Posts Tagged ‘home security’

How to Fit Your Own Home Security Camera

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

If like many people, you are concerned about home security you may want to consider getting a security camera system set up. These will in the first instance dissuade intruders from setting foot on your property as they will be able to see that they are being recorded. They will also of course record footage if any who does gain access to your home and aid in their identification and arrest. This takes your homes security a good step further than secure locking on doors and reinforced UPVC Windows.

If you already have an alarm system fitted to your main doors and windows, and maybe even have motion detectors set up with different zones for the interior, you will probably be best contacting whoever fitted these for you and getting them to integrate a camera system into your current set up. It is always recommended where possible, to get a professional to install security systems and equipment for you, to ensure it works properly, but understandably these can be expensive.

If however you just want a camera for security and want to do it yourself, here are some tips:

The key thing to get right when fitting a home security camera is to put it in the right location.

Firstly, there are privacy laws in place in the UK which mean you have to ensure that your camera doesn’t look inadvertently into your neighbour’s house or garden. With this in mind the best place to put your camera is facing the most important areas of your property; namely towards your front and back doors, your Conservatory or your garage or driveway. Be sure not to miss any blind spots or other vulnerable points on your property.

Once you have this sorted you need to decide where to fix the camera to your property. It is crucial that your camera is high enough that an intruder can’t just reach up and knock it off or cover it. Having said this you also want them to be able to see it in plain view as it should be as much worth as a deterrent as it is for recording anything that happens.

Finally, when you have chosen the right spot on the wall and decided which way it will be facing, you will need to be sure you can get power and video cables to it. Best thing to do is to check you have enough cable to reach your recording source before you actually attach your camera. If this is going to be an issue, you may need to splash out on a slightly more expensive wireless camera.

One final note: you may want to check with your local police before you finish, ensuring you aren’t breaking any privacy laws, and with a security firm to make sure you have done everything properly when you’re done.

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What Should You Look For When Buying New Windows?

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

Windows are everywhere: from the windows on your home, to the windows on your car and even the windows into your place of work, we are surrounded by glass (or what looks like glass) and a seemingly never ending range of frames, mechanisms and blinds. So when you come to buy some new windows for your home, how are you supposed to know what you need or even what you want when there is such a huge choice?

While you may be wise to go down to a reputable company’s showroom, to give yourself a bit of a head start, here is a quick round up of what you should keep an eye out for:

Security

Security is a concern for most people, no matter where they live, especially with windows being the No.1 entry method of criminals carrying out a robbery or home invasion. So when you shop for your windows make sure that they have a very high security rating. Ideal Windows and conservatories windows for example come with a BSI Nova Kite mark, meaning they are proven to be effective beyond the highest security testing standards.

Frame

When choosing a frame, as soon as you are satisfied with the security rating, you should be thinking about frames. Most companies offer a range of finishes which will work with your properties colouring and setting. These should come in materials such as aluminium, hardwood and UPVC. UPVC Windows for instance are particularly strong and durable. In some cases you can even get these materials in a range of colours. Say you have a red brick house you will be able to get a hardwood frame with a black or white finish to compliment your naturally red bricks.

Glass

Glass is of course the main feature of your window. You should be looking at Double Glazing Prices at the very least. Though it is possible to find triple and even quadruples glazed windows in particularly cold climates. Ask what gas is held in the gap, as having an Argon gas filling helps greatly with your insulation. Also, with a transparent metallic film built into the glass you will be able to cut out much of the harmful rays the sun can deliver. Ask about these things when researching.

Noise

One of the best things about double glazing is that it has natural noise reducing qualities. Explore the level of noise reduction your windows offer you.

Cleaning

With such great advances in window technology of late, most new windows are now particularly easy to clean. If you live in a flat, not on the ground floor and don’t want a window that swings inwards, you would benefit from finding windows that require little cleaning. Some even clean themselves!

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Top 3 Ways Your Home Can Save You Money

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

With Chancellor George Osborne’s ‘Big Decision’ still echoing in our ears, there are more reasons than ever to make an effort to save money. Many people in the UK will, as of 2013, be facing life with diminished benefits and need to plan in advance to absorb this loss of income. It is expected that of the millions of people who earn at a certain level and above a large percentage will face this loss so you may well be one of them, even if you don’t claim benefits at present.

Luckily you have a tool with which to save yourself money now so that you don’t miss the loss of cash in the future. Your home is a great asset; here is how Ideal Windows and conservatories can help you make the most of it:

Insulation

There are a number of ways you can insulate your home better so that you reduce the amount of money you spend every month on heating costs. Badly or insufficiently insulated homes can lose a massive amount of heat and therefore money. Replacing all your older single glazed windows with UPVC Windows or another type of double glazing will help keep your heat indoors. Also, if you have a Conservatory, this can be a massive heat drain if it is badly insulated. Looking at modern conservatory designs in comparison to your own can help you assess how badly insulated yours is and help you decide if a conservatory over haul could help your energy costs.

Increase in Value

Having Garage Conversions carried out has helped many people increase the value of their homes in the UK. Many houses were built as standard with a garage as at the time, car body work needed to be better protected and car security was limited. Now that it is safe to keep our cars outside, garages are growing cluttered and dusty and are ripe for conversion into extra bedrooms, new art spaces, offices and giant kitchens. Increasing the value of your home now

Security

Protect your money by protecting your home. Home security is something we take very seriously which is why all our windows, doors and conservatories come with an advanced security specification. We recommend any Double Glazing Repairs are carried out as soon as any accidents occur. As well as improving the quality of your entry points you should remember to never leave your keys in plain sight, make sure all your valuables are insured and get to know your neighbours, if their house is insecure and becomes a target, chances are you may be next in line.

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Security for Your Home should be a Priority

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Currently, when you turn on the television or open your local newspaper you can see an amazing spectacle unfolding – like the World Cup – while in the same moment being confronted with any one of a number of terrifying events featuring criminals from around the country. While these can be scary times it is good to remind yourself that these are extremely rare events which only seem like they happen more regularly because the media is so good and so quick at reporting every detail and keeping it exciting to keep you tuning in and buying newspapers.

However, one should always keep home security at the fore front of our minds when we have the opportunity to make home improvements. There are many ways in which you can improve the security of your home, some more expensive than others.

Replace Windows and Doors

How do criminals gain access to your home? Unless you live in a bank or have a collection of rare Faberge eggs, it is not likely that anyone will want to tunnel into your house, so to stop anyone dead in their tracks you should make sure that you have good, strong windows and doors and that you have any brakes or damage replaced or repaired as soon as possible.

Keep Valuables Out of Sight

This may be tricky if you have an antique grand piano in your front room but in general it is advisable to make sure that even if you are at home, that you try to keep any valuables you are not using out of sight. This way, any opportunistic thieves will have no inspiration to even consider trying to gain access to your home. This goes for car keys too. A large proportion of car thefts these days are through keys being stolen from the house.

Broken Window Theory

The theory goes that in a place where buildings are allowed to fall into disrepair, those looking for somewhere to rob or vandalise are more likely to target places which it seems people don’t care about. With this in mind, for security it is advisable to keep your property in as good state of repair as you can manage. So next time you put off getting your missing roof tiles replaced. Think of the broken window theory.

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