Roll-up door security

[sedouglas72]

I searched and didn't find much on this. I'm building a house and have a 25x45 metal detached garage. I'm not expecting many issues once I have a fence up and live in the house, but it was broken into over the weekend. It has the crappy slide locks on the door, which they used a bar to bend the **** out of it (and the door) until it would open. Luckily I spent money on the lock, which they couldn't get off, and the door would only open about 3'. I only had my new chainsaw and charger (thank god I took the battery), so I didn't lose much, but I'm concerned that I should have something more stout when I go out of town. They tried to get the man door open, but couldn't (They couldn't have had a full size pry bar, I 'm thinking). My initial thought for this 6x6 small roll-up would be to anchor some pins anchored in the concrete at the edge of the door (similar to attached picture but with threads on one end) and have a piece of tube steel running across the bottom lip. Pins go through steel and have large hair pin clips holding them in. And a reinforcement bar on the inside of the man door. I'm as concerned with the front doors because they are very public and I live in town. Anyone tried something like this? I may have to make my own pins, but I would prefer to buy something if I can find it.

ps - my initial move was to completely empty the garage and leave all the doors open. At least I won't have any more damage hopefully.

 

[duneslider]

What are you meaning by roll up door. Like a coil door or a normal garage door. Normal garage doors just need some bolts or locks through the tracks and the doors can't go up. You can even buy automatic dead bolt like like for the doors if you want.

Coil doors shouldn't be able to go up if the chain is secured inside?

 

[sedouglas72]

This is the door. The rails aren’t too stout.

 

[alfazer]

If it has a motor or a chain it should lock when in gear and that's the usual security method. Or is it just completely free to move all the time? A stud in the floor that catches a hole in the bottom edge, or a latch on the floor near each end that swings over the bottom edge might work.

 

[sedouglas72]

No, chain. I'm starting to regret not investigating all of the door options fully. I've seen some plastic motors that you can add to these style as a remote opener, but I'm not entirely certain how well they would hold if forced. I'm thinking pinning the bottom lip down will be the best option. Adding any permanent weight to this door will cause it to not stay open I'm afraid.

 

[FMB4]

We are, of course, sorry to hear about your losses. That said, I'm sure that you're going to install a security system asap. Meanwhile, most to this kind of theft can be traced back to other, not well known by you, entities that built the structure (if such is the case). I've seen this too many times.

 

[sedouglas72]

Thank you. Once I have electricity on site, motion lights, cameras and alarm will be added. I'm pretty sure it was a local meth-head that did it. With just a little bit of thought and a semi appropriate tool, they wouldn't have had bend the door so badly to get in. They tried the man door first, with a steel frame and only bent the aluminum trim. If the door wasn't so incredibly flimsy, I wouldn't even bother. I'd go ahead and replace them all if I didn't pick such a bad time to build a house. All of my "fun" money went into rising materials cost unfortunately.

I recently found this site and have greatly enjoyed the content and look to contribute in the future as I outfit my new garage.

 

[bigdav160]

I have two of those doors (vinyl sheet). I've worried about security as they seem to be easy to breach. I have not had any attempts at break ins. But yes, locks at the bottom seem like a good idea.

 

[reader2580]

Couldn't someone just tear through the metal skin of the building relatively easily?

 

[sedouglas72]

Oh yes, that's probably one way, but you could use a saw and go through a stud wall as well. Doors are inevitably the easiest as they were made to be opened. I'm starting to think the flimsiest locks to minimize any damage and the best security system might be the best path. Maybe I'll just put openers on all of them.

 

[619DioFan]

Our wharehouse doors at work have a slide lock at the bottom corners ( on the inside ) they slide into the track. you can add a padlock in needed. the doors are 14 foot high and have pull chains to open them ( the chains also secure when up and or down. you can easily add a slide lock to the bottom corners ( inside of course ) to your door.

 

[Poolshark314]

I have a roll up door on my shed and it has a slide lock on the outside. I lock it with one of the round padlocks so its hard to get bolt cutters on