All posts by Eduardo Savin

What Is the Best Home Security System?

There is no single security system that works the same way for every home. The best system depends on factors such as location, home size, risk level, and the habits of the people who live there.

Technology-based systems are particularly effective at detecting intrusions and providing rapid alerts, but they often rely on other elements to deliver comprehensive protection. On their own, they do not reinforce doors, windows, or glass surfaces, which is why their effectiveness increases when combined with physical and structural measures that make access more difficult from the outset.

Alarms and cameras detect – doors and windows prevent. Therefore, the best home security system is one that combines all these elements according to your needs.

Do it Yourself Home Security Systems: What Works and Where They Fall Short

Do-it-yourself home security systems have become popular due to their low initial cost, ease of installation, and flexibility. Wireless sensors, cameras connected to mobile apps, and basic alarm kits allow many homeowners to implement security measures without the need for professional installation.

Common DIY Security Measures

Among the most commonly used DIY solutions are door and window sensors, Wi-Fi–connected cameras, video doorbells, and lighting timers. Simple mechanical solutions are also common, such as placing bars or rods in sliding door tracks or applying security film to glass surfaces to make them harder to break.

These measures can be effective at deterring opportunistic attempts and increasing the perceived risk for an intruder, especially in homes with low to moderate exposure.

If upgrading to new equipment is not an option yet, basic maintenance of façades, doors, and windows, along with improved exterior lighting, can be enough to avoid becoming an easy target.

Where DIY Systems Fall Short

The main limitation of DIY solutions is that they often depend on the home’s original level of resistance. If a door is lightweight, a frame is weak, or glass breaks easily, these devices may detect an intrusion but cannot stop it.

In many cases, DIY solutions are designed to alert or briefly delay, rather than withstand repeated force or direct attacks. They function primarily as deterrents, not as systems focused on prevention or physical resistance.

When an intruder is determined and has access to basic tools, these measures may prove insufficient unless they are complemented by more robust structural elements.

The Most Vulnerable Points in a Home (And Why They Matter)

Not all areas of a home carry the same level of risk. Most intrusion attempts focus on points that allow for quick, quiet access with the least amount of effort.

Doors as the First Line of Defense

Exterior doors are often the primary target during a break-in attempt. In many homes, doors are designed more to define spaces than to withstand force. Lightweight materials, poorly reinforced frames, or basic hardware can fail quickly when subjected to kicking, prying, or simple tools.

Even when equipped with functional locks, a weak door can give way in seconds if the frame or core lacks adequate strength. In these cases, the issue is not the lock itself, but the integrity of the entire door system.

Glass: The Fastest Point of Failure

Glass surfaces, especially large windows and sliding door, represent some of the most vulnerable access points in a home. Standard glass can break easily, allowing an intruder to reach locks, open doors from the inside, or gain direct entry.

While security films may slightly delay breakage, their effectiveness is limited when the glass is not designed to withstand repeated impacts. For this reason, glass is often the fastest point of failure during an intrusion attempt.

Structural Security: Reinforcing What Actually Gets Attacked

When analyzing how most recorded criminal incidents occur, it becomes clear that intruders are not trying to “hack” systems, they are physically overcoming access points. For this reason, structural security focuses on reinforcing doors, windows, and glass surfaces so they do not give way under impact, prying, or repeated force.

Unlike technological or DIY measures, structural security does not rely on alerts or post-intrusion responses. Its purpose is to prevent or delay access from the very first point of contact, significantly increasing the time, noise, and effort required to gain entry.

Impact-Resistant Glass in Residential Applications

Impact-resistant glass is designed to withstand repeated blows without breaking easily. Unlike standard glass, which can fail with a single impact, this type of glass maintains its structural integrity even when fractured, preventing the creation of a usable opening.

In homes with large windows, sliding doors, or glass façades, this solution is especially relevant, as it protects one of the most vulnerable areas without sacrificing natural light or design.

When higher levels of protection are required, bullet-resistant glass offers a substantial upgrade. In addition to resisting physical impacts, it is engineered to help stop or significantly reduce penetration from some of the most commonly used firearms in the United States.

Reinforced Doors and Anti-Intrusion Systems

Reinforced doors incorporate stronger cores, reinforced frames, and anchoring systems designed to withstand forced-entry attempts. In these cases, the lock is only one component of the system, the true resistance comes from the door’s overall structure and proper installation.

These solutions are built to resist sustained force and direct attacks, not just to briefly delay an intruder. Additionally, due to their design and materials (typically aluminum and reinforced glass) they can also withstand other types of risks, such as hurricanes and severe storms, making them a more universal form of protection.

Sliding Doors and Large Glass Surfaces

Sliding dors are often a critical vulnerability in many homes. Their tracks, locking mechanisms, and glass panels can become easy access points if they are not properly reinforced.

Structural solutions for these types of openings go beyond temporary bars or improvised locks and include systems specifically engineered to prevent lifting, forced sliding, and glass breakage.

How Much Does a Home Security System Cost?

When evaluating how to secure a home, cost is often a key purchasing decision factor. However, discussing the price of a home security system is not as simple as providing a single number. There are different types of solutions, each with distinct upfront costs, ongoing expenses, and levels of protection.

• Upfront Costs and Monthly Fees: Many traditional home security systems operate under a subscription-based model. In addition to the cost of installation or initial equipment, it is common to pay a monthly fee for monitoring, video storage, or additional services.
• Structural Investment vs Recurring Costs: Structural security solutions typically follow a different model. Instead of monthly fees, they involve a one-time investment focused on reinforcing the most vulnerable access points of a home, such as doors, windows, and glass surfaces.
• Understanding the True Cost of Security: Beyond price, it is important to assess what level of protection is actually being provided. An inexpensive system that only detects an intrusion may be insufficient if access points fail easily. By contrast, a strategy that combines detection, deterrence, and physical resistance often offers a better balance between cost and long-term effectiveness.

Securing a home is not only about installing devices or responding when an alarm goes off. An effective security strategy starts with prevention, understanding how intrusions occur, where they happen, and reinforcing the areas that are most commonly targeted.

Basic measures, technology-based systems, and DIY solutions all play an important role, but their effectiveness increases significantly when they are integrated into a broader approach that considers the physical resistance of doors, windows, and glass surfaces. In many cases, the difference between a failed attempt and a successful intrusion is not the alert itself, but the time, noise, and effort required to gain entry.

Every home is different. Factors such as architectural design, location, level of exposure, and the habits of those who live there directly influence which solutions are most appropriate. There is no one-size-fits-all security system, only combinations of measures tailored to each specific scenario.

If you are evaluating how to strengthen your home’s security, you can request guidance from the experts at PRL Glass & Aluminum, who can help assess your needs and determine which type of security system, structural, technological, or a combination of both—is best suited for your home.