It’s now more important than ever before to feel that we have a safe and secure place to call our own. The saying “your home is your castle” rings so true as we deal with so much uncertainty. Whether you’re out for the day or away on a longer trip, you want peace of mind knowing your home and possessions are secure.
When it comes to thinking about security, homeowners often focus on their windows and doors, and forget about the critical importance of their garage door. The garage door is the biggest opening into your home, so you want to make sure that it’s fully secure.
A damaged or old garage door may have components or systems that leave you vulnerable. A modern garage door can enhance your overall home protection plan, and help keep you, your family, and your belongings safe.
The Importance of Garage Doors in Home Security
Many homeowners overlook the fact that garage doors are a common target for burglars. Garage doors that have outdated systems, are not strong or well-made, or have weaker locks, are often targeted. Once in your garage, thieves can gain entry to the main part of your house without anyone seeing them do so.
Burglars target homes that have weak spots, so it makes sense to take all steps to make sure your home does not stand out for the wrong reasons. A new door with modern security will help to deter criminals and keep your space protected.
Advanced Locking Mechanisms
Your garage door’s locking mechanism is a critical element of your home’s security. Advanced options such as smart locks work perfectly with your smart home systems or mobile phone, allowing you to precisely control who has access to your space.
Automatic deadbolts, which are stronger than standard locks, add another layer of protection as they are immediately activated when the door closes. With rolling code technology, access code changes with each use of the remote, preventing potential criminals from reusing an intercepted signal.
Integration with Smart Home Systems
When you replace a traditional garage door opener with a modern one, you can integrate it fully with your smart home systems. In addition to being able to monitor the garage door from your smartphone or tablet, you’ll receive real-time alerts any time the door is unexpectedly opened. You’ll also be able to open or close the door remotely.
Integration with your smart home system also allows you to use voice commands via Alexa, Google, Apple or Siri to control the garage door. Your smart home system will also let you set up schedules, and even weather-activated actions like opening the door partially on days of extreme heat.
Security Lighting and Surveillance
When you install a modern garage door system, you are getting a fully-integrated hub for stronger home security. One key area of development is the inclusion of built-in security lighting. LED lights that are motion-activated can be mounted on or near the door, and will be activated by motion near driveways or entry points.
Surveillance can also be enhanced via the use of Wi-Fi-enabled cameras that offer live video feeds and can broadcast real-time alerts via paired smartphone apps. These cameras, which have become standard on many modern doors, can also feature two-way audio and night vision.
Material and Structural Integrity
The material and structural integrity of today’s modern garage doors help improve the security of your home. Newer doors are often built using high-tensile aluminum, reinforced steel, or heavy-duty composite panels. These materials are resistant to attempts at forced entry.
Structural integrity is also enhanced by garage doors that have multi-layer designs, with insulation between steel sheets. Steel struts and bottom brackets that are tamper-resistant improve durability and prevent a door from being pried open easily.
Regular Maintenance and Inspections
Our modern garage door systems include rolling code systems, motion sensors, and smart technology. These high-tech doors have to be properly maintained, or they can become vulnerable.
You should schedule regular maintenance and inspections to ensure all the high-tech systems and the mechanical parts are working as they should. Doing a visual check each month to see if there are any gaps or loose hardware is also a good idea.
Insurance Benefits
The enhanced security features of modern garage door systems make it more difficult for potential intruders or burglars to enter the home through the garage. Rolling code systems block code grabbers, and real-time alerts let you see what’s going on no matter where you are.
With these upgrades, insurance companies may offer policy discounts to those homeowners who have installed high-security garage door systems.
Upgrading to a modern garage door system is a smart move for better security, peace of mind, and potential insurance benefits. These solutions offer improved materials and structural integrity, and come with high-tech protection and options for smart home system integration. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you have done everything you can to make your home more secure.