Wire Glass is a glass window that has wire mesh embedded in it. These windows will break just as easily as traditional windows but the mesh will keep the majority of pieces in place, and makes it much harder to find an opening.
Breaking windows has never been a popular MO for burglars; however, these days, criminals who want to get into your house will do whatever it takes, including smashing windows. Typically, they didn’t break windows because it’s a very noisy process, so they focused on trying to pry windows open instead. Sometimes, though, burglars would stick a piece of duct tape to the window pane, smash it, and carefully pull the tape and the pieces away to reveal a hole. If you have done everything else to make your home more secure, including installing a security system, one of the last layers of protection you can install is to change the glass in your windows to a material that is less likely to be broken.
Wire Glass
This is a glass window that has wire mesh embedded in it. These windows will break just as easily as traditional windows but the mesh will keep the majority of pieces in place, and makes it much harder to find an opening. This kind of glass is usually seen in businesses, but it would work well for garage and basement windows.
Tempered Glass
This kind of glass is stronger than typical glass; however, it can still be broken if a strong force is used. This is often seen in storefront windows of commercial businesses. A fist is probably not going to break tempered glass, but a hammer, tire iron or other blunt force most likely would.
Plastic Glazing
This kind of window is essentially plastic and is extremely resistant to force that would easily smash typical glass windows. There are two basic kinds of plastic glazing windows, which are acrylic (Plexiglass) and polycarbonate (Lexan). Acrylic windows will not break if a rock hits it, but it would break if hit by a hammer or tire iron. Polycarbonate, on the other hand, will not break at all. It is very expensive, but it will not give in to heat, hammers, flames, picks, axes or extreme cold. The downside to plastic windows is that they are easily scratched and they can become discolored in the sunlight.
Laminated Glass
This kind of glass is found in vehicle windows and is made by sandwiching a plastic sheet between two layers of glass. When hit, the glass will break, but the plastic will keep it from falling out of the frame. This is the most secure kind of glass, but it is also much more expensive. Because of its special installation needs, you will have to hire an expert to install laminated glass panes for you.
Once you have your home security system installed and you have secured your doors and windows with locks, the next step is to upgrade your window panes by changing out the ordinary glass to one of the above options. It might seem like overkill, but when it comes to the safety of your family, you can’t go too far.
Window Treatment Advice for Casement Windows
Many older homes in the United States feature casement windows, which are typically deep-set and open outward. The nice thing about these windows is that there are deep window sills, which allow homeowners to display items in front of the window.
Packing Simplified
Begin packing by boxing up the clothes you aren’t currently wearing because they are out of season. You won’t miss these clothes because you won’t need them until the seasons change. Then, you can start packing up the other items you know you will not need until you move into your new house.
Lighting and Home Security
The kind of lighting you should have at your home is that which is activated by motion. There is certainly no need to have your exterior lights on at all times of the day and night. It is far better to have your home lights automatically turn on when a sensor detects movement.
