We think a lot about the security of our homes but has it ever occurred to you that we keep some of our most expensive stuff in our garages, like cars, bikes, tools, boats, and other things too big or too dirty for the home? If you have a garage attached to the side of your home, it might also have a door leading straight into your house. Preventing unwanted people from entering your garage is essential, but most people need to give garage security more thought. You would want your garage to be a manageable gateway into your home, so here are some ways to secure your garage space from thieves.
Consider extending any home security system to ensure it extends to your garage, not just the connecting door. If the alarm is armed and someone enters the garage, you should know about it immediately to prevent theft or call the police.
You might also extend the security to cover the entire property by installing gates. For information on Electric Gates Cirencester, go to Complete Gate Automation, a supplier of quality Electric Gates Cirencester.
Make sure your garage has a bolt-type lock. Most garage doors come with a cylinder lock, which is mostly child’s play for burglars, so make sure you also have a bolt. If you are going away or have a garage door that won’t be used for some time, consider getting a door defender. This is a metal plate bolted into concrete with a giant metal and rubber stopper that will prevent the door from opening. They also make for a fantastic visual deterrent and take time to break through. Thieves want to be in and out fast, so they will undoubtedly think twice about anything that will take time.
On opening your garage door, you should have motion detector lights. If not, then consider installing them as an add-on. Thieves prefer to work in the dark, so shining a light on their antics is a definite turn-off for a burglar.
Don’t put yourself on show unnecessarily. Many people don’t bother to put any coverings on their garage windows. Blinds or sheets or anything will be enough to prevent a prospective thief from getting a good look at anything worth stealing. By not being able to see in, they might not think it’s worth the risk.
Pay attention to the other door from your garage to your home! This door should be as well secured as the front door to your house. Ensure it is strong enough to withstand being kicked, and install alarm sensors and deadbolts to be safe rather than sorry.
Keeping the door itself in good working order
Good security depends on a garage door that opens, closes and locks properly, so regular maintenance matters. Start with the opening mechanism. Check it regularly and make sure the handle and other mechanical parts are working as they should.
Look at the safety seal too. If it is broken, the door may not close properly, but a seal can often be replaced so the door works as intended again. Keep the door clean. Dust and dirt can build up on parts you cannot easily see, which can stop the door opening and closing smoothly, or even make it a danger to you and your car. Once you start cleaning it regularly, keep it up, and apply some lubricant as you go to keep moving parts working freely and prevent rust.
If a door keeps failing despite this care, speak to a specialist about repairing or replacing it. A worn door that no longer shuts securely undoes the rest of your efforts to protect what is stored inside.
Converting a garage into a usable room
Many garages no longer hold a car at all, since vehicles have grown while garages have not. Instead they store garden equipment, bikes and outdoor furniture, and more people are turning them into workshops, home offices, gyms or games rooms. A conversion can be done fairly quickly, but several things need thought.
Access comes first. Depending on how you will use the space, consider whether the existing garage door suits it and whether the building has any windows. The flooring will need attention too, as a bare concrete floor is not pleasant to work or exercise on. Rubber matting, or a screed finished with carpet in places, are common choices depending on the activity.
Garage lighting is usually basic, so an electrician may need to extend it, and spotlights set into a new ceiling can make the room feel warmer. Finally, garages are single skin buildings that hold little heat, so adding internal walls and insulation makes the space comfortable to use all year.
