What You Need to Know About Sliding Door Locks

Large glass sliding doors are a great addition to your home to let in more natural light, provide picturesque views of your yard and allow easy access to a porch or patio. As great as sliding doors are, though, they are also potential hazards in your home because they tend to attract thieves. The large glass panes and flimsy locks can easily be broken into.

If you have sliding doors, it’s best to invest in a high-quality sliding door lock in Toronto, Ontario to keep your home safe. And no matter what kind of lock you have, there are a few ways you can make your doors even more secure.

The importance of having locks on your sliding doors

You might be thinking, “Why is it so important to lock my sliding doors?” Usually, these doors are on a balcony or porch in the backyard and hidden from view. This doesn’t mean a burglar won’t try to enter through them, though.

Locking your sliding door can protect you against theft, as long as the lock is strong. Sliding doors are very easy to open and are also extremely quiet, making them the perfect target for burglars or other wrongdoers.

Adding locks to sliding doors also helps protect children. These doors are easy for children to push open, even if they are too short to open a standard door. Locks can help prevent kids from getting outside and hurt on accident.

How sliding door locks work

Sliding doors open sideways along a wood or metal track at the top and bottom of the door. There are a few different types of sliding door locks in Toronto, Ontario, but most are pretty flimsy when compared to standard door locks.

Most sliding doors have simple latches or clasps that lock the door in place by lightly latching it to the door frame. Unfortunately, these can often be jiggled open in no time.

Adding an extra lock, like a loop lock or cylinder lock, to the sliding door can help add strength to the security of your sliding glass door. These types of locks use a bolt that actually enters the door frame.

How to secure your sliding door locks

Here’s a closer look at some of the steps you can to take to secure your sliding doors:

• Add security bars: These metal bars are placed in between the wall and one half of your sliding door to keep the door firmly locked in place. They are usually easy to put in and remove and don’t require permanent installation.
• Upgrade the glass: Often, the glass on sliding doors is thin and easily shattered, making it an easy doorway for someone to quickly break and enter through. Upgrading your glass to shatter-resistant panes or adding a protective shatterproof film can help strengthen the glass against break-ins.
• Replace broken tracks: If your sliding door’s tracks are warped, broken or old and flimsy, it’s time to replace them. Broken tracks can easily be manipulated to pop the door out and let someone into your home.

Is the lock on your sliding door flimsy or non-existent? Call Ontario Door Repair! We provide a variety of locksmith and lock installation services, including sliding door locks in Toronto, Ontario.