Replacing Your Home Windows? Here’s When It Makes Sense to Go Bulletproof
Article Summary
- High-security windows offer better protection against ballistic threats and forced entry than regular windows.
- Replacing old windows is an opportunity to upgrade your home’s overall security.
- Windows on the ground floor are easier to break into and should be replaced with better protection.
- Security windows provide energy efficiency and protection without sacrificing aesthetics.
Replacing Your Home Windows? Here’s When It Makes Sense to Go Bulletproof
Replacing your windows is the best time to reassess your home’s safety. While standard windows are affordable and energy-efficient, they are not designed to stop burglars, bullets, or malicious attempts against your life and property.
On the other hand, high-security windows are designed to stop intruders, ballistic attacks, and other threats from gaining access to your property. But is this type of window for you?
This article by Shield Security Doors will help you understand the benefits of bullet-resistant windows, when to purchase them, and what to consider before buying them to improve security.
Signs it’s time to replace your current windows
Older windows typically show clear signs they are no longer functioning at their best. In addition to creating discomfort and wasting energy, older windows with performance issues can potentially pose security risks. For example, a window with a broken lock can create an entry point for unwanted guests.
These common symptoms of failure include:
- Drafts: Air entering through the sides of the window frames due to worn seals or deteriorated parts of the window.
- Condensation: Condensation between glass panes indicates a failed seal, often leading to a loss of thermal insulation.
- Faulty locks: When the mechanism used to secure windows does not work properly, it creates an easily exploitable security risk.
If your window already needs replacing, you should consider security windows instead of standard ones. This high-security window replacement will fix your current performance issues while also improving your home’s resistance to forced entry.
Benefits of High-Security Windows in a Home
While many homeowners focus primarily on their alarm systems, and cameras to improve their home’s security, they often overlook windows as a critical element. However, strengthening those windows can greatly improve your home’s overall security.
Here are several ways high-security windows are worthwhile:
1. Better Protection Against Forced Entry
The average window will give way quickly to a physical attack, leaving you with almost no protection. On the other hand, high-security windows have been designed to make breaking into them much more difficult by increasing the strength of the glass (stronger glazing), the frame itself, and the locking mechanisms. These features combine to provide improved security, especially when paired with high-security doors.
2. Added Protection Against Ballistic Threats
Some high-security windows can defend against ballistic attacks. Rather than standard glass panes, this security installation uses specialized glass designs designed to reduce penetration by certain types of projectiles. Therefore, if you feel there may be a ballistic threat to your safety, such as a shooting incident, this will serve as an additional layer of protection.
3. Fewer Weak Points Around Your Home
There’s little value in having a highly fortified entrance door but poorly secured windows. A comprehensive security plan requires all components of your exterior walls to function together. By securing vulnerable areas around your windows, you can enhance consistent security across your home’s exterior walls and protect each opening equally.
4. Greater Resistance to Impact
High-security glass has greater physical resilience than regular glass used in residential windows. Depending on the type of high-security glass chosen, it can withstand more forceful impacts from intruder tools and heavier objects. Therefore, the likelihood of a window being broken quickly decreases substantially, increasing safety and security during any physical attempt to break in.
5. Improved Security Without Losing Your Home’s Style
High-security glass does not have to compromise the style or aesthetic appeal of your home. Our Shield Window is available in a variety of styles to suit almost every architectural design and window configuration. In other words, you can find the right design that complements your home’s aesthetics while boosting home window security.
What “Bulletproof Windows” Actually Mean
“Bulletproof windows” means much more than a thick piece of glass. Instead, they include a specialized glass engineered to withstand heavy threats, including ballistic impacts and physical attacks.
In terms of performance specifications, security windows at Shield Security Doors meet UL 3 (handgun) and UL 8 (rifle) standards, as well as sledgehammer-resistant standards. While glass is an important component of high-security windows, it accounts for only half of the overall design.
High-security windows typically feature a reinforced frame and multi-point locking systems to reduce the possibility of unauthorized access into the building. When combined, these two elements offer a significant improvement over traditional residential windows in providing defense against both ballistic and physical threats.
When It Actually Makes Sense to Go With High-Security Windows
High-security Windows are not necessary for every home. Choosing the right option depends on the property’s location, window accessibility, and the level of protection your household wants to achieve.
Your Area Has Elevated Security Risks
The first step to determining if high-security Windows will be a good option for you is to assess local security concerns. For example, areas where burglary rates rise in the summer need improved protection. Investing in stronger glazing or additional reinforcing mechanisms in your window system can raise your defense against break-ins and even shots fired.
Your Windows Are on the Ground Floor and Easily Accessible
Windows in the ground-floor area can be viewed much more easily by someone outside a home than those on the top floors. In addition to serving as a barrier against unwanted entry, high-security windows offer a second layer of protection that may be needed in homes where a burglar could more easily reach a window.
You Have Young Children at Home
While high-security glass is intended to secure your home, it also provides an added advantage in homes with kids. The more durable glass resists shattering upon impact, thereby reducing the potential harm from shards of glass caused by accidents during play or other household activities.
Aesthetic and practical trade-offs homeowners should know about
While the focus is on safety, homeowners need to consider the glazing’s aesthetic value, weight, and potential adverse effects on energy performance. Fortunately, with today’s technology, security windows are available in many designs, allowing homeowners to meet their aesthetic preferences without sacrificing functionality.
Will Bulletproof Glass Affect Natural Light or Appearance?
While security glazing is typically thicker and more complex than standard residential glazing, this does not have to mean the windows look less appealing than residential ones. In fact, Shield Security Doors manufactures bulletproof windows that do not compromise on style, providing a professional balance between security and beauty.
Consider the Additional Weight
High-security glass is generally heavier than traditional residential glass due to both its construction complexity and the presence of protective elements. However, added weight does not mean difficulty to operate. Shield windows utilize hardware that make them just as easy to open and close as regular non-security windows. That added weight should be taken into account from a structural perspective, but the functional impact is minimal. When properly engineered, this process allows the window to operate effectively while providing necessary levels of security and protection.
Security Windows Can Still Provide Thermal Insulation
Energy efficiency while maintaining interior security is still possible. IGUs (insulated glass units), which have argon-filled air gaps, provide better thermal performance than non-insulated windows. By using these units in exterior windows, homeowners can incorporate improved thermal performance and enhanced security glazing into their window systems.
Maintaining Bulletproof Glass Windows
Although they are made of a much stronger material than typical home windows, bullet proof windows for house do not require a completely new cleaning method compared to normal residential windows.
Shield Security Doors uses glass-clad polycarbonate: 1/4-inch (6 mm) tempered glass on the outer layer and bullet-resistant polycarbonate on the inner layer, allowing you to clean the outer surface just like conventional glass.
Is Cleaning Different?
For daily care of your windows, you may clean the outer surface of the shield security door using standard window-cleaning techniques. However, when cleaning these windows, please make sure you read and follow all manufacturer-recommended procedures. Also, to protect both the glazing and the finish of your windows, use non-abrasive cleaners.
How Long Do They Last?
The lifespan of bulletproof windows in a house depends on the type of glazing used, how well the frame was installed, weather exposure, and proper maintenance. While high-security bulletproof windows are built as durable long-term systems, they are not necessarily longer-lasting than standard residential windows. However, periodic inspections and proper maintenance can preserve the performance over time.
Shield Security Windows
If you’re going to replace your home’s windows anyway, it makes sense to upgrade to higher-security glass. This window security installation, in addition to its enhanced energy efficiency and appearance, is an excellent way to strengthen a home.
Shield Security Doors designs custom high-security FE/BR doors that can be paired with bulletproof or burglar-resistant windows. When you combine force-entry-resistant doors with the same type of windows, you create a more complete barrier around a house, ultimately boosting your overall home security.
Visit Shield Security Doors today for your complete solution on window and door security!