Top Tips for A Secure Conservatory or Bi-Fold Door

Conservatories and bi-fold doors have become more and more popular in recent years as a way to open up people’s homes, improve lighting and connect the inside with the world outside.

But lots of people see them as a security concern. It’s believed that thieves see conservatories and bi-fold doors as means of easy access.

However, this isn’t generally the case. In the rare cases where thieves have targeted them, it’s generally a result of poor-quality construction and materials.

A properly-built conservatory or bi-fold door arrangement should be no less secure than the rest of your home, if not more. Here are some key things to look out for:

• If your conservatory has a glass roof, ensure the glass is toughened. This is important for security, but is also a vital safety consideration. Top-end suppliers will make sure that the glass they use is properly strengthened.
• Make sure that the rest of the glass has internal beading. It’s much, much more secure than external beading (which a burglar could simply remove!)
• Check that the windows are fitted with a shoot locking mechanism. This means any prospective burglar’s only means of getting through the window is to break it (which is no mean feat if the glass is toughened). You can also improve security by making sure you use force-resistant hinges made from a material such as aluminium.
• Bi-fold doors should have a well-built multi-point locking system and ideally a hidden in-line tracking system. This means that any intruder who fancies lifting the doors out of place will find himself out of luck.
• Make sure stress-bearing elements of the doors and the locking system are formed from hardened steel and are tested for compliance. Dead bolts and high security hinges will also make sure no burglar can force open the door or remove the lock pins.

Of course, a good supplier will make sure that any conservatory or bi-fold door they install are as secure as possible. The security of your home is a natural concern and your supplier should understand that.