print font size Home security: How quickly and for how much?

Something different applies to each of us. Some people take to heart the statistics on the number of break-ins into apartments and family homes, others are motivated by the stories of loved ones whose homes have already been burgled... Only one thing is certain: it is always worth preventing unfortunate events rather than dealing with them afterwards. What is offered to you in the area of ​​a safe home and, above all, what else can you buy before the holiday?

It depends on how long you are leaving...

Safety immediately:

Neighborly help

The experts will surely laugh heartily now (this is not a safety feature after all), but that's okay. If you have a good relationship with your neighbors, they can take your mail out of your mailbox, water your flowers, and also check to make sure everything is okay at your house. Family friends or relatives will also "provide" a similar service, but they usually do not live nearby. Price? Free of charge.

In a few minutes:

Security locks

You are leaving in a few days, so you will not have time to replace the old front door with a new, security one? Then at least replace the ordinary lock with a security one. “The classic cylinder door insert has a system of spring-loaded tumblers that unlock the mechanism when aligned.

Locks of the new construction work, for example, with rotating lamellar tumblers that do not freeze, do not get clogged with dust and, above all, cannot be opened by feeling or bumping," explains Lucie Filová from the TOKOZ company. And he adds that knowing the market for security locks is not easy, so it is important to pay particular attention to certifications. On the product packaging, look for certification according to ČSN EN 1303 and ČSN EN 1627 and the safety class resulting from them - it should be at least 3, but better 4. You can also come across the 4+ mark, which indicates that the given insert exceeds the requirements of the state standard with its properties.

What else to find out? How many key combinations does the insert offer (usually a few hundred, with security ones the number of combinations is in the order of tens of thousands), what material are they made of (for example, lock inserts with a zinc or steel body with stainless steel internal parts are good), or whether it has added security value ( for example, the lock will start rotating when someone tries to unscrew it, making it impossible for them to do so).

Security locks can be used for all access doors, the garage, the door between the garage and the house, but also for locking the workshop and the like. You can change the lock yourself according to the instructions in no time.

Price? For example, class 3 security locks from CZK 600.

In a few hours:

Safety film

In the case of window protection, you have two options - either solve everything by replacing the old ones with new ones, and then you also need to buy special safety glass and fittings, or install safety foils. This can also be done additionally, actually at any time, from the inside. This foil will make it difficult for a possible intruder, moreover, when the window breaks, the shards will not spill out. Entrust the installation to a company that has a certificate, taking into account the number and size of windows, it can take several hours for one apartment.

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Price? Approximately from 1000 CZK per square meter including installation.

External grilles:

They are mainly used on the ground floor and lower floors. When choosing them, focus on the material, the number of stitches and the distance between them, as well as the construction. They can be installed permanently, and scissor grilles with a safety lock are also commonly offered for households - they can be opened. They are all made to measure, allow for approximately 2 to 3 weeks, installation again depending on the size and complexity takes approximately one hour (1 window).

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Price? Roughly from CZK 3,000 per square meter including assembly.

Exterior blinds, blinds

You usually buy them as protection from the sun, at the same time in cold seasons they can reduce heating expenses, but they can also fulfill a security function to some extent, for example if they are equipped with a protective element , which does not allow them to be lifted. Roller blinds and blinds are made to measure for each customer. "The product leaves the production hall within 7 to 21 days of receiving the order," mentions David Žabčík from the Climax company. Installing one blind or roller blind can take a few hours, and if you want them for the whole apartment, then even a few days.

Price? Roughly from CZK 3,000 per square meter.

In half a day to two:

Security doors

Experts usually recommend replacing the original door frames together with the old door. Why? Even the metal ones can be stretched by a skilled paw, for example with a pry bar. In theory, they could be reinforced with concrete, but practically even this solution may not be enough. It is difficult to reliably determine how the door frame was once walled up and with what, moreover, it often happens that the old door frame leaks or is warped.

Security doors usually have a steel structure, covered on both sides with a layer of sheet metal, with a wheelbase system in the form of many pins that lock into the steel frame and are equipped with safety fittings and an insert.

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What is important? Check whether the door, hardware and insert belong to the same safety class. And how soon can you have a new security door at your home? "They are produced according to the customer's individual requirements, usually 2 to 6 weeks should be expected. However, express delivery within 48 hours can also be implemented, for an additional fee," says Ivan Pavlíček from the NEXT company. The installation itself can then take half a day to two days, including the realization of the door frame (depends on specific conditions).

Price? Approximately from 25,000 CZK (without installation).

One day to several weeks:

Electronic security systems

They consist of several elements, including a control panel, detectors (motion, opening, glass breakage), alarm signaling and system controller (keyboard on the control panel, remote control, biometric reader, but also via the Internet).

How does it work? If the electronic security system (hereinafter referred to as EMS) is switched on and the detector, for example, detects unwanted movement in the apartment or house, it sends a signal to the central office. It usually includes a communicator that sends information further, i.e. to you, in the form of an SMS to your mobile phone or, better, directly to the security agency that guards your home. In addition to sending messages or calling predefined phone numbers, smart communicators can also remotely control and monitor an alarm, remotely control devices in the house, check via the Internet, and the like.

Electronic security system (Photo: Next)

EZS can be installed in the house both during its construction (wired) and gradually (if you do not want to interfere with the interior at home, wireless is used). And depending on the choice of operation and taking into account the overall scope of the system, the installation time must be taken into account, for example, in the case of a four-room dwelling, in the case of a wireless variant, it will take about a day, but if the EMS is implemented as part of the construction, the entire assembly will be spread over time (the installation of the cabling is dealt with first and subsequently after the completion of the internal plastering of the alarm installation, approximately two days).

The planning of the EMS, as well as its installation, belongs to experts. And how much time do you need from your own decision to the delivery of EZS? "It's individual. Each applicant can proceed differently. Someone requests installation from several companies and evaluates individual offers, while others order from the first company in the list of companies recommended by the manufacturer. I estimate that after choosing a suitable company, it will take 2 to 3 weeks before the actual installation takes place, although even this term can be shortened," says Daniel Havel from the Jablotron company.

Price? Roughly, for an apartment from 21,000 CZK, for a house from 34,000 CZK.

Basic overview

There are mechanical and electronic safety systems.

Secure the garage as well

Modern garage doors also offer protection against door prying and other practical elements, but according to Ivan Pavlíček, it cannot be said that there is a security garage door, and therefore he advises to protect the garage electronically. "We recommend magnetic sensors on the door, a motion sensor in the garage area and connecting all of this to the home alarm. Camera surveillance is also ideal," says the expert.

Watch out for insurance companies

When choosing security features, keep in mind who will install them. Always choose a company that can prove itself with a valid certificate that authorizes it to do so. You will be assured that the assembly was carried out correctly, and in addition, if necessary, you will be able to document this fact to the insurance company in order to recognize the damage.

The article was published in the magazine Bydlení, stavby, reality.