Sliding glass doors are usually used as external doors and this is why the buyer should pay a lot of attention to the security features the product has to offer. The door has a latch mechanism instead of a lock and this type of mechanism can be easily forced from outside, by a burglar. But, because of the popularity of the sliding glass doors, there have been developed a lot of countermeasure features and techniques that help securing the door and making it safe.

1. Sliding glass door security bar is a small device that can be placed on the track preventing the door from opening. You can buy it directly from the door manufacturer, but lately the device comes together with the door. Even if your door doesn’t have this device incorporated, you can improvise it with a small piece of wood, adjusted to the right size. It is recommended to place this device on the upper track because on the lower one it can be taken out by mistake (by a dog or a child). This bar alone offers a high degree of security, so, if you use it, you most likely won’t need any other protection mechanism.

2. If your sliding door is an older model and you can’t afford a new one, then the security bar won’t suffice. You will need an anti-lift device you can purchase from any hardware store. There are many types of anti-lift devices but the most popular ones are through-the-door pins and upper track screws. They are easy to install and the price is low.

3. When buying a sliding door make sure that the glass is either an internal-screen-reinforced glass or a tempered, laminated one. This types of glass are the most secure ones because they can’t be broke or smashed.

4. For extra protection you can have installed a keyed interior lock. If the lock is on the inside then the burglar will have nothing to pick on, making it almost impossible to force the door to open.

5. This is more a trick then a security measure, but it’s known to work. If you can’t afford an alarm system place on your door a visible “alarm on premises” sticker; As a bonus you can even throw in a “Beware of the dog” sign, it’s a well know fact that dogs aren’t burglar friendly.

Security is the first thing you should have in your mind when it comes to your house and family so pay extra attention to each and every security feature the product has to offer. Most of the manufacturers include now the security devices and mechanisms in the package, so you won’t have to search for them or install them by yourself.