Non-permanent Garage Door Security

dilatory

I rent and have a garage. The rear door is a new UPVC type and is lockable but the front of the garage door is your typical flimsy metal with wires locking it and a handle in the middle. I have the wires disconnected but wondered if there were any solutions to securing it so I could keep all but the bike I love in there. Even with the handle disconnected it seems possible to open it by pushing at the top / pulling at the bottom.

ElectronShepherd

Might not be an option if your landlord doesn't want you drilling into the concrete in front of the door, but you could consider something like: http://www.amazon.co.uk/PJB-Garage-Defe ... B004ULM18E

Note I've no personal experience of these. Nothing is 100% thief-proof, but something like this might make them try somewhere else that's easier.

frisbee

Might be possible to fit some bolts through the door and the frame if there are suitably aligned holes. Or even just clamp the door to the frame with G clamps.

dilatory

Hm thanks for tips guys. I understand if they wanna get in they can, but I live in a reasonably quiet street with nosy elderly neighbours who are almost always pottering about so as long as it can't quickly and easily be opened I'm happy enough to store the rest of my bikes in there.

pippi_langsamer-2

If it's your standard "up n over", garage door your talking about, my Dad came up with a very simple but effective solution.

He simply drilled a hole thru the metal channels into which the rollers of the door sit and and travel along in the opening and shutting mechanism. These holes are drilled right next to the rollers when the door is in the shut position. All he does then is put a threaded bolt/ screw through the hole and thread a nut onto the screw. This simple obstruction makes it all but impossible to open the door as the rollers can't travel along the channels. They take about 5 secs to put in or take out. You don't even have to thread the nut on very much.

dilatory

Your old man might just be a genius. Going to have a gander tomorrow after work and see if I can do that. I currently have a couple of rape alarms secured on so if the door is opened the pin is pulled and they go off. Coupled with this bolt idea it might just be the cheapest garage security ever!

I've lived here 4 years and had no problems but I know if I put my bikes in there some fuck will randomly break in and steal 'em.

pippi_langsamer-2

Yep, it doesn't even require much overthinking to be effective either. The bolt can just dangle there in the channel, and as long as it's fouling the path of the rollers, there's no way they can get past due to the fairly tight clearances between roller and channel. He drills the hole laterally in the side of the channel, but I guess it would still work if drilled from the top.

fudgey

Unfortunately with up and over doors its pretty easy to get a crow bar etc in and force one side of the door off.

How is the actual wooden frame? Is that sound/secure or rotten etc?

Obv if its rotten then its not going to do much

Do you use the door? If not you can buy long masonry screws that you just drill a 6mm hole and then drive them straight in, no wall plugs etc. so drill through door chanel like above, then through the frame into the brick.

As for the garage door stop posted above, if you suddenly fit one of those, people will know there is something worth nicking inside.

And finally, fit some ground anchors inside to chain the bikes to.

homers_double

As above with the nut/bolt but if you want an even lazier option use a pair of mole grips on each side.

Coach H

Piece of 2x4 (or similar) wedged between floor and top of door

whoof

I used to fit one of these in a rented garage. It's a motion sensor and is very loud. Won't stop anyone getting in but might deter them from staying too long. Also I'm sure I only paid about £10 so shop around.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/compact-pir-alarm-vw62s

lesfirth

I used a pair of G clamps to clamp the door to the side channel. There was enough flex in the channel to take up any gap. This is more solid and secure than a nut and bolt in the channel. Four clamps (2 top and 2 bottom) are even better.

Daz555

Pippi Langsamer wrote:

If it's your standard "up n over", garage door your talking about, my Dad came up with a very simple but effective solution.

He simply drilled a hole thru the metal channels into which the rollers of the door sit and and travel along in the opening and shutting mechanism. These holes are drilled right next to the rollers when the door is in the shut position. All he does then is put a threaded bolt/ screw through the hole and thread a nut onto the screw. This simple obstruction makes it all but impossible to open the door as the rollers can't travel along the channels. They take about 5 secs to put in or take out. You don't even have to thread the nut on very much.

Nice solution but it does not solve the biggest problem with most traditional up and over doors - they are usually fairly flimsy and without too much effort you can easily bend the door at either bottom corner and crawl inside.

fudgey

And they can be popped out the guides very easily.
So nail it to the wall top/middle/bottom either side.
If you dont use the door...

When i done my extension i got an elecric roller shutter from http://www.rollerdor.net but i dont think the OP want to spend £600 on a new door.

shortcuts

Fudgey wrote:

And they can be popped out the guides very easily.
So nail it to the wall top/middle/bottom either side.
If you dont use the door...

When i done my extension i got an elecric roller shutter from http://www.rollerdor.com but i dont think the OP want to spend £600 on a new door.

Interesting link that displays "This page has been reserved for future use"

fudgey

Hmm just googled and its coming up as http://www.rollerdor.net

I am sure it was .com... Oh well, good doors tho!

Go for the RD77.

de_sisti

Pippi Langsamer wrote:

If it's your standard "up n over", garage door your talking about, my Dad came up with a very simple but effective solution.

He simply drilled a hole thru the metal channels into which the rollers of the door sit and and travel along in the opening and shutting mechanism. These holes are drilled right next to the rollers when the door is in the shut position. All he does then is put a threaded bolt/ screw through the hole and thread a nut onto the screw. This simple obstruction makes it all but impossible to open the door as the rollers can't travel along the channels. They take about 5 secs to put in or take out. You don't even have to thread the nut on very much.

Can you post some pics, just so we can get real world view of what it looks like?

dilatory

Thanks all for some great suggestions. If it were up to me I'd probably just block the fucker up and use the back door only. Granted a determined thief will get in but I live in a pretty low crime area and the head neighborhood watch old lady lives next door to me and doesn't miss a trick but I just want to impede chancers. Will give the drilling a bash this weekend. I do always try to park the car right up close to the door too to make it awkward to access.

lesfirth

The rollers are still easily prised out of the track. Get your self some G clamps.

peteco

Daz555 wrote:

Nice solution but it does not solve the biggest problem with most traditional up and over doors - they are usually fairly flimsy and without too much effort you can easily bend the door at either bottom corner and crawl inside.

This is what happened to a work colleague recently. Once inside they undo all the locks etc and open the door.

Pete

ForumNewbie

Hi dilatory, if you live in a low crime area with nosey elderly neighbours and have had no problems for 4 years, I'm a bit surprised you are so concerned about putting your bikes in the garage. I've got the same type of garage door in the same type of area, but do keep my bikes in there as nowhere else to put them. It's obviously good to have better security but wondering why you are just thinking of it now after 4 years without any problems.

dilatory

I've always kept my bikes inside but next year would like to turn the garage into a bit of a man cave complete with bike storage etc. I've taken precautionary measures on the door (the rape alarms) but would like to completely seal off the front door. I've also never really had easy access to the back door, we have a dog and have blocked up the two entrances to the back garden (so access only through back door) but have bought a gate to fit now to make life easier.