Windows are often seen as the weakest point of your home and the structure through which thieves and burglars are most likely to enter. Glass, after all, is easier to break through than layers of cinder blocks and siding. When you choose sliding windows for your home, it’s especially likely that you’re worried about security. Some Cincinnati home owners worry that someone could slide the window open from the outside and gain access to the home. But while sliding windows are somewhat more break-in prone than other window styles, there are ways to work around this. Keep these considerations about sliding windows and security in mind as you make your window replacement decision.
When your sliding window is closed, a mechanism embedded in the frame does lock it in place. As long as you remember to lock the window when you close it, someone outside should not be able to slide the window open unless they actually break the locking mechanism. Of course, they can still gain access by breaking the glass, too, but this elevates the level of the crime to breaking and entering. Many burglars are willing to enter a home after sliding a half-open window open, but they draw the line at actually breaking and entering because the punishment can be much more serious.
While you could place large sliding windows on your Cincinnati home, larger windows are typically fixed or double-hung windows. Sliding windows are typically smaller and placed further up a wall, such as above a counter. They are often too small for an average adult to fit through, at least without causing a huge scene and alerting a neighbor to their presence. Keep in mind that only one side of the sliding window can be open at a time, so the space a person would have to fit through would be half the width of the full window.
If you’re particularly concerned or live in a neighborhood with higher crime rates, you can take some additional precautions to make your sliding windows more secure. One simple idea is to place a rod inside the window frame, bracing it against the closed window and the side of the frame so that nobody can push the window open. Some homeowners opt to have bars placed over their windows, and installing a security alarm that alerts the police if a replacement window is broken is always a good choice.
Gliding or sliding windows and security can be enjoyed simultaneously. This style of window allows for plenty of ventilation, is easy to open and close, and looks lovely in both modern and traditional homes. Explore the sliding window options for your Cincinnati home with Renewal by Andersen. We offer free in-home consultations to show you more about our wide selection of exterior and interior colors, as well as glass choices for our sliding windows, call us today at (866) 609-5033.
