3/4" ply window security shutters

[Sarki]

Ok guys, finished building/installing my interior window shutters and now I need some ideas on how to secure them so I can keep the bad guys out.....or at least make it more difficult for them to get in. Don't want to make it to complicated at I still want it to be simple to open them up when I'm inside working.
The goal in making them was to prevent unwanted wandering eyes scoping out the inside of the garage as well as a means to seal it up as I'm not around for extended periods of time. I was thinking of a metal cross bar placed horizontally across each window but looking for some more ideas.
Anybody.......

 

[NUTTSGT]

Nothing simpler than a couple brackets on the wall and setting a 2x4 on the brackets.

 

[trbomax]

Nothing simpler than a couple brackets on the wall and setting a 2x4 on the brackets.

This would be my plan too. I did this with the service door at the rear of my shop.

 

[Sarki]

That has been my initial plan but my cop buddy tells me to use channel iron or something other than 2x4 as wood is easy to defeat. I pointed out to him that the shutters are made of wood.....he became very quiet!!!

 

[DaleK]

The plywood's stronger than those hinges anyway. I'd use hardwood 2x4 or 2x6. Sheets of expanded metal or chain link fence you could hang over the whole window would be nice too

 

[vette66bob]

That Jaguar hub cap shoud scare them away! You could consider an alarm system, something simple and loud.

 

[Sarki]

That Jaguar hub cap shoud scare them away! You could consider an alarm system, something simple and loud.

Jaguar, that bad boy is from a Rolls. Alarm system will come one day as I need to figure that out as well. No phone or internet as the garage is across the road from the house.

 

[rsanter]

Use metal brackets and metal bars, two per window.
Spaced in thirds to the shutters.
You could also put sheet metal on the plywood to reinforce it if you feel the need

Bob

 

[trbomax]

If someone wants in bad enough to break a 2x4 across a 36" widow WITH 3/4 plywood on it,they could just saw a hole in the wall with a cordless sawzall. You need to consider all the places that need to be hardened,not just the window openings. Doors can be cut off the hinges or cut loose thru the dead bolts with a cordless metabo in about 2 minutes flat. A building with metal sideing only takes a screw gun to take off the sheeting and then walk thru. I actually had that happen at the rack marina in toledo./ They got in and spent all night in there looting,never set off the alarms because the beams were 4' off the floor,they crawled around in the racks!

 

[Sarki]

I agree, if they want in bad enough they will get in. My goal is to make it a bit more difficult so they go elsewhere.
As you can see, I did go to a heavy duty hinge on the double windows and will swap out the smaller hinges on the single windows as well. Problem is the side with the dbl windows faces a deep wooded forest so lots of time for somebody to do bad things over there.
Already caught a lowlife back there claiming to have wandered off a hiking trail. Made sure he saw my "concealed" friend!
Probably go with some kind of steel bar going horizontal across the shutters.

 

[Torque1st]

Cover the shutters with 18-20GA steel.

2 each 2x2x3/16" angle iron bars across the window with retainers so they can't be lifted or moved from outside.

1-1/2x1/8" thick bar overlapping the center joint.

Alarm system.

Motion lights inside and out.

Insurance with a low deductible.

 

[Lippyp]

I have wooden shutters on the windows of my holiday home in France, they close with a vertical rod that has a cam on each end that hooks behind a steel bracket screwed to the stone window frame. For additional security when we are not there the double shutters have a solid steel bar about 3/4" square that drops and slides into four brackets bolted through the shutters. This has a hole for a padlock too but we've never felt the need to do this as it would be almost impossible to get the bar out of the brackets from outside as you have to slide it one way, lift one end and slide it back.

I don't think I have a pictire of the inside of the double ones but heres an idea of the vertical locking bar. These can be bought off the shelf in every hardware store over there.

 

[green.bubbly]

Your holiday home in France is a former prison?

 

[RobSmith]

yeah and someone got out !

 

[kbs2244]

Instead of 2x4s I would go with 1 inch water pipe.
Stronger and smaller.
The best brackets I have seen were custom.
An angle iron lag screwed to the outside of the window frame studs and with a “G” shaped piece of strap iron on the window side.
It was easy to push the pipe in and let it fall into place from the inside, but from the outside it would roll and jam in the “G”

 

[Sarki]

Instead of 2x4s I would go with 1 inch water pipe.
Stronger and smaller.

This has me thinking, black iron pipe that I have left over from a propane project may be an idea here as well.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Your holiday home in France is a former prison?

Count on the French for high fashion in prison. Note the decorative curtains.

In all seriousness, I would use decorative handles to open and close the shutters easily that could allow you to put a bar across the door and hooks on either end. I bet if you used a 2x4, the wall anchors would come out before breaking the 2x4 when kicking in the shutters.

Or just line everything with 1/2" plate to be safe!

 

[Tech Guy]

Jaguar, that bad boy is from a Rolls. Alarm system will come one day as I need to figure that out as well. No phone or internet as the garage is across the road from the house.

If the garage is across the street from the house, go with wireless for internet and alarm

 

[theoldwizard1]

Use metal brackets and metal bars, two per window.
Spaced in thirds to the shutters.

2 per window is key !

Just make certain the the bracket are mounted deeply into the wall studs.