Attractive Security For Patio Doors

When Hubby and I built our house, we knew we wanted a screened porch. (Sitting outside and having a few drinks is our favorite way to spend an evening... especially with our posse.) This meant patio doors.

However, I have always considered patio doors to be a security risk. Aside from being made of glass, it is very difficult to secure them from opening without an ugly or invasive device.

Our solution was to install sliding wood pocket doors over the patio doors. This served multiple purposes: better insulation, extra security, and the ability to cover the patio doors for a more "formal" appearance when entertaining in that manner.

Here are our patio doors with the pocket doors open. Look pretty standard, right? (Note: They aren't sliding doors. The right side door is stationary, and the left side door swings like a standard door.)

Here they are with the pocket doors shut. We love the way they look!

The pocket doors lock together with a basic interior lock. However, I wanted extra security (of course). So on the edge of the pocket door that covers the entrance patio door, we installed sliding bolt locks on the top and bottom. The bolts slide into holes in the doorframe and floor, respectively. Here's a photo:

And here's a picture with just the "secure" pocket door closed. Since the entrance patio door swings to the inside of the house, opening it with the pocket door closed is impossible without a lot of force (and noise).

So that's how I developed a more secure patio door that's attractive and functional. It's not super secure, but it does provide additional safety.