Securing Sliding Doors and Ground-Floor Windows

Sliding patio doors and ground-floor windows have something in common: they were designed to open easily. That's what makes them pleasant to live with, and it's also why they deserve a closer look than most people give them. The good news is that most of the improvements are inexpensive, quick and reversible.

Why Sliders Are Different From Hinged Doors

A hinged exterior door relies on a deadbolt thrown into a solid frame. A sliding door works differently. The latch on most sliders is a small hook that catches a keeper on the frame, and on older units it can be worn, loose or poorly aligned. The door panel also rides on rollers in a track, which means that on some doors, the panel can be raised slightly and swung out of the track if nothing stops it.

So securing a slider comes down to two jobs. First, keep the panel from sliding open. Second, keep it from being lifted out. Most homes need both.

Before adding anything, test what you have. Lock the door, then push and pull the handle firmly. If the panel shifts more than a little or the latch pops free, the latch or keeper needs adjusting or replacing, and that's worth doing before you layer other hardware on top.

Stop the Slide, Then Stop the Lift

The classic fix for sliding is a bar or wooden dowel cut to fit snugly in the lower track, between the moving panel and the frame. It's simple and effective, as long as it's actually in place. Hinged security bars that swing down from the side frame are handy because they stay attached and take a second to use each night.

Auxiliary locks add a second point of contact. Options include:

• Foot-operated locks that drop a pin into the floor or track
• Pin locks that pass through both the fixed and moving panels
• Clamp-style locks that grip the track
• Keyed locks mounted at the top or bottom of the moving panel

To stop lifting, many installers add anti-lift blocks or a few screws in the upper track, adjusted so the moving panel clears them as it slides but can't be raised enough to jump the track. It's a small job, but screw length and placement matter, especially near the glass. If you're unsure, ask a door or window professional.

While you're at it, check the rollers. A slider that drags or sticks is one people stop closing properly, because it's annoying to shut all the way.

Glass, Film and What They Can Do

Large glass panels are a natural worry. Security window film, applied to the inside of the glass, is designed to hold broken glass together longer, which can slow down someone trying to break through. Laminated glass does something similar as part of the pane itself. Neither makes glass unbreakable, and results depend on the product and the installation, so be skeptical of any claim that sounds absolute.

If you have an alarm system, door contacts and glass-break sensors add another layer. A contact tells you the door opened. A glass-break sensor listens for the sound of breaking glass. Most modern sliders use tempered safety glass, which crumbles into small pieces when broken, so ask your installer how their sensors handle it.

Curtains or blinds on patio doors are worth a mention too. When valuables are easy to see from the yard, passersby have a reason to look closer.

Ground-Floor Windows

Double-hung and single-hung windows

These windows slide up and down, with a latch where the two sashes meet. Check that each latch closes firmly and that the sashes meet squarely. Sash stops or pins let you secure a window partly open for ventilation, with only a few inches of movement, and many can be removed quickly from inside.

Sliding windows

Horizontal sliders can use the same approach as patio doors: a cut dowel or a small track lock, plus a check on whether the sash can be lifted out.

Casement and awning windows

Crank-out windows are generally harder to pry once closed and latched, but the latches should still be checked and the cranks kept in working order. Some homeowners remove the crank handle from windows they rarely open.

For every window type, look from the outside as well. Tall shrubs in front of a window give cover to anyone working at it. Trimming them lower opens the view from the street and from neighboring homes.

Basement windows deserve a quick look too. Many are small, but some are large enough to climb through, and they sit below eye level where few people notice them. Check their latches, keep window wells clear of debris and, if you add a well cover, choose one that can still be opened from below in an emergency.

Don't Trap Yourself Inside

Test every change against one question: can everyone in the house get out quickly in a fire? Bedrooms generally need at least one window that works as an emergency exit, and building and fire codes set requirements for these escape openings. Those codes vary by state and city, so check locally before adding bars, grilles or permanent locks.

If you do add bars or grilles to a ground-floor bedroom window, look for ones with a quick-release mechanism that opens from inside without a key, and make sure everyone in the home knows how to use it, including children and overnight guests. Keep keys for any keyed window locks near the window, out of reach from outside.

A Weekend Checklist

• Clean the tracks on every slider and check that each panel rolls smoothly
• Test each slider latch and replace worn or loose keepers
• Cut a bar or dowel for each patio door, or install a hinged security bar
• Add anti-lift screws or blocks, or ask a professional to do it
• Check every ground-floor window latch and tighten or replace loose hardware
• Add sash stops where you want ventilation without full opening
• Trim shrubs that hide windows from the street
• Confirm that every bedroom has a usable emergency exit
• Test door and window sensors if you have an alarm system

Where to Go From Here

Most of this list is do-it-yourself work, and much of it fits into a single afternoon. If a frame is damaged, a door is badly out of alignment or you're considering replacement windows, that's the moment to bring in a window and door professional. If you have an alarm system, it's also worth asking your installer whether every ground-floor opening has a sensor or falls within a motion detector's coverage.

For more practical reading on doors, windows and locks, SecureYrHome's homeowner guides are written in plain English. They're meant as a starting point, not a substitute for a professional's eyes on your particular home.