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 How does a garage door compromise home security? Think about how easy it would be for an intruder to gain access to your possessions and in many cases even your main house by entering through your garage, especially if your garage door is of an age where the only locking is a tiny latch in the centre of the door at the top. These latches are mainly linked via a cable to a handle which if broken enables operation of the latch instantly and quietly. On garage doors with badly fitted timber frames it is also very easy to force the latch from outside, again quickly and quietly. Many older type garage doors whatever the type have very poor security if examined and present an easy target for would be intruders as a garage is not seen as quite so serious a challenge as the main house to them.
 According to TheSafeShop.co.uk home security statistics show that approximately 40% of non-forced entry residential crime is via garage doors. And if you review the various government web sites that list crime incidents you will see that the garage is a regularly targeted vulnerable area especially when there is access to the main house through the garage
Modern garage doors of nearly all types do now at least come with a euro profile cylinder locking system as standard and use locking rods rather than cables. Any descent one piece up and over will have a minimum of 2 locking points internally quite often with the option of 4 point locking at a small extra charge. Hormann and Garador offer this option. But do remember - the locking on a door can only be as effective as the overall strength of the door panel and the sub frame it operates within. If the door panel is flimsy it can be bent easily and the locks forced and the likewise for the sub frame whether it be timber or steel it must be fitted square and with the right fixings to prevent forcing.
Consideration has to be given to the actual panel itself as some garage door panels may well look attractive but look closer and you may see that the panel is indeed only very thin and could be cut or smashed through relatively easily. Inferior (and therefore frequently cheaper) GRP doors are an example of this; the price is low because of the lack of material in the door panel itself and therefore the strength and security is compromised. However brilliant the locks might be, if you can kick a hole in the door panel their quality becomes pretty irrelevant as they can be operated by the hand that has slipped easily through the hole! Cheap timber garage doors with a plywood face backing are also another example of doors that could be easily penetrated.
So which garage doors are secure?
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A basic good quality up and over garage door specified with a steel sub frame and 4 point locking will provide a very good level of security if the door panel is of a box section construction and a euro profile cylinder locking system is fitted. Most opportunist burglars would not bother a forced entry with one of these garage doors as the levels of noise and effort required would be too risky. Specialised tools would also be required, not carried by most burglars.
A most recent addition to the Garador range is the Guardian range of up and over garage doors which offer a manual steel up and over door in limited sizes carrying the prestigous 'Secured by design' stamp of approval with a level 1 LPCB rating. The door is a tested version of their Horizontal and Vertical ribbed door design with extra bracing and steel plating at crucial points to resist attempted forced entry. 4 point locking is standard and the door is supplied as either a standard or purpose made size with a box section steel fixing sub frame fitted as standard. |
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 For a increased peace of mind - and at a very sensible price the garage door we sell the most for its security (as well as for insulation, sealing properties and practicality) is the sectional garage door (of which many models also boast excellent insulation, efficient sealing and total practicality). This type of garage door has a very strong basic design in that the individual panels of the door have 4 encapsulated rollers either side moving behind a very strong steel sub frame system. The 42mm double skinned insulated steel version of the Hormann, Garador and Carteck sectional provide a panel with incredible lateral strength and although there is only one locking point internally it is very difficult to penetrate this type of garage door by force or with tools. Fitting behind an opening further increases the security element as fitting in this position eliminates all penetration points.
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 Another option for security as well as practicality are side hinged steel garage doors with steel box section fixing frames. Several manufacturers offer very high levels of upgraded security locking as well as double skinned steel panels for strength. Properly specified and installed these can be very secure indeed, especially when fitted with a hydraulic electric door operator with an electro-magnetic lock.
Carteck offer double skinned steel insulated side hinged doors with very good levels of security in their standard lock sets. The panels are strong as they are 42mm thick steel panels. |
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Another very popular option is the double skinned insulated aluminium roller shutter garage door. Many manufacturers produce this type of roller door but you have to make sure some basic features are included to ensure security. Single skin steel roller shutters are available but security is not one of the high priorities of this door type. For double skinned aluminium roller shutters to be secure they have to have good quality side guides to prevent forcing the curtain, good quality bottom slat as this is the frequent attack point, rolling code technology on the radio transmitter and receiver and a proven locking system to hold the curtain in place when closed. The Seceuroglide brand of insulated roller shutter was one of the very first roller garage doors in the UK and has been developed over many years to become market leader and also has the only 'secured by design' option with the Seceuroglide Excel roller garage door.
Please do not confuse the insulated aluminium roller shutter with a single skin steel roller shutter. Security is not one of the high priorities of this door type and simplicity and price are the key factors.
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| For the absolute ultimate in security (and incredible beauty) Silvelox garage doors are almost certainly in a league of their own. They provide extraordinary levels of very discreet security through a combination of 80mm thick one piece counterbalanced door panels and automatic latches and reinforced bolts locking into tough steel sections. Garage doors and entrance doors to match are all provided in stunning timber designs. And, what is more, the security elements with Silvelox doors certainly neither spoil nor compromise their wonderful aesthetics. |
Specifications on the locking and design of garage doors are constantly changing so for up to date information on the very latest availability telephone our sales office or email us directly with your requirements. |
