Securing sliding door

[Steve]

In our new house we have a metal framed double glazed sliding patio door and I want to beef up its security. It is fairly old and solely relies on a single hook lock into the frame, with just a metal plate held in by one screw for the hook to go into. Not great. The lock is also upside down, and can feel like it has locked but hasn't. Dodgy.

The obvious method is a lump of wood in the bottom track, but thats a none starter because the opening leaf is on the outside!

I had thought about a lump of notched wood between the handle and a hook or bracket on the frame of the inner leaf, but this will look terrible.

The door will be removed next year when we build an extension but we will be living there in the time being. Any ideas?

 

[Gazman16]

http://www.handlestore.com/p15-patio-door-lock?gclid=CITajaiq788CFROeGwodRrsJ-A#83=94

You can probably get them cheaper on ebay. One top and one bottom

 

[Steve]

Seen those before, not a bad idea. Any reason I can't use a standard door bolt for cheapness? I know it'll look rough but the doors aren't exactly pretty.

 

[Gazman16]

Probably although insurance may be dodgy in the even of a break in.
If you want super cheap you could just screw it shut or some sort of bolt with a thumb turn. Pilot hole through the frame and screw/bolt into the door sash.

 

[JohnD]

Your insurance may well say (mine does) "doors fitted with metal key-operated locks top and bottom....... keys removed" and, for windows, how many you need according to window size

You can hang the keys on a cuphook, away from the window and out of sight and reach of an intruder. If you habitually put your window keys on the architrave of the room door, your family will know where to find them. It is quite convenient to have them all operated by the same key... and to keep a key in every room, and the spare keys in a cupboard.

I thought the ones in the link above are unusually expensive, but on checking, they seem dearer than I remember. DIY sheds often sell multipacks of window and door security. May also be listed as Patio Bolt.

examples
http://www.wilko.com/search?q=patio+lock&=Search
is a very low price

http://www.wickes.co.uk/search?text=patio+bolt

http://www.screwfix.com/p/smith-locke-patio-door-lock-white/7056p?_requestid=651304

http://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/...ndow_security/1311/era_patio_door_lock/926220

the ERA one is pretty good, you may find it on ebay. They also make a key-locking bolt.

 

[John D v2.0]

A bit late, but we had exactly this, only the existing lock hook was broken so it was basically unlocked all the time. Ours slide both leaves, so we did the block of wood on the inside, and drilled some holes top and bottom on the inside of the outer leaf for a pair of push in locks. Worked well for the year, now it's basically not part of the outside of the house any more.