You want every aspect of your property to be secure, and that includes any outdoor space you happen to have. Preventing criminals from entering your property via the garden and keeping sheds and garages secure is incredibly important to any homeowner, so choosing the right method of security is key to strike the balance between keeping your garden attractive while also secure.
Luckily, there are plenty of high quality garden security products to choose from to improve your garden security. In this guide, we’ll look at how to stop intruders in your garden with clever security systems and which products to choose to improve garden security.
Potential risks to your garden security
The first step to improving your garden gate security is to carry out a risk assessment of your garden, so you can see where your security needs improving. Look at your garden in the same way that a potential thief will look at it so you can spot the vulnerable areas and the defences you have in place. Is there open access to the back garden via a side path? Are there tools and gardening equipment on view? Are there low fences and walls that would be easy to climb over?
If you already have a garden gate, assess who has a key to it and could potentially gain access. If you’ve just moved in, it may be the case that the previous owners or tenants still have old keys to your garden gate lock which poses a potential security risk. Replacing this with a new lock, ideally one which is keyless, will remove the risk of someone finding the key and being able to access your garden.
The next step to this is to check whether your garden gate lock in good condition or if it is rusty and damaged, which makes it easier to break into. It may even be the case that someone tried to break into it previously, leaving it less than secure now due to the damage.
You also need to look at other areas of your garden that could pose a security risk. Are there hedges and shrubs around your garden, or fencing that offers additional protection against someone breaking in, or are there areas that leave access wide open to your home and garden?
Types of garden gate
The materials your garden gate is made from will determine the best type of garden gate lock for your needs. The most common materials are metal and wood, each of which has its own benefits and drawbacks to consider.
Metal gates
A metal security gate is naturally stronger and won’t need any reinforcement, unlike a wooden gate, so they’re a great option if you want a high security solution. There are also numerous designs and styles to choose from, to suit your style of home.
It’s also important to choose a style that has the top hinge pins reversed, which will make it harder to lift off the post. Metal gates are ideal for front gardens, preventing people from accessing your property from the road and ensuring that only authorised people can enter.
Wooden gates
Wooden gates are classic and beautiful to look at, and can come in the form of a ledged and braced gate or a framed, ledged and braced gate. Choosing a wooden gate with a mortice and tenon joint gives you additional security from forced entry, especially if you choose a thicker gate that offers strength and durability.
Wooden gates are versatile, suitable for any home and they’re affordable. You do need to maintain the wood with a treatment every year to prevent rotting and damage, but they can also be painted and stained to suit your preference. Fitting a garden gate closer will help to keep the gate shut at all times and works brilliantly for back gardens or as a secure side gate, particularly when paired with a high security front garden gate.
With both types of gate, you need to balance whether you want a solid door or a panelled door which has openings and gaps in it. A solid door offers more protection but also offers somewhere for burglars to hide behind, and vice versa – a gate with gaps makes it easier to see if someone is behind the door, but it may make your garden more vulnerable.
Garden gates come in various styles, and while these offer countless aesthetic options, there are actually ways to combine style with security. For example, a vertical style of boarding for wooden gates, such as feather boarding, makes your gate more secure from break-ins because there aren’t any foot or hand holds, and it offers privacy from passers-by.
Choosing a secure garden gate lock
Whichever style of gate you have, choosing the right gate locks is the best way to ensure your garden is secure. There are various styles of garden gate lock to choose from to improve your gate security:
Keypad lock – Keypad gate locks remove the need for keys and use a unique passcode instead which you input into the keypad. This code is usually numerical and you can set it to a code that you’ll remember, so there’s no worry of being locked out because you’ve left your key at home or lost it. Keypad locks can be fitted to any type of gate material or style, so they’re versatile too.
Double sided gate lock – You’ll find many gate locks are only fitted to one side of the gate, but that can make it inconvenient to use if you’re on the opposite side of the lock. A double-sided gate lock is a popular solution that grants you access from both sides of your gate.
Gate lock with handle – A lock with a handle is a convenient option that many homeowners choose, as they can be fitted to gates of any style or material. They’re simple but effective, securing your garden well. These locks also have a keypad for keyless entry.
Gate closers – Hydraulic gate closers such as the GC200 gate closer (and the companion TB175 model) are great for gate weights up to 150 kg and widths of 0.8 to 2 metres, such as side gates or driveway gates, ensuring the gate stays shut at all times while still being easy to open. These are easy to install and work well with all types of gate, especially wooden gates. For a deeper explanation of why gate closers are essential for any gate lock installation, see our dedicated guide covering the interaction between closing hardware and locking mechanisms.
Remember that locks aren’t just for gates in your garden. If you have a shed or garage on your property, installing a high security lock on the doors of these buildings will help to keep your belongings safe from theft and prevents a criminal from using the tools and items you have as a way of breaking into your home. Securing these areas, which often house expensive items, is critical to keeping your garden safe and protected.
It’s recommended that you choose a minimum of two locks for your gates, such as a primary lock and then an additional bolt at the top of the gate which you can lock when you’re out of the house.
Security bars are also a way of adding an extra security measure without spending a fortune. These bars are bolted at one side with a padlock latch so that the door is locked in place and can’t be opened even when the door is unlocked for added peace of mind. They’re easy to install and give that extra level of security and strength to your gate.
Additional security measures
Alongside a secure garden gate, there are other garden security ideas you can use to prevent unwanted access to your garden and property to keep your home safe and secure. Automating your garden lighting is an effective way to deter criminals as they often use the darkness to hide – if you have a motion sensor light, it will deter them from coming into your garden because they’ll choose a darker location instead.
It’s also worth looking into garden fence security too, such as tall wooden fencing or thorny shrubs and hedges which will discourage a potential burglar. The higher the fence, the more difficult it will be for someone to climb over. Police advise that your fence should be at least 2 metres tall for sufficient protection. You also need to ensure that your fences are the same height as your gate so that they can’t be jumped over and opened from the other side.
If you have brick walls in your garden, these tend to be around waist height at most, so you may need to add a new border to improve security. Gravel driveways and paths also make it harder for someone to walk through unnoticed, so they’re a great deterrent to keep your garden secure.
One of the most popular options for securing a property is a CCTV camera which can be placed on the perimeter of the property to monitor any activity and decrease the chances of your home being a target for criminals. Installing a smart camera will ensure you can see what’s going on 24/7 from your phone. Lastly, installing a garden security alarm is an easy way to deter thieves and criminals from trying to access your home.
Contact us
If you’re looking for high quality locks and Gate Closers to improve your garden security, look no further than Lockey Digital. We specialise in exceptional locks and take pride in delivering a fantastic customer experience. Contact our team today to learn more about our products.
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Common vulnerabilities
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