Garage Door Security: Weak Points and Simple Fixes

Many people lock the front door every night and never think about the garage, even though it is usually the biggest opening in the house. A commonly cited figure puts about 9% of burglaries as entries through the garage door. You do not need to take that number as gospel to see the point: an overhead door that is easy to open, easy to see into or easy to fool deserves some attention.

The usual weak points

Break-ins through a garage rarely involve anything dramatic. They use a few known weaknesses, and most are simple to close once you know what they are. Walk around your own garage with this list and see how many apply.

• The emergency release cord, the red rope with a handle that hangs from the opener rail
• An older fixed-code opener or remote that can be copied
• Windows in the door that show tools, bikes and the car
• Gaps at the top or sides of a worn door
• A remote clipped to the visor of a car parked in the driveway
• The door between the garage and the house left unlocked

The emergency release cord

The release cord exists so you can open the door by hand during a power outage. On some homes, a thief can pry the top of the door open just enough to slip a wire hook inside and pull that cord, which disengages the opener. With the door free of the motor, it lifts by hand. Two things help. A cord cover or shield makes the handle hard to snag, and a door with tight, intact top seals leaves less of a gap to work through. If your door has gaps up there, that is worth a repair.

Old openers and remotes

A rolling-code opener changes its signal on every use, so a captured code is worthless the next time. Older fixed-code openers send the same signal every time, which is why they are easier to copy. If your opener predates rolling-code technology, upgrading it is one of the most useful security steps available. Integrity Overhead Door installs and repairs LiftMaster openers, including models that can report the door's status to your phone, so you can see whether it was left open.

Habits that cost nothing

• Take the remote out of the car, or use a keypad code and change it from time to time
• Keep a deadbolt on the interior door to the house and use it
• When you travel, use the door's manual lock or the opener's lock feature
• Add motion-activated lighting to the driveway
• Do not leave the door open while you work in the yard and wander away

Privacy and visibility

Windows are a nice feature on a carriage-style or full-view glass door, but they also let anyone walking by see what is parked inside. If you do not want to advertise a garage full of tools, frosted, tinted or higher windows solve it. Ask about window layouts and glass options when you choose a door, because it is much easier to pick privacy up front than to fix it later. If you already have clear windows, a privacy film is a simple fix. Even a shelf or cabinet placed so the best tools sit below window height helps, and it costs nothing.

When the door itself is the weak point

A door with a dented section, a bent track or a torn seal is easier to defeat than a sound one. Hinges that have pulled loose and rollers that are worn can let a door flex enough to open a gap. Commercial buildings have an added option in the form of rolling security grilles and steel service doors, which suit storefronts and shops where visibility matters during business hours. A shop owner in Rogers or Bentonville with a roll-up door facing the street should check the lock hardware and the bottom bar as part of the same walk-around, since a bent bar or a worn latch is an invitation.

We repair garage doors of all brands, and we can look at gaps, seals, hinges and opener settings in one visit. If the door is past the point where repair makes sense, we install Clopay doors in steel, wood and carriage-house styles. First-time customers get 10% off their first garage door repair, which cannot be combined with other offers and needs to be mentioned at the time of service.

If you want a second set of eyes on your garage door, call (479) 238-2493 or request a quote through this site.