Discussion:
Window next to front door, deadbolt side -- best way to secure?
(too old to reply)
Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH
2003-10-14 23:20:06 UTC
Permalink
I recently moved into a new house. Unfortunately, the house came with
a vertical window (approximately 11 inches wide by 58 inches high)
installed right next to the front door, on the deadbolt side. In other
words, anyone could just break the glass, reach in, and unlock the
deadbolt.
How much do you like the window? You could always check with a local
cabinetmaker about making up a piece of hardwood patterned/stained to
match the door and replacing the glass altogether.


Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH
***@myway.com
Joe Kesselman (yclept Keshlam)
2003-10-15 02:46:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH
How much do you like the window? You could always check with a local
cabinetmaker about making up a piece of hardwood patterned/stained to
match the door and replacing the glass altogether.
Or consider replacing the glass with Lexan, if you want to keep the look
but have it be shatterproof. The good stuff ain't cheap, unfortunately.
--
Joe Kesselman, http://www.lovesong.com/people/keshlam/
{} ASCII Ribbon Campaign | "may'ron DaroQbe'chugh vaj bIrIQbej" --
/\ Stamp out HTML mail! | "Put down the squeezebox & nobody gets hurt."
Putyourspamhere
2003-10-15 14:41:24 UTC
Permalink
Subject: Re: Window next to front door, deadbolt side -- best way to secure?
Date: 10/14/2003 10:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Post by Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH
How much do you like the window? You could always check with a local
cabinetmaker about making up a piece of hardwood patterned/stained to
match the door and replacing the glass altogether.
Or consider replacing the glass with Lexan, if you want to keep the look
but have it be shatterproof. The good stuff ain't cheap, unfortunately.
--
Joe Kesselman, http://www.lovesong.com/people/keshlam/
{} ASCII Ribbon Campaign | "may'ron DaroQbe'chugh vaj bIrIQbej" --
/\ Stamp out HTML mail! | "Put down the squeezebox & nobody gets hurt."
Lexan and Plexiglass also become cloudy over time.
Joe Kesselman (yclept Keshlam)
2003-10-15 23:13:16 UTC
Permalink
Post by Putyourspamhere
Lexan and Plexiglass also become cloudy over time.
Part of this is how careful you are in cleaning 'em; they do scratch
more easily than glass. Lexan less so.

For some folks it's still the best option, even if they wind up
replacing the Lexan once or twice a decade.
--
Joe Kesselman, http://www.lovesong.com/people/keshlam/
{} ASCII Ribbon Campaign | "may'ron DaroQbe'chugh vaj bIrIQbej" --
/\ Stamp out HTML mail! | "Put down the squeezebox & nobody gets hurt."
Putyourspamhere
2003-10-16 19:19:48 UTC
Permalink
Subject: Re: Window next to front door, deadbolt side -- best way to secure?
Date: 10/15/2003 7:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Post by Putyourspamhere
Lexan and Plexiglass also become cloudy over time.
Part of this is how careful you are in cleaning 'em; they do scratch
more easily than glass. Lexan less so.
For some folks it's still the best option, even if they wind up
replacing the Lexan once or twice a decade.
--
Joe Kesselman, http://www.lovesong.com/people/keshlam/
{} ASCII Ribbon Campaign | "may'ron DaroQbe'chugh vaj bIrIQbej" --
/\ Stamp out HTML mail! | "Put down the squeezebox & nobody gets hurt."
It is true that the stuff scratches easy but it also seems to have to do with
UV exposure as it seems to become cloudy faster when constantly exposed to
sunlight.
Henry E Schaffer
2003-10-17 13:12:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by Putyourspamhere
Subject: Re: Window next to front door, deadbolt side -- best way to secure?
Date: 10/15/2003 7:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Post by Putyourspamhere
Lexan and Plexiglass also become cloudy over time.
Part of this is how careful you are in cleaning 'em; they do scratch
more easily than glass. Lexan less so.
For some folks it's still the best option, even if they wind up
replacing the Lexan once or twice a decade.
--
Joe Kesselman, http://www.lovesong.com/people/keshlam/
{} ASCII Ribbon Campaign | "may'ron DaroQbe'chugh vaj bIrIQbej" --
/\ Stamp out HTML mail! | "Put down the squeezebox & nobody gets hurt."
It is true that the stuff scratches easy but it also seems to have to do with
UV exposure as it seems to become cloudy faster when constantly exposed to
sunlight.
If the OP wants security and doesn't want the big risk (an
unacceptable one IMHO) of having a keyed inside lock - then the security
risk of that large window *must* be taken care of.

Lexan (polycarbonate) is one solution (if the perimeter of the lexan
is securely fastened) - and if it becomes cloudy - so what? It can be
replaced every decade - and I don't think that a requirment of clarity
was stated. Another solution is to replace the large window with a
solid wall. But that may be unacceptable because of esthetics. Yet
another solution that can look good and let in light - is to replace the
window with a decorative window (e.g. stained glass) with a lexan sheet
behind (inside) it. That way the lexan is protected, and cloudiness
becomes less of an issue.
--
--henry schaffer
***@ncsu.edu
Absinthe
2003-10-17 13:40:09 UTC
Permalink
Another thought that comes to mind is to move it.

From what I have read here it sounds like the window is only on one side of
the door. Perhaps another option would be to reconfigure the door window
such that the door either opens the other way (Great for lefties, but
annoying for the rest of us) or move the window to the other side of the
door (flip the whole thing upside down sort of and rehang the door the other
way.)

Maybe not the best ideas, but certainly worth noting :)
Post by Henry E Schaffer
Post by Putyourspamhere
Subject: Re: Window next to front door, deadbolt side -- best way to secure?
Date: 10/15/2003 7:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Post by Putyourspamhere
Lexan and Plexiglass also become cloudy over time.
Part of this is how careful you are in cleaning 'em; they do scratch
more easily than glass. Lexan less so.
For some folks it's still the best option, even if they wind up
replacing the Lexan once or twice a decade.
--
Joe Kesselman, http://www.lovesong.com/people/keshlam/
{} ASCII Ribbon Campaign | "may'ron DaroQbe'chugh vaj bIrIQbej" --
/\ Stamp out HTML mail! | "Put down the squeezebox & nobody gets hurt."
It is true that the stuff scratches easy but it also seems to have to do with
UV exposure as it seems to become cloudy faster when constantly exposed to
sunlight.
If the OP wants security and doesn't want the big risk (an
unacceptable one IMHO) of having a keyed inside lock - then the security
risk of that large window *must* be taken care of.
Lexan (polycarbonate) is one solution (if the perimeter of the lexan
is securely fastened) - and if it becomes cloudy - so what? It can be
replaced every decade - and I don't think that a requirment of clarity
was stated. Another solution is to replace the large window with a
solid wall. But that may be unacceptable because of esthetics. Yet
another solution that can look good and let in light - is to replace the
window with a decorative window (e.g. stained glass) with a lexan sheet
behind (inside) it. That way the lexan is protected, and cloudiness
becomes less of an issue.
--
--henry schaffer
Putyourspamhere
2003-10-17 18:18:43 UTC
Permalink
Subject: Re: Window next to front door, deadbolt side -- best way to secure?
Date: 10/17/2003 9:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Post by Putyourspamhere
Subject: Re: Window next to front door, deadbolt side -- best way to
secure?
Post by Putyourspamhere
Date: 10/15/2003 7:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Post by Putyourspamhere
Lexan and Plexiglass also become cloudy over time.
Part of this is how careful you are in cleaning 'em; they do scratch
more easily than glass. Lexan less so.
For some folks it's still the best option, even if they wind up
replacing the Lexan once or twice a decade.
--
Joe Kesselman, http://www.lovesong.com/people/keshlam/
{} ASCII Ribbon Campaign | "may'ron DaroQbe'chugh vaj bIrIQbej" --
/\ Stamp out HTML mail! | "Put down the squeezebox & nobody gets hurt."
It is true that the stuff scratches easy but it also seems to have to do
with
Post by Putyourspamhere
UV exposure as it seems to become cloudy faster when constantly exposed to
sunlight.
If the OP wants security and doesn't want the big risk (an
unacceptable one IMHO) of having a keyed inside lock - then the security
risk of that large window *must* be taken care of.
Lexan (polycarbonate) is one solution (if the perimeter of the lexan
is securely fastened) - and if it becomes cloudy - so what? It can be
replaced every decade - and I don't think that a requirment of clarity
was stated. Another solution is to replace the large window with a
solid wall. But that may be unacceptable because of esthetics. Yet
another solution that can look good and let in light - is to replace the
window with a decorative window (e.g. stained glass) with a lexan sheet
behind (inside) it. That way the lexan is protected, and cloudiness
becomes less of an issue.
--
--henry schaffer
All good points. Just through the cloudiness issue out there because I have
known at least one person who was very dissapointed that it wouldn't stay clear
indefinitely.
Joe Kesselman (yclept Keshlam)
2003-10-18 00:00:35 UTC
Permalink
Post by Henry E Schaffer
decorative window (e.g. stained glass) with a lexan sheet
behind (inside) it.
I like it... though I might suggest the other way around, since that way
the lexan protects the decorative glass. This is partly a question of
whether you want it to look its best from inside or outside, admittedly.
--
Joe Kesselman, http://www.lovesong.com/people/keshlam/
{} ASCII Ribbon Campaign | "may'ron DaroQbe'chugh vaj bIrIQbej" --
/\ Stamp out HTML mail! | "Put down the squeezebox & nobody gets hurt."
Lamont Payne
2022-07-29 04:32:17 UTC
Permalink
Thanks for the suggestio
--
For full context, visit https://www.polytechforum.com/locksmithing/re-window-next-to-front-door-deadbolt-side-best-way-to-1529209-.htm
Jim Gaynor
2003-10-15 20:49:01 UTC
Permalink
Is there any kind of label on the glass? Usually etched in one of the
corners. Its possible that it may be a safety glass or laminated. Since the
size of the side light is so large (11" x 58") it will be tough to
meaningfully secure. Just by way of comparison UL standards for burgalar
alarms consider anything larger than 96 inches square(with one side not less
than 6 '') to be a "man sized opening. conventional wisdom would be to use a
dual cylinder deadbolt in an application like this but since the opening is
so large i don't see that it buys you much. The key question is how likely
is it that someone would attack your front door? Is it visible to the street
and neighbors? Is the glass a higher grade than ordinary window pane? And as
others have mentioned, do you have other adequate means of evaquation in
case of fire?
Post by Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH
I recently moved into a new house. Unfortunately, the house came with
a vertical window (approximately 11 inches wide by 58 inches high)
installed right next to the front door, on the deadbolt side. In other
words, anyone could just break the glass, reach in, and unlock the
deadbolt.
How much do you like the window? You could always check with a local
cabinetmaker about making up a piece of hardwood patterned/stained to
match the door and replacing the glass altogether.
Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH
Putyourspamhere
2003-10-15 14:40:26 UTC
Permalink
Subject: Re: Window next to front door, deadbolt side -- best way to secure?
Date: 10/14/2003 7:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time
I recently moved into a new house. Unfortunately, the house came with
a vertical window (approximately 11 inches wide by 58 inches high)
installed right next to the front door, on the deadbolt side. In other
words, anyone could just break the glass, reach in, and unlock the
deadbolt.
How much do you like the window? You could always check with a local
cabinetmaker about making up a piece of hardwood patterned/stained to
match the door and replacing the glass altogether.
Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH
Given that the post you are replying to is almost 5 months old he has probably
fixed it by now if it was a big problem.
k***@yahoo.com
2003-10-16 05:47:00 UTC
Permalink
Post by Putyourspamhere
Given that the post you are replying to is almost 5 months old he has
probably fixed it by now if it was a big problem.
Damn, I gotta quit switching servers. Long article retention is nice, but
it has its drawbacks.
--
Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH
Lamont Payne
2022-07-29 04:32:17 UTC
Permalink
I always use Lexan for my window projects
--
For full context, visit https://www.polytechforum.com/locksmithing/re-window-next-to-front-door-deadbolt-side-best-way-to-1529209-.htm
Loading...