Security window Bars

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kendo
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Security window Bars

Post by kendo »

Any advice pro's and con's of installing window bars on my unoccupied house we have had a guy come around and quote us 500 baht for normal bars or 700 baht for better quality one's that are harder to cut now is that a reasonable price?.

The doors in our house have security doors inside already but we have 32 windows (got a bit carried away when i was telling the wife what i wanted down the phone it was supposed to be a two bed villa and ended up four bed two bathroom and a laundry room) :oops: so there will be quite a big cost involved.

Kendo.
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PeteC
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Re: Security window Bars

Post by PeteC »

The bars/welded total piece means nothing Kendo unless the fasteners can't be removed from the outside.

I know so many people who erected very good and cut-proof window security grills just to find the entire frame was screwed into the concrete with normal screws or bolts.

Whatever you do, and if it is installed from the outside, destroy the screw/bolt heads once installed, or at minimum put super glue into the screw head to prevent anyone from easily unscrewing them. Pete

PS: Assume this is the up-country house?
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kendo
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Re: Security window Bars

Post by kendo »

Yes the Surin House i was thinking of having them bolted right through the wall but this will look unsightly methinks.
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JuiceLover
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Re: Security window Bars

Post by JuiceLover »

If mounted from outside use tamperproof screws.
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STEVE G
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Re: Security window Bars

Post by STEVE G »

I have them on the inside and they did a nice job, they're a sort of decorative design painted to match the decor of the house and they're not intrusive at all. I know it's not exactly high security but they stop the sort of opportunistic thefts you might get with kids grabbing something through an open window and that kind of thing. I can't remember how much we paid but it was less than 20,000 bt for a two bedroom bungalow.
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Re: Security window Bars

Post by Spitfire »

Bars in general are a good detering thing to have as the perps that want to rob a house look for houses with no bars first and sometimes even the security guy can be 'in on it' too in some places.

If they really want to rob a place then most of the bad guys will go through the roof by lifting up the tiles and then dropping down into the house from the attic........so bars can be a bit of a moot point anyhow.

Edit - Probably best to have them on the inside of the windows as opposed to the old style outside ones.
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Re: Security window Bars

Post by PeteC »

Whatever you do, you should have some fire drills and practice of how to get out of the house quickly in case of emergency. Barred windows, locked doors from inside, maybe with a pad lock at night etc. It needs planning especially with a youngster there. Some extinguishers are good as well. Unfortunately I've found they don't hold a charge long (non-rechargable disposable type)....maybe a year, and should be longer than that. Probably because of the heat and humidity here.
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Re: Security window Bars

Post by PeteC »

Yes, Spitfire has a good point about the roof. You can solve that by getting spray foam insulation installed on the inside of the roof. Any thieves would then need a sledgehammer or explosives to get through the tile and into the house. Keeps the house relatively cool and stops any rain leaks completely. About 500 Baht per square meter, and a big expense if you're not there often. It's usually guaranteed for 5 years but from people I know who have it, it's fine at 15 years. How long it can last after that and be viable I don't know.
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richard
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Re: Security window Bars

Post by richard »

Sorry but this may be a little naive but this is Thailand and not South Africa

Do family live nearby?
Are you keeping crown jewels in the building?
If you need to build a fortress why are you going to live there?

Sorry Kenny. I may be off track but I have been through the build and live in a remote Isaan village and never had a need for any form of security as family, local headman (mafia) took care. Constant open house scenario. If you've got to 'bolt up' to feel safe I'd fear for my life and my family

Correct me please forum guys if I'm wrong. Especially those of you who have lived in the jungle
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Re: Security window Bars

Post by Vital Spark »

Quite honestly, if burglars want to raid your house, they'll find a way. We got burgled about a year ago, while we were eating lunch just down the road. We have window grilles screwed into the window casings. The house is over 15 years old, so I guess the screws have rusted a bit, and the burglars managed to bend the grille enough to get into the house, but not enough to get anything large out of the house (they picked a window which was inside a kind of lean-to, so weren't seen by any passers-by). What did they steal? A fake Mulberry handbag (350 baht), fake Ray Ban sunglasses (100 baht), and a small and cheap notebook computer that we used to connect our TV to the Internet. We were left (by them) a nice screwdriver and a pair of pliers! What they were obviously looking for was gold/money which we don't keep in the house. If you do keep any of the aforementioned stuff in your house do not hide it in clothes cupboards (that's where they look), because that's where most Thais keep it.

If your outside doors have good padlocks on them, then any potential burglars won't be able to get out easily. If you lock internal doors, then access to other rooms will be difficult.

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P.S. If you want to know places they didn't look, which is where we hide stuff we value, then I'll be happy to let you know - via a PM (obviously).
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STEVE G
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Re: Security window Bars

Post by STEVE G »

To be honest, in a city like Hua Hin where there are thousands of houses, you don't need to make your house impregnable, it just has to be harder to rob than ones where people haven't bothered with any security.
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Re: Security window Bars

Post by Khundon1975 »

Well, not exactly the jungle but our family R&R farm in Nakhon Sawon is 1 klick from the nearest house where the farm employees live and we have no security grills on any of the 2 floors.

Despite the place being full of teccy stuff, TV's, computers and 7 air-con units ETC, we have never had any break-ins. All the locals know the property is Farang/Thai owned and have become our friends over the years.
We (the family) always invite the locals to BBQ's and drinks parties and Christmas parties for the local kids, so everyone knows what is in the house.

Family members are only there around 20% of the year and it is employees together with locals who keep an eye on the place. After 14 years, no problems.

There are 2 family houses in Hua Hin, only occupied for around 20% of the year and neither have grills on the windows.
In one house, we have a retired high ranking BKK cop as a neighbour and the other, there is a gardener who pops in 3 times a week to potter in the garden. Again, both houses full of nick-able gear but no problems after over 16 years with either place.
We have always made a point of making friends with the locals at these properties and if they are your friend, they are like rottwielers, when it comes to looking after neighbouring properties.

Kendo I don't know how much time you spend at your up country property, but my advice to you is befriend the locals, much better than any security system IMHO.

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richard
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Re: Security window Bars

Post by richard »

^^ 100% agree
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Re: Security window Bars

Post by kendo »

When we built this house I was adamant that I didn't want to turn it into a fortress so didn't put bars on the windows. I am a strong believer if somebody really wants to rob you they will my wife's bosses house was broken into by smashing a hole through the wall and half a dozen motor bikes they used to rent out all stolen.
Anyway we have been broken into three times now and TVs and other electricals all stolen it's quite annoying when you have immediate family living on the same soi as us.
So I have come around to the idea of a bit more of a deterrence as I don't want these low life's getting into my house it does give you a horrible feeling.

Pete good point about the fire extinguisher yes I have a large one in the house but have never checked it.
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richard
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Re: Security window Bars

Post by richard »

Kendo

Is it left unoccupied? If so, you haven't a cat in hells chance of stopping break-ins, squatting or whatever
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