5 Ways To Protect Your Sliding Door

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• On this page:

• Alarm Sensor
• Window Film
• Rod or Dowel
• Deadbolt Lock
• Security Camera
• Recap
• FAQ

Home » Home Security

5 Ways to Protect Your Sliding Door By Brianne Sandorf Aug 10, 2022 3 min read

We talk a lot about securing regular doors, but what about sliding doors?

You’ve got a few options to protect your exterior sliding door. You can let your deck or patio fall into such complete disrepair that it becomes a death trap for any would-be intruder. Or you can take more a socially acceptable action by using one of our tips below, such as adding an alarm sensor, window film, or a security bar to your sliding glass door; changing the lock for a deadbolt, or installing a security camera.

Lock your door

Keep your sliding door closed and locked. A lock is the first line of defense. And while the average sliding door lock isn’t terribly strong or secure, it’s better than nothing. If you don’t lock the door in the first place, our other tips probably won’t keep you safe.

1. Add alarm sensor

Using alarm sensors tied to a home security system is an easy way to protect your sliding door.

Most alarm systems come with door/window sensors (also commonly called entry sensors). When attached to a door frame, these sensors monitor open/close motions. If someone forces the door, the alarm sounds and calls for help.

Some alarm systems also include glass break sensors. These sensors detect the sound glass makes when breaking. When the system senses breaking glass, it will send an alert to either you or your monitoring center, depending on your provider and settings.

Top home security systems with DIY entry sensors

Provider	Entry sensor image	Entry sensor price	Learn more
Frontpoint		$24.74	View Plans
Link Interactive		$24.00	View Plans
Abode		$39.99	View Plans

Data effective 8/10/2022. Offers subject to change.

2. Add window film

Sliding glass doors are super smashable. To deter intruders, we suggest applying a window film. This polyethylene coating keeps a shattered sliding glass door from completely falling apart, making it more difficult for an unwelcome visitor to enter.¹

Just to be clear, burglars aren’t our main concern with sliding glass doors. We’ve read multiple interviews with former thieves, and most say they liked to enter a home in the least obtrusive way possible. So thieves aren’t likely to smash your sliding door, but vandals and other types of intruders might.

Privacy concerns

If you don’t want people watching you through your sliding glass door but don’t have curtains or blinds, window film can help you out there too. Some window films have designs on them that let you see out but don’t let others see in. Just pay attention to the specs; we don’t see many window films that have both shatterproof and privacy properties.

Here are a few top-rated shatterproof window films we recommend.

Top window films

Name	Price	Learn more
VViViD 12 Mil Clear Vinyl Shatterproof Safety Window Film	$42.97	View on Amazon
Nidojp 4 Mil Clear Security and Safety Window Shatterproof Film	$36.99	View on Amazon
Clear Window Security Film	$11.89	View on Amazon

Amazon.com List prices as of 8/10/2022 2:45 MST.

3. Add a rod in the tracks

Some sliding doors come with a metal rod for added security. If your door already has this feature, use it. It helps reinforce the door against unwanted entry.

Top sliding door rods

Name	Price	Learn more
International Closeouts Security Bar for Sliding Glass Doors	$24.99	View on Amazon
Securityman 2-in-1 Adjustable Door Knob Jammer & Sliding Patio Door Security Bar	$39.99	View on Amazon
Ideal Security Sliding Patio Door Security Bar with Child-Proof Lock, Extendable	$21.81	View on Amazon

Amazon.com List prices as of 8/10/2022 2:45 MST.

4. Get a deadbolt lock

We’ve noticed that, generally speaking, sliding door locks aren’t very secure. It’s best to get a door with a lock that isn’t accessible from the outside.

Building a house?

If you’re choosing a patio door for a home you’re building, then we suggest looking at something more secure—for instance, French doors with a more traditional, mortise lock. It’s safer.

But we get that when you move into a preexisting home, you aren’t given a choice in sliding door locks. Instead, if you’re able, add a deadbolt to the sliding door setup.

Top sliding door deadbolts

Name	Price	Learn more
Prime-Line High Security Deadbolt Lock for Sliding Patio Doors	$16.87	View on Amazon
Double Bolt Lock for Glass Sliding Doors	$31.85	View on Amazon
SECURITYMAN Sliding Door Security Bar	$24.99	View on Amazon

Amazon.com List prices as of 8/10/2022 2:45 MST.

5. Install a security camera

Security cameras aren’t our go-to solution. They tend to be expensive, can be difficult to install, and usually require ongoing subscriptions. But for a vulnerable spot like a sliding glass door, a security camera is a top-notch solution.

If you keep an obvious camera trained on your sliding glass door, burglars and other intruders are less likely to mess with it. They don’t want their mischief caught on film.

Top home security systems with cameras

Provider	Camera image	Camera price	Learn more
Vivint Smart Home		$299.99	View Plans
Frontpoint		$149.99	View Plans
Link Interactive		Call for quote	View Plans

Data effective 08/10/2022. Offers subject to change.

Recap

If you need to secure your sliding glass door, try any or all of these tips. Afterward, if you’re still feeling skittish, we also recommend other ways to secure your home.

Or, if you’re interested in any of the home security systems we mentioned earlier, here are individual reviews for our top brands with DIY motion sensors:

• Frontpoint review
• Link Interactive review
• Abode review

Sliding door FAQ

Expand All

How do I fix my sliding glass door?

There are expert resources to help you if your sliding glass door is damaged. Some window and door services offer sliding door repair. Also, if the lock is broken or stuck, you might have to call a good old-fashioned locksmith.

A word of caution, though: if an intrusion attempt damaged your door, that tells you that your sliding door looks vulnerable to burglars. You should increase the existing security on the door as further deterrence.

What about my pocket door?

If you have an interior pocket door, not all of these safety tips will apply. Since your pocket door’s on the inside, it doesn’t pose the same security risk. But if your pocket door is glass for natural light purposes, we still suggest some window film for reinforcement. Accidents happen.

How do I replace the lock on my sliding door?

Replacing a sliding door lock is pretty simple. After you unscrew the handle/lock from the door, note the measurements of the lock to make sure you purchase a new, compatible lock. From there, simply screw on the new lock with mounting screws.

How can I reinforce my sliding door?

There are a few ways you can strengthen the safety of your sliding door. Common ways include putting a rod in the door's track or applying shatter-proof film to the glass.

Sources:

1. Wikipedia, “Window Film”

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon.com. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Reviews.org utilizes paid Amazon links.

Written by Brianne Sandorf After five years with Reviews.org, Brianne can and will tell you which internet or mobile provider you should sign up for. She’s talked with internet customers across the U.S. and beyond and addresses their real-life concerns in every piece she writes. Brianne also created the ratings system for the Reviews.org internet service provider reviews and wrote most of them. Brianne channels her lifelong interest in detective work by hunting for obscure, need-to-know information about internet service providers. She’s always learning so that she can pass her knowledge on to Reviews.org readers. Her writing and expertise have appeared in numerous other publications, including Move.org, Parents.com, and the Stanford student blog. Her work for Reviews.org is also cited in a research paper about smart home assistants titled “Expert-Generated Privacy Q&A Dataset for Conversational AI and User Study Insights.” Brianne is a homegrown Utahn who loves to travel and see new places. She graduated from Westminster College with a double major in honors and creative writing. After 20 years in a 8,000-person city, she now lives in Murray, a bustling metropolis of 50,000 where she and her husband raise their two little girls.

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