kitchen. I am NOT putting sliding doors and I am favoring French doors.

One door is needed for access to the existing patio. The other door will be on another wall leading out…and where planned improvements will require access to the yard.

I would like to know what the most secure selection would be …. or else what kinds of modifications I can make in order to further secure the doors I do select. (For example: the Pella French door has a triple lock built-in.)

Also, the existing shallow bay window, which will be removed for access to the patio area, is 92” wide.

I know the standard height dimension is 82” and I think that is not a problem… but I don’t know what the standard French door width dimension is. Will I have a problem installing a patio door in this 92” opening?

Does any one know about this stuff?


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Gardening; Hobbies; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: homeimprovement; security
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last
Are there any contractors out there who have some advice?
1 posted on 08/30/2010 6:28:56 AM PDT by SMARTY
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SMARTY

French doors are good in that you can see through them well enough to shoot fairly accurately.


2 posted on 08/30/2010 6:30:17 AM PDT by VRWCmember ("All men make mistakes ... married men find out about them sooner" - Red Skelton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SMARTY
Photobucket
3 posted on 08/30/2010 6:33:52 AM PDT by Roccus (......and then there were none.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Roccus

Nice.


4 posted on 08/30/2010 6:34:31 AM PDT by SMARTY ("What luck for rulers that men do not think." Adolph Hitler)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SMARTY

I spent the bulk of my career in physical security design. Regret to inform that patio doors, French doors, etc. and security are mutually exclusive. You can have all manner of lock hardware installed, but what really protects you against forced entry is how the door is mounted in its frame, and what materials you’re using for the frame, and its supporting structure. Depending on the threat environment, I generally would recommend a motion sensing alarm covering those doors, coupled with a design to provide sufficient delay from forced entry, to mount an emergency response, or escape.


5 posted on 08/30/2010 6:36:41 AM PDT by PowderMonkey (Will work for ammo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SMARTY

If an intruder wants in, they’ll find a way.

My son has glass french doors leading out to the pool, security is a huge black Lab.


6 posted on 08/30/2010 6:38:56 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek (He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty Psalm 91:)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SMARTY

go to
www.survivalblog.com
and put in a search


7 posted on 08/30/2010 6:40:44 AM PDT by barbarianbabs (Liberty 5-3000)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PowderMonkey

There are motion sensor lights out there now.


8 posted on 08/30/2010 6:42:00 AM PDT by SMARTY ("What luck for rulers that men do not think." Adolph Hitler)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: SMARTY

Lets light in and lets you aim out.

Seriously, hope you find what you need.


9 posted on 08/30/2010 6:43:14 AM PDT by Roccus (......and then there were none.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SMARTY

I use those as well. They’ve proven effective last winter when I discovered an intruder’s foot prints on our snow covered deck one morning. Had he gained entry, interior motion senors linked to a loud annunciator would have awakend me. Burglars these days are not very sophisticated. In our area, they simply throw your Bar-B-Q grill through the back doors and force their way in, kill the dog, and anybody standing in their way. Some have even employeed the old style car jack, to spread the door frame wide open. That’s why you need an alarm annunciator, delay, and a good 12 ga.


10 posted on 08/30/2010 6:50:04 AM PDT by PowderMonkey (Will work for ammo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: SMARTY
Not a contractor but I think Andersen doors and windows are tops. Andersen French doors have a three-point locking system that pins the door at the top and base as well as at the handle. Their fit and finish is excellent.
11 posted on 08/30/2010 6:54:25 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Impeachment !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Coldwater Creek

Thats racist


12 posted on 08/30/2010 6:55:16 AM PDT by al baby (Hi Mom REMEMBER FREE REPUBLIC IN YOUR WILL. I DID)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks

Sounds good!


13 posted on 08/30/2010 7:00:50 AM PDT by SMARTY ("What luck for rulers that men do not think." Adolph Hitler)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: SMARTY

We have a Pella triple pane slider. The lock and the foot stop/lock are well built. Anyone breaking the glass would get a face full from the resulting explosion because of the argon gas in between the panes. It would awaken us. Plus the two Great Pyrennes we have would tear them apart anyway.


14 posted on 08/30/2010 7:04:45 AM PDT by Peter from Rutland
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks; SMARTY
I have Anderson french doors going to my patio - the kind
with the small mini blinds between the inner and outer
glass. The blinds can be opened/closed/adjusted via a small
lever at the top.

I've had them for years with no problems, and I have a
good deadbolt for a lock.

The side without the doorknob has metal rods that slip into
a sleeve in the threshold (bottom) and the frame (top).

I think they are good and sturdy and secure.

15 posted on 08/30/2010 7:05:12 AM PDT by Verbosus (/* No Comment */)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: SMARTY
We did our homework before we built our new house here in the Missouri Ozarks in 2004. We have a security system, glass breakage, etc., with a monster speaker that yells out “Fire...Fire (whooooop, woooop.)”
Curiously the voice on the system sounds like a slightly nasal Englishwoman so that “Fire” sounds like Fyahh.
Most of our attention was directed toward sealing the house against moisture and weather. We put in a ground source heat/ac system and used blown cellulose insulation in the walls and ceiling. We sealed and caulked everything.
16 posted on 08/30/2010 7:10:55 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Impeachment !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Verbosus

Oh - by the way in regards to dimensions:
They had to make my doors a little smaller due to it had
a sliding door prior to that wheich was an odd size.
It did cost extra for that, but I think most manufacturers
will accomodate off-sizes.


17 posted on 08/30/2010 7:12:15 AM PDT by Verbosus (/* No Comment */)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Coldwater Creek

That was going to be my recommendation.

Big dogs outside. Bigger dog inside. Signs indicating security monitoring (actual monitoring optional), trained armed occupants, the door doesn’t matter that much.


18 posted on 08/30/2010 7:18:44 AM PDT by dangerdoc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Verbosus
Andersen made special windows for a rental cabin we own. It was built in the 1940s when things like doors, windows and cabinets were smaller...
19 posted on 08/30/2010 7:19:48 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Impeachment !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: SMARTY

not for nothing but I have 2 sets of anderson frenchwood doors, and my Ex. put in a set as well. If your house expands or contracts with heat or humidity you’ll be constantly adjusting them. I have a friend that just put in sliders and she found a security film that can be applied to the glass so even though the glass is shattered getting through the glass is still a problem.


20 posted on 08/30/2010 7:20:58 AM PDT by waynesa98
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson