secirity railings on windows or security shutters - any advice?

[beaglesaresweet]

I'm looking for fit a metal rails on a window (quite tall but could be half-way) and have no clue where to get them, which ones are good but not too expensive, and are they easy to fit, or would need a specialist?
Or security shutters, which are the least expensive, and can anyone recommend which ones to get?
I don't need anything too serious, as far as a common burglar can't open a window or break a glass (single glazing).
Thank you!

is it for burglars?

how high up the wall is the window? How big?

Shutters will cost a lot, and look unsightly, and people will not shut them.

Is there vehicle access from road or drive, or to within 30 feet or so of this window?

Do you live in a high crime location (i.e. inner city)? I had both window bars and security gates on back doors on my last house when I lived in Shepherds Bush. Fitted by Banhams, and worth their weight in gold - a house behind me was for a time, a crack house, then later on I'd have police knocking on my door asking to use my spare room for stake outs
:(
It is worth Banhams coming round to give you a quote. You'll reel with horror at the price, then you can look around for alternatives from local companies for quotes. It may be worth getting the police to come (free of charge) to tell you how to secure your property.

PJ, yes, for burglars, I'm often away but even when I'm in I'm too nurotic when on my own. The window is 'normal height' for a victorian house, it's low on the ground floor and window itself is tall, but I thought if the railings come to half height or somewhat above, it would be too hard to climb over them. No vehicle access - it's on the side of the house in the passsage to the garden from the street, also of course access from back garden. Too narrow for vehicle (long passage) but I think convenient for burglars when it's dark as it's not overlooked by neighbours there.

MadCat, ah Shep Bush! yes, esp some part of it were ROUGH, well still now in places, I'm sure. How do these window bars look - just horizontal flat bars - one per window? The back door is kind of not an issue with me, as there is a conservatory which is double glazed and good locks there, though back door within is original with lots of windows around it and all with glass inset, also a door to kitchen also quite feeble - but it's all 'covered' by conservatory). The side windows to the passage though are exposed, one single glazed as described above, and two in the kitchen at least those are double glazed - I assume they are much harder to smash(?).

neurotic, that is.

if the windowframe is reasonably sturdy, you might consider having it reglazed in 7mm laminated glass. This is very difficult to break, you may have seen it crazed but unbroken on doors or windows of shops, especially jewellers.

I am unconvinced by a part-height bars, as an agile young crackhead might just climb onto it.

I would also have a burglar alarm sensor pointing across (not at) the window and other potential points of access.

Burglar bars are often made up to fit by local workshops, and have to be bolted or built into the brickwork, not too close to the opening for the windows. In a Victorian house the bricks and mortar would be too soft to just screw them on. If you have a local locksmith who comes to people's houses to fit locks, he probably either does bars, or knows someone who does.

The bars need to be welded into a grid or hexagonals. Plain vertical or horizontal bars can be easily bent apart with a common motorist's tool enabling a slim person to squeeze between them.

I have a security gate - like a door made of metal bars - in front of the door to my flat as live in a high burglary area and was adviced flats are especially at risk. (Burglars like to get into the shared hallway and then work in peace without onlookers seeing them.) It was made to measure by a local locksmiths and cost around £450 to supply and fit two years ago (in London), that included the 5-point Yale lock. Worth it for the peace of mind.

I would also consider movement sensor lights near your window.

thank you!
PJ, can the thick laminate glass be fitted into an old Victorian frame? the window doesn't even open, it's been painted shut or just got stuck. I hope the frame edges wouldn't crumble - but it's a good idea, I will ask the glazer. I didn't know that 7mm glass is neraly unbreakable, so thanks.
Not sure gow to pont the alarm acroos the window - there is a simple alarm here already, but how do I tell where the sensors point exactly? they just look like white square boxes.
msfreud, thanks, Are you on a higher floor? at least that way you could spend a lot on the door as windows not an issue. It is quite expensive, and prob looks a bit 'univiting' when you come in, but agree it's worth it in a bad area. Sensor lights - interesting - do you they light up if window is forced, or only if it breaks?
Also, a silly question but how do I measure the existing glass thickness on double glazed windows? Or, would double glazing be hard to break regardless?

'Not sure how to point alarm across'

I expect you have PIR sensors, a white box with a translucent window on the front It "looks" through the window to detect movement. If you try to move one it will probably set off a "tamper" alarm and need to be reset.

You need a good glazier to cut laminated glass to fit, and, preferably, get the same person to measure, cut, supply and fit it, to avoid responsibility squabbles. It is just over a quarter of an inch thick and quite heavy. It is usually fitted to single-glazed windows, IIRC you can order double-glazed units to be made but they will be expensive. You could probably get secondary glazing with laminate, it is fitted to politician's houses as bullet resistant, but not common.

Some plastic window frames are fundamentally insecure.

I would expect a competent glazier to have no trouble fitting single-glazed laminate to an original, sturdy wooden window frame, preferably non-opening. An established local glazier would be more familiar with what's around than I am.

Ordinary safety glass as fitted to patio doors can very easily and quietly be broken with the right tool.

an example of a PIR movement sensor

an example of a sensor that detects when a door or window is opened

an example of a security light that turns on when it detects movement

an inexpensive wired kit

We have bars at work. If I was choosing (or for home) I'd go for the sort of shutters my sis has in spain- they are integral to the window unit, rolling down external to the glass.

It'd stop the toe rags shooting small holes in the windows with , presumably the gravel from the courtyard .... sigh.

We don't own the building though.

Pigleyjohn is right with "some window frames are inherently insecure" Our back window was simply removed from the frame when we were burgled years ago. I assume the unit was installed the wring way round- argh!

with a wooden frame, the glass can be fixed with spongy adhesive glazing tape, plus a bead, which forms a good seal and is very wearisome to remove, even with the right tools.

I think all modern plastic windows are glazed from inside, but plastic is weak and flexible.