8 Easy Ways To Make Wooden Windows More Secure

According to police statistics around 30% of burglars gain access to homes via a window. Therefore it is prudent to make your windows as secure as possible. Window security does not break the bank. Here are eight easy ways to make wooden windows more secure.

1. Window locks are a good security measure for wooden windows. They are not expensive and readily available in DIY shops. Window locks are easy to fit and operate. Most require a key but some lock automatically. Apart from window locks you can also fit locking window handles. These are also key-operated.

2. If your windows have locks already, consider using longer fixings. Most window locks come with screws that are far too short to withstand forcing. Replace them with longer screws that will penetrate the wood as far as possible.

3. Secure your windows by fitting locks that don't need a key to lock them such as window bolts and snap locks. Window bolts can be used for casement, side hung, top hung and sash wooden windows. The windows are easily locked by pushing in a button to secure the two parts of the lock together after closing the window. A key is needed to unlock them. Snap locks which are suitable for most wooden windows just lock together automatically as soon as the the two lock parts meet.

4. The central catches in sash windows are not reliable. If you have sash windows without any locks and you are concerned that they might be forced while you are away from home, you can make them secure by drilling two holes through the top rail of the inner sash and drive long screws through them and into the bottom rail of the outer sash. This will lock the two sashes together. A more elegant and permanent solution to bolt sliding sashes together is to fit dual screws, one on each side of the meeting rails. These consist of an internally threaded barrel that passes through the inner rail, and a bolt that passes through the barrel and screws into the outer rail.

5. Sash stops are another option. They are strong and convenient to use and do not need to be removed from the window when opening. They can be set into the top frame allowing the window to be left open about 5 inches for ventilation but still secure.

6. Casement windows, by their very design, need to be locked by securing the window to the frame. If the window is flush to the frame fit two key-operated concealed bolts, one near the top corner and the other near the bottom. They are more secure than surface mounted locks as the bolt engages in a hole in the frame. They should always be fitted at 90º to the grain of the wood.

7. If your window has a window stay with holes and you want to secure your windows in the open position for purposes of ventilation, replace the peg on which the window stay normally fits with a casement stay lock. This lockable fixing will enable you to secure the window by attaching the screw-on lock to the peg with a special square headed key. To unlock the window again you would also use the key.

8. The beading which holds the glass in place is frequently only pinned. The best locks will not keep intruders out if they only have to prise away external glazing beads and lift out the glass. You can secure wooden glazing beads to their frames with clutch-head security screws which cannot be unscrewed.

Window security is not costly. A few simple steps are usually enough to make wooden windows more secure.


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M. Ruthe is the creator of an online resource on replacement windows dedicated to helping people to solve their window problems. For more information on wooden windows visit
http://www.luton-windows.com