Patio door security - how to improve it

ubdai

In my lounge I have a sliding patio door like most people I would assume. However the bit that slides is on the outside of the unit. And it has just a normal one piece locking mechanism, no additional bolts or anything.
Seems a lightweight uPVC and am a bit worried by using something like
http://www.wickes.co.uk/bin/venda?ex=co_wizr-locayta&template=wz_locayta&pageno=1&perpage=9&collate=cat%3Aivtype%3Aprice%3Apdxtpromotion&refine_sort_alph=pdxtdoorwid&threshold=90&fieldrtype=type&termtextrtype=invt&typertype=exact&typekeywordsearch=keyword&termtextkeywordsearch=patio+door+lock
Just in case the door plastic can't take the fixing.

Question - How can I make the door more secure.
ie to stop the door being forced back along its runner or being forced up and off. (At present I put a piece of wood and jemmy it into place between the sliding door handle and the fixed frame of the other half).

Thanks
ubdai

TEDDYRUKSPIN

The patio lock question. Most patio doors are secure enough for what they do. 3 door or 5 door lock system. Now the question do the above wickes locks work? Yes, they do. But.... are you good enough DIY person to do so? You can only answer this question.

I sometimes think that we all think too hard. A person could just throw something big and weighty through the glass and just as well walk through.

lagi

Why not just cut a nicer piece of wood and lay that between the door that slides and the frame. It would sit on that ledge and if cut to similar size would lay nicely in there and wouldn't need to be jammed in place. You could put that in whenever you are leaving from another exit or at night.

docmatt

lagi wrote: »

Why not just cut a nicer piece of wood and lay that between the door that slides and the frame. It would sit on that ledge and if cut to similar size would lay nicely in there and wouldn't need to be jammed in place. You could put that in whenever you are leaving from another exit or at night.

But the bit that slides is on the outside of the unit mate

ormus

those bolts will certainly help. i had those fitted on my last patio doors.
main probelm with older doors is that fact that you can lift them off with a spade place under the runners.
and used as a lever.

as been said, you can fit a dozen locks if you wish, but a housebrick bypasses all that security.

cajef

lagi wrote: »

Why not just cut a nicer piece of wood and lay that between the door that slides and the frame.

Which is what I have done, I have two patio doors just cut lengths of 2.5" x 1.5" wood, fits perfectly in the ledge.

docmatt wrote: »

But the bit that slides is on the outside of the unit mate

Both my opening doors slide on the inside so easy to do, though agreed not possible if it slides on the outside.:)

cajef

ormus wrote: »

as been said, you can fit a dozen locks if you wish, but a housebrick bypasses all that security.

Agreed, nothing is going to stop someone that is determined to get in, you can only hope it may deter them.

lagi

docmatt wrote: »

But the bit that slides is on the outside of the unit mate

Sorry didn't realise

moonrakerz

"something big and weighty" or a "housebrick" are :

a. Likely to just bounce off.
b. Noisy

there are several very simple and much quieter ways of getting in a patio door ........

One of which I have seen advertised on the web as:

"A simple device that ensures the rapid entry into a post RTA car or a locked car where the occupants require immediate rescue. "

martyn05

Adding extra locks will improve your security but if someone is determined to get in they will. However, most thieves will choose the path of least resistance, so they may move on from your property with its extra security to somewhere less secure.