How to start with your DIY Home Security Setup
‘Do it yourself’ Home security is an interesting and inviting concept. You being the best person to analyze the security requirements of your home, can plan, design and implement the security system set up. But most people beginning with DIY home security meet a dead end somewhere down the line. Others end up with a security setup with lots of loopholes. So, before you rush to the nearest security gadgets store and start ordering, it is extremely important that you have a well detailed plan on paper.
The Plan
When you plan the security in your home, start by dividing your home into two areas, the outdoor and the indoor and then focus on each area individually. Let us first look at indoor home security.
Indoor home security
Indoor home security begins with the door and includes any possible entry point into the home. Doors today come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and designs. Some of the sturdier wooden doors of yesteryear have been replaced by fancier looking models that are weaker. The ideal thickness for your doors should be 1 ¾ “at least. Also ensure that the door is a tight fit and there isn’t much space between it and the door jam. Another security enhancement for door is to install a safety wrought iron door before the main wooden door. You can also install electronic security alarms on your main doors. So, if someone attempts to fiddle with the lock or to drill holes into the door, a loud alarm will sound.
Once you secure the door, its time to move on to the windows. Windows are the easiest and the most chosen way by burglars to break into a home. One of the best ways to prevent a break in via windows is to install a metal grill. If you do not wish to install a metal grill for aesthetic reasons, then you can replace the glass windows with break resistant plastic. Replace ordinary window locks with high quality tamper proof locks and use magnetic sensors.
Add ons
Once you have the doors and windows covered, you have already won half the war. There are many more devices like motion sensors, CCTV cameras and duress alarm systems that you can use to protect your home. In the next article, we will look at securing the exterior of your home.
