Ultimate Guide to Garden Gate Security

Having a garden gate for your back garden can be a great help for garden and home security. However, a gate in your garden may not be enough security wise, and it may be worth upgrading your garden gate security, to do the most to deter burglars and protect your home.

 

Garden Gate Security

Whether you need a front gate, a back gate, or a side gate, you need to think carefully about the requirements. For example, if you live in the countryside with not many people, you may value aesthetics over security; however, if you live in a busy metropolitan area and have had crime issues, you may want a garden gate with locks that will give you the ultimate garden gate security that you need.

Have a read through Keytek’s® Ultimate Home Security Guide for more home security tips.

 

 

Is My Garden Gate Security at Risk?

Too see whether or not there are threats to your garden gate security, the best thing to start doing is to complete a risk assessment of your garden to see how safe your back garden gate security actually is.

We would recommend seeing if any of these factors apply to your garden gate security, and if they do, then it is a sign that your garden gate security needs to be improved for the safety of your garden and home.

 

Broken or Ineffective Garden Gate Locks

If you have a back garden gate with lock, it’s worth thinking about who else has keys to your garden gate, as this means that anyone could potentially break into your house through your garden gate using their keys, meaning that your garden gate lock is ineffective. If you have just recently moved house, then unfortunately there is a security risk that any previous tenants or owners may have old spare keys to your garden gate that they may have given to friends and family, meaning that you don’t know how many people have access to your garden.

The best thing to do in this scenario in case you are worried about multiple people having keys for your garden gate with lock and therefore your garden gate being ineffective, is to get garden gate locks changed by a professional Locksmith.

 

Damaged Garden Gate

If you have a damaged back garden gate then this decreases the chances of your garden gate security being effective, as it may be easier for someone to force access through it, as rust will weaken with the metal and lock of garden gate. They may also seize up and be difficult to move, leaving you stuck in your garden.

If your garden gate looks damaged, then this can be a sign of a previous break-in or break-in attempt, which means that it would be best for you to have a garden gate replacement. It’s important to check your garden gate regularly to ensure no damage has been done, and to put extra security measures in place if you notice evidence of an attempted break-in.

If you have a damaged garden gate, or you just want to improve your garden gate security, then it would be worth getting locks changed on garden gate to keep home secure.

 

 

Why is Gate Security Important?

Garden gate security for your back garden is just as important as other security measures that you have for your home, as they act as a great burglar deterrent. In fact, research shows that intruders are less likely to try and target properties that have formidable barriers surrounding their homes, such as a garden gate, as burglars prefer targeting houses with no form of theft deterrent. Whilst many people tend to focus on security within the home, garden security should not be ignored as many intruders will try and access a home through the back garden, so having garden gate security can be a way to prevent this and deter the burglar.

 

Locks for Garden Gate

These are the different types of garden gate locks available to enhance your back garden gate security.

 

Rim Cylinders

Rim cylinders are a standard euro cylinder in a heady dusty casting to protect it against the weather and drilling attacks, so it won’t be easily broken or damaged. It can be fitted with a single, double, or thumb turn euro lock, depending on the needs of the property and the security required, and a rim cylinder is mostly used on metal garden gates. Why not take a look at an Ultion Lock for garden gate security?

 

Hasp and Staple Lock

A hasp and staple lock has a hinged hasp, which is fitted to the garden gate, and the loop on a plate (the stable) which is fitted onto the garden gate frame. The hasp secures onto the stable and can then be locked with a good, high-security padlock for extra security. However, it can only be accessed from one side of the garden gate, which can make it inconvenient to use and is usually used for wooden garden gates.

 

Sliding Gate Lock

Garden gates are often secured with a sliding gate lock. These garden gate locks are designed to slide across and fix into place being secured by a padlock or combination lock. However, most people tend to abandon a sliding gate lock due to the lack of convenience as once padlocked you cannot unlock it from the other side without difficulty.

 

Garden Gate Latch

There are four different kinds of garden gate latches: thumb, ring, lever, and bolt. A latch is a metal bar with a lever that raises and lowers to open the gate. It’s used on wooden garden gates and can open the door from either side. However, if you want extra security, you can lock it from the inside so it cannot be opened from the outside.

 

Double Throw Gate Lock

Alternatively, you can fit a double throw gate lock for your garden gate security that gives you the option of keyed access from either side of your garden gate. The double throw gate lock locks by rotating several times and throwing the bolt from one side to the other. The benefit of these garden gate locks is that you can add these to both single and double gates for back garden security.

 

Digilocks

A digilock can fit into either wooden garden gates or metal garden gates and are a simple and convenient way to lock your gate as there are no keys required, just a combination code. This can either be single-sided, so you can only open and close the gate from one side or have a handle on the inside of the garden to easily open it without a combination or you can have a double-sided lock so that you’ll need to enter the code to get in or out of your garden.

If you are interested in any of these garden gate locks for your back garden gate, then you’ll need to know how to correctly install garden gate lock onto the garden gate. Have a read of our blog on How to Install a Lock on a Wooden Gate for more information and guidance.

 

Best Lock for a Wooden Gate

The best lock that our security experts would recommend for garden gate security would be the Super Latch Digilock from Gate Master. This is because this garden gate lock comes with a marine-grade mechanical keypad that requires no power, and that is designed for external use, as well as it being compatible with wooden, metal, and composite garden gates. Another great factor of this garden gate lock is that it can be installed onto your garden gate quickly, meaning that your garden gate security can be upgraded in a matter of time! The Super Latch has also been built to help with the swelling of wooden garden gates during the wet months of the year.

 

 

Garden Gate Designs

We’ve put together a list of the different garden gate designs that you can have for your back garden gate that will help to improve your garden gate security.

 

Vertical Garden Gate Boarding

There are many design features for garden gates that you can consider. One of the best design security features is choosing a vertical style of boarding, like feather boarding, for your garden gate. They don’t create any foot/hand holds and offers more privacy from passers-by trying to peak in to find something easy to take.

 

Garden Gate Gapping

It’s important to install garden gate with a 50mm gap underneath. This allows space for it to open and close without scraping on the ground and allows a little wiggle from if the hinges drop it won’t drag. However, it’s not enough space for a child to crawl underneath, so it keeps them safe whilst they are in the garden.

 

 

Garden Gate Additional Security

If you want additional garden gate security to keep your back garden secure as well as your home, then we’ve put together some garden gate security additions to help you achieve this!

 

Adding an Additional Garden Gate Lock

Adding a secondary lock onto your garden gate will make it as secure as possible. We would recommend securing a garden gate latch onto the top of your garden gate to minimise the risk of an intruder entering through your garden gate.

 

Garden Gate Security Bars

Garden gate security bars can be used as an extra security measure for a minimal cost. A bar is a solid length of metal that is bolted to one side with a padlock latch bolted to the other side; it is secure by placing the bar across the door on the side that it opens out to and locking it in place. This then stops the garden door from being opened, even after it has been unlocked, giving you that extra garden security.

They can be installed easily, increasing your garden security by becoming a physical deterrent to intruders and strengthening your back garden gate.

 

Garden Gate Security Spikes

Garden gate security spikes can be added to your garden gate to increase garden security at an affordable amount, with these spikes looking sharp but only being painful under pressure. These garden gate spikes are a great deterrent to burglars, but be aware that if you add garden security spikes then you should also fit warning signs on or near the gates to warn of danger to comply with current legislation. To find out about the other rules if you are thinking of getting garden gate spikes, then have a read of our advice page about Garden Fence Spikes, and whether they are legal in the UK.

If you want more ideas on how to secure garden fence, then read our Ultimate Guide to Garden Fence Security to help secure garden! Why not also look into getting outdoor security lighting or outdoor security cameras for your garden as additional garden security?

 

 

Does Your Garden Gate Affect Home Insurance?

In most insurance policies a buildings structure will be covered, which includes any outbuildings, gates, and fences on the property. Whilst this is the case the majority of the time, it is still always important to read the small print within your home insurance policy, in case garden gates aren’t covered.

However, although garden gates can be included in home insurance policies, damage to a garden gate caused by the weather is a common exclusion for standard home insurance policies. Nonetheless, you can still speak to your insurance provider directly for any additional information and queries about your garden gate security within your home insurance cover.

For more information on home insurance, have a read of our Reducing Home Insurance with Home Security guide.