We think it's time to move beyond the idea of home as castle. Let's turn your home into a fortress. From picking the right patio door (one that can't just be lifted off its tracks by a burglar) to tricks like placing a mega-sized dog dish on your porch, we'll help you ensure your home has what it takes to provide security and protection.

Install Impact Glass
You might think doors made with glass would compromise security and privacy. However, impact-resistant glass is now available in decorative designs and patterns that are so beautiful, no one will be the wiser. In addition to providing beauty and home security, "impact rated" glass is approved for installation in areas with the most stringent building codes, meaning it can withstand severe storms with heavy winds, rain and flying debris. Impact glass is also available in clear, grilles-between-glass or Low-E versions for improved energy efficiency.

Choose New Windows
For the safety of your family and property, choose windows for your home—especially near the entry—made with tempered safety glass. Two panes of glass are adhered to a durable plastic interlayer, much like a car windshield. If someone tries to break it, the glass will shatter, but broken pieces remain stuck to the interlayer, preventing glass from falling into the home. Be sure to only open windows that young children can't reach. Simonton offers ventilation locks that allow windows to be partially opened for fresh air while remaining securely locked.

Protect Patio Doors and Windows
Patio doors have a reputation as easy targets for intruders. In addition to security concerns, many patio doors and windows are susceptible to air and water infiltration.

Look for a patio door system that offers a "Design Pressure" rating of 40 or higher. This means that the system can withstand structural test pressure of 60 pounds per square foot; can endure the equivalent of 150 mph winds; will not allow air infiltration under 25 mph winds; and can prevent water penetration under test conditions equal to 8 inches of rain per hour driven by 49 mph winds. Ask for a high-performance sill that will resist rotting and swelling, especially if you live in a rough coastal climate.

Sliding windows and patio doors are also relatively easy to get out of their frames by lifting the window up out of the frame from the outside—the same way you remove it from the inside for cleaning.            

Put a couple of screws into the window track above where the window sits when it's closed. Don't sink the screws all the way in. Leave the heads protruding about 1/4 inch, making it impossible to lift the window up when it's closed. From the inside you can still slide the window and remove it for cleaning by moving it over to the open position and lifting it out. Sliding patio doors can be secured the same way.

The old "stick in the track" method will stop burglars from sliding windows and doors open from the outside. Cut a piece of dowel (about 3/8-inch diameter) to sit in the window or door track so it can't slide open. The dowel is easy for you to put in and remove from inside, but its round shape and the fact that it sits down in the track make it difficult to dislodge from outside. Paint the dowel to match the window frame and it's virtually unnoticeable.

Feeling more adventurous? Drill a hole through the window frame and the window casing, and put a nail into the hole. When the nail is in place, the window can't be opened. This works for all kinds of windows, not just sliding ones.

Basement windows can be more challenging, but installing break-resistant glazing and pins, as explained earlier, can help. Bars or metal grating can prevent forced entry. Decorative bars are available and can be painted to blend with your house's trim.

Review Your Doors and Locks
Lots of folks continue to use the locks their home builder originally installed. These locks are an open invitation to a burglar, since they'll open with a good swift kick. Upgrade the locks in your doors by removing what's there and installing deadbolt locks. Double deadbolts—locks that require a key to be opened from either inside or outside—are the best. Deadbolt locks have a "throw" (the metal finger that sticks out from the lock into the door frame when it's locked) of about 1 inch and provide good security.

These locks come with very good installation instructions, and putting one in is within the average person's capability. If you don't trust yourself, a good handyman can do the job. Consider it an investment in peace of mind.

Upgrading the locks is only part of the solution. The striking plates on the doorjamb and the hinges on your door are probably held in place by screws that are about 1 inch long. These small screws are only long enough to go into the door casing lumber. Here again, a swift kick on the outside of the door will pull the screws right out of the wood. Replace the short screws (hinge side as well) with 3-inch screws that are long enough to go right through the door casing and into the framing lumber (2x4s or 2x6s). With your door firmly attached to the framing lumber, it's much less vulnerable to an intruder's kick.

You should also consider longer striking plates (8 to 12 inches) to replace the existing standard 3-inch striking plate. These larger plates are held in place by five or six screws. Again, attach them with 3-inch screws that go right into the framing lumber.

Adjust Landscaping and Lighting
Take security a step further by adjusting landscaping and lighting to eliminate places where burglars can hide in waiting or enter unseen. Trim shrubbery near doors and windows, and illuminate porches, garage doors and rear and side doorways.

Inside lighting is important, too, so install timers that automatically turn on lights at a certain time every day, even if you're not there. Lighting manufacturers also offer one-touch lighting control systems that let you turn on lights from anywhere, even in your car—so you can avoid entering a dark house.

The Little Things
Leave a pair of large, slightly muddy running shoes on the porch—maybe a big dog dish, too. If you'll be away, stop newspaper and mail deliveries, or ask a neighbor to pick them up. Don't forget those advertising flyers that can pile up—a sure sign no one's home.

Let's face it...your home needs to be on duty 24/7. Not only does it need to shield you from prowlers and burglars but it also needs to provide insulation from extreme temperatures and ensure safety and property protection from storms with high winds, flying debris and driving rain.

Call on the experts at Handyman Connection to upgrade your materials and help you make lighting and landscaping changes. You can also request a home inspection to make sure your home is truly ready to withstand the elements (you really should do one yearly) from the pros at Pillar to Post. Our local, trusted partners are reliable, affordable and ready to help.

Thank you to Home Minders for assistance with some elements of this article.

[main image: Greg Dale | National Geographic Collection | Getty Images]