Garages contain our cars, which means that they hold some of our most prized possessions. However, garage and garage door security is an issue to which homeowners give little thought. There are many things you can do to protect your garage and the contents inside of it. In this article, we’ve listed DIY home improvements and major home upgrades that can help you enhance your garage door security.
Light the Area Around Your Garage
At night, intruders can hide on your property if the lawn and perimeter of the house are in shadow. You can help prevent this from happening by installing a motion-activated light over the garage door. Have this work done by a professional electrician.
Cut Back on Shrubs that Can Conceal People
Someone who wants to break into your garage might start by hiding in the shrubs nearby. From this vantage point, they can assess any weaknesses on your property and may be able to identify valuable items they want to take. Trim your shrubs to make it difficult for anyone to hide under them, or remove the shrubs around the perimeter of your garage entirely.
Keep Your Garage Door Opener In Your Home, Not Your Car
Many people are in the habit of keeping a garage door opener inside a car. If the car is broken into, the intruder will get the garage door opener, and thus will have easy entry into the garage itself.
Take your garage door opener into your house with you at night, or keep it in your purse, if you carry one. Never leave your garage door opener in your car.
Install a Garage Door with Frosted Windows
Garage door windows give people the ability to see in, which makes the garage more vulnerable to intruders. Frosted windows allow light to enter the garage without giving anyone the ability to see what’s inside. If you already have a garage with non-frosted windows, ask your garage door repair person about how you can have the glass replaced.
If you are installing a new garage door, ask your garage door contractor about frosted windows. Most contractors provide these options when the door is being purchased.
Install an Automatic Garage Door Opener
Garage door openers hold garage doors shut and prevent them from being opened manually. An old door that does not have an automatic garage door opener can likely be opened at any time. If your garage door does not have an opener attached, have an opener retrofitted on your door. Schedule a consultation with your garage door contractor to find out if this would be possible to do.
There are many reasons to install an automatic garage door opener on your garage door. Garage security is just one of those reasons. At Overhead Door of Oklahoma City, we can help you decide whether it’s time to upgrade your garage and install an opener. Call today to find out more.
