Window bars?

[Anonymous]

We bought a house that has window bars on all the (older) windows. I personally don’t love them. We are planning to get new energy efficient windows and the sales person said the windows are very strong. Is this believable?

Theoretically someone could just remove the bars with a wrench if they wanted to. Also seems like a fire escape safety risk. and honestly I just don’t love the obstructive views.

Am I off base? My husband is worried about security.

If we remove them, can we take them to a scrap metal place for money?

[Anonymous]

We got new windows with laminated glass, which is very strong. Is that the type you’re getting? Bonus is that it cuts the outside noise significantly.

[Anonymous]

Get rid of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get rid of them.

Yes! Makes it easier for me to break in!

[Anonymous]

We got ride of ours except in the basement

[Anonymous]

Bars are good for security, not good for aesthetics.

While bars can be unbolted or cut, burglars are very unlikely to be bothered; they'll pick an easier target.

It makes little sense to have window bars alongside doors which are not secure, so look to the strength of your doors to make sure they are not a weak point in your perimeter.

There are alternatives to bars - laminated glass meant to be break resistant is one. It'll shatter if struck hard enough, but the laminate film will resist penetration.

Good environmental design can help: make sure there are no hiding places near the house foundation, usually caused by overgrown shrubbery or outdoor storage boxes or furniture; make sure you have good lighting around the home perimeter and use it during hours of darkness; mount visible but inaccessible security cameras around the house; and post alarm company warning signs.

If you live in an area where window bars are common, you're probably not in a safe area to begin with and you'd be well-advised to take all those measures - alarm system, exterior lighting, exterior cameras, alarm company signs, strong door locks and hinges, interior security lighting which mimics patterns used by people at home at night, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bars are good for security, not good for aesthetics.

While bars can be unbolted or cut, burglars are very unlikely to be bothered; they'll pick an easier target.

It makes little sense to have window bars alongside doors which are not secure, so look to the strength of your doors to make sure they are not a weak point in your perimeter.

There are alternatives to bars - laminated glass meant to be break resistant is one. It'll shatter if struck hard enough, but the laminate film will resist penetration.

Good environmental design can help: make sure there are no hiding places near the house foundation, usually caused by overgrown shrubbery or outdoor storage boxes or furniture; make sure you have good lighting around the home perimeter and use it during hours of darkness; mount visible but inaccessible security cameras around the house; and post alarm company warning signs.

If you live in an area where window bars are common, you're probably not in a safe area to begin with and you'd be well-advised to take all those measures - alarm system, exterior lighting, exterior cameras, alarm company signs, strong door locks and hinges, interior security lighting which mimics patterns used by people at home at night, etc.

OP: Extremely helpful! (possibly the most helpful comment I've gotten on this site!) Thank you!

[Anonymous]

They're a huge fire safety issue, particularly older ones. Get ride of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're a huge fire safety issue, particularly older ones. Get ride of them.

NP. I believe you can get bars you can open from the inside. But are those less secure, if someone breaks the glass and reaches in?

[Anonymous]

Where do you live? Downtown DC? Brooklyn? It makes a difference for your security profile. If the bars are there at some point they were needed. Has the neighborhood changed substantially since they were installed?

[Anonymous]

I had a welder make bars for my basement windows! (Live in the city of Richmond).