Many homeowners focus on reinforcing their front doors and windows but overlook their garage. This can expose your home to burglars who recognize the garage as an easy access point.
In this guide, we’ll explore strategies to improve your garage door security, protecting your home and valuables from potential intruders.
Common Vulnerabilities in Garage Door Systems
Before implementing security changes, it’s good to understand the weak points in typical garage door systems so you can address them effectively.
Weak Remote Controls
Many garage door openers come with basic remote controls that are easy to hack or clone. Upgrading to more secure remote controls or implementing additional security features can help mitigate this risk.
Easily Manipulated Emergency Release Cords
Most automatic garage doors have an emergency release cord that allows for manual operation during power outages. However, it’s not hard to exploit this safety feature by simply fishing the release cord from outside the garage door using wire.
Unsecured Service Doors
Many garages have a separate entrance, known as a service door. Homeowners often overlook their service door when installing a security system, making them an easy target for lock pickers. We strongly recommend confirming that your service door is as secure as your home’s main entry points.
Home security expert Tom Dix, quoted in This Old House Magazine, puts it bluntly: “Don’t bother spending a lot on high-security knob locks for your home, because most intruders aren’t going to pick your lock anyway. They’re going to kick in your door. Put your money in the dead bolt.” He recommends that the dead bolt extend into a steel-reinforced strike held in place with at least two-inch steel screws, and that the short screws holding the knob-lock assembly be replaced with two-inch steel screws as well.
Steps To Improve Garage Door Security
Improving your garage door security doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your garage and home.
Remove or Conceal Valuables
One of the simplest but most effective ways to improve your garage security is to hide anything valuable from sight. Keep your garage organized and store away anything that might entice burglars. You can also cover garage windows with curtains or blinds to prevent potential intruders from scoping out the contents. For doors with glass panes, consider applying a privacy film to obscure the view from the outside.
Always keep your garage door closed, even when you’re at home. This protects your belongings and prevents thieves from seeing what’s inside. Many of us are guilty of clipping our garage door remote to the visor in our car or leaving it in a cup holder—both missteps that make the remote an easy and visible target. Either keep your garage door remote with you at all times or hide it in a secure place in your car, such as the glove box.
Install Deterrents and Surveillance Systems
Visual deterrents can be highly effective at discouraging potential intruders. Install a floodlight above your garage door and keep it on at night to illuminate the area. If you prefer not to have constant bright lighting, consider motion-activated lights that turn on when movement is detected.
Mounting a visible security camera near your garage door can also serve as a powerful signal to potential intruders. Smart security cameras allow you to monitor your property in real time, regardless of your location.
This Old House homeowner Alan Tortolani learned firsthand how important garage-area surveillance can be after having the same vehicle rifled through twice in two years while parked in the driveway of his Providence, Rhode Island, home. A tech-savvy mobile-game developer, he initially tried pointing a streaming video camera at the driveway from an upper-story window, but using an indoor camera to record through glass proved unreliable. “There’s a glare, and the motion detection on the Nest Cam seems to be overly sensitive,” Alan says. He ultimately found success with a smart security light mounted over his garage that featured a built-in high-definition video camera, microphone, and speaker—combining surveillance and deterrence in a single fixture.
Upgrade To Smart Garage Door Openers
Smart garage door openers have advanced security features that can improve your garage’s protection even more. These systems allow you to control and monitor your garage door remotely through a smartphone app. You can enable open-door alerts, monitor the position of your door, and even close it from anywhere with an internet connection.
Many smart openers also use more secure communication protocols, making them harder to hack or clone than traditional remote controls. Some advanced models even integrate with home automation systems, allowing you to add your garage door to your home security setup.
Real-World Save: In a This Old House Magazine feature on smart homes, homeowner Jason Johnson demonstrated just how valuable these systems can be. He was at work when an app on his smartphone alerted him that his garage door was open. Knowing his wife wasn’t home and that anyone could easily grab their bikes or even try to break into the house, he tapped a button within the app, and the garage door—several miles away—closed and locked. He then checked live feeds from video cameras for intruders and made sure the front door was locked, all from his phone.
Reinforce Locks and Entry Points
Strengthening the physical locks on your garage is another basic but crucial step in improving security. Start by securing the door that connects your garage to your home. Install a high-quality deadbolt and make it a habit to keep this door locked at all times, even when you’re at home.
Add a manual deadbolt to the main garage door. If your garage door has a handle for manual opening, replace it with a keyed handle. You can also install slide bolts inside your garage door for added security when you’re inside.
If your garage has a service door, don’t neglect that, either. Treat it with the same level of security as your home’s main entry points, using robust locks and reinforced strike plates or adding a chiming sensor.
Advanced Security Measures for Your Garage
Several advanced measures, including biometric access systems, impact-resistant doors, and security bars, are available for those looking to improve their garage door security. Let’s review each option in detail.
Implement Biometric Access Systems
Biometric access systems, such as fingerprint scanners, provide a high level of security for your garage. These systems are difficult to bypass and guarantee that only authorized individuals can enter. While more expensive than traditional security measures, biometric systems offer unparalleled protection and convenience.
Install Impact-Resistant Doors
Upgrading to an impact-resistant garage door is another way to up your security game. These doors are designed to withstand forceful entry attempts and extreme weather conditions. While they cost more than standard doors, impact-resistant doors can provide long-lasting protection and peace of mind.
Add Security Grilles or Bars
For additional analog protection, we recommend installing security grilles or bars over vulnerable windows or other entry points. These barriers can prevent intruders from gaining access through areas too weak to resist forceful break-ins. Grilles and bars come in various styles that can be both functional and stylish while increasing the security of your garage.
Maintaining Your Garage Door Security System
Once you’ve implemented security measures, you’ll need to maintain them. Here’s how.
Regular Inspections and Upkeep
Regularly check your garage door system, including the tracks, springs, and openers. Look for signs of wear, damage, or faulty sensors that could compromise security. Keep all moving parts well-lubricated and replace any components that show significant wear.
Pro Tip: Bernie Udell, owner of Middlesex Overhead Doors in Burlington, Massachusetts, emphasizes the value of consistent maintenance: “If a garage door is properly maintained with quality components, it’ll last virtually forever.” A couple of hours of work twice a year can prevent rollers from jamming or, worse, a spring from breaking — which can damage property or cause serious injury.
Update Your Security Protocols
Stay up-to-date about the latest security threats and update your systems accordingly. This might involve updating the firmware on smart devices, changing access codes regularly, or upgrading older components as new, more secure options become available.
Pro Tip: Craig Young, senior security researcher at risk management firm Tripwire, advises homeowners to stay vigilant about connected devices: “Anything that’s always connected, always sending data—that’s something a nearby attacker can latch on to.” He recommends replacing routers that are five or more years old, setting your Wi-Fi security level to WPA2, enabling auto-updates on all devices to patch discovered security holes, and using a separate email account solely for connected devices to limit personal info exposure.
Training Family Members
Make sure all family members are aware of the security measures you’ve put in place and know how to use them effectively. This includes educating them about the importance of keeping the garage door closed, how to operate any security devices, and how to recognize signs of tampering. Good communication helps everyone keep your home as safe as possible.
How To Strengthen Your Garage Door Signal
To improve the signal strength and reliability of your garage door opener, use these tips:
- Check for any sources of interference near your garage door opener and remove them.
- Confirm that your garage door opener’s antenna is in a proper position and free of damage.
- Install a signal booster if you consistently experience a weak signal.
- Replace the batteries in your remote control regularly.
Making Your Garage Door Impact Resistant
Take these steps to reinforce the physical strength of your garage door:
- Choose a door made of sturdy materials like steel or fiberglass.
- Install reinforcement struts to prevent bowing and increase impact resistance.
- Opt for a door with a R-value for better insulation and strength.
Our Conclusion
Upgrading your garage door security is key to protecting your home and belongings. You can significantly reduce the risk of break-ins through your garage by using a combination of basic security measures, such as concealing valuables and installing deterrents, along with more advanced solutions like smart openers and reinforced locks.
Remember that garage door security is an ongoing process. Regularly assess your security measures, stay informed about new technologies and threats, and make updates as needed.
