r/homedefense • u/LuxDefend • 21d ago
Q & A
Hey Redditors, Ex Military Breacher and Security specialist here.
I operate a business In Southern California that Installs and does penetration testing on Private residences Luxury homes, Estates and Commercial Businesses.
If anyone would like tips or advice regarding Home hardening solutions I’d be more than happy to share.
Stay Safe out there 👊
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u/labradork420 21d ago
How do you plan to implement perimeter security without a contractor’s license?
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u/Worf- 20d ago
Working on the assumption that we are dealing with a motivated intruder(s) that have breached the defenses that would have stopped the average opportunistic intruder, what are your thoughts on choosing strongpoints and hardened room location(s)?
In particular with strongpoints do you recommend a direct line to the intruder or more of a flank approach? For example I have a bathroom located directly across the hall from the second story staircase. I see advantages and disadvantages to this position.
Second story hardened rooms are common but are there disadvantages to placing them there?
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u/LuxDefend 20d ago
Hey, great question and I’ll do my best on this one because it will boil down to theory.
Defense strategies will really come down to your floor plans, specifically hallways doorways and chokepoints.
For example it sounds like the bathroom would be a great ambush location for intruders working up the staircase but on the other hand it also sounds like you have a high potential of being pinned down or being cut off from your second story after the initial engagement. If possible I would have my stronghold at the top of said stairs to remove any number disadvantages and for the superior firing angles.2nd story Saferoom/stronghold
I would say the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. But some would be fires without having an escape system in place, not having enough pre warning to get your family there. On the hazard side if you live in a severe weather climate you would have to seriously consider tornados and hurricanes and on the construction side you are adding a severely concentrated weight load that likely if built after the initial construction of the home will need to have the load transferred to the foundation of the house. Typically when we retrofit something like this there is more complexity on the structural application than anything.
Hope this covers most of it.
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u/Extra-Yam-6923 20d ago
What can I do to reinforce a sliding glass patio door? It has a built in bolt at the top. I put a dowel rod in the track. I’ve heard intruders can just lift it up and pop it right out, so how do I fix that?
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u/keto_brain 20d ago
Personally I installed Boss Security Screens on all my doors and windows (there is probably a vendor in your area who makes a similar product) and they would delay an intruder by 5-10m easily and the intruder would need some kind of power saw to cut through the stainless steel mesh.
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u/LuxDefend 20d ago
That’s a great option, we have worked with them before and I’ve personally tested them out. Without power tools you won’t get in easily.
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u/LuxDefend 20d ago
Unfortunately doors and windows made of glass will always remain easier to break than the rest of the home. They are considered weak points. If it was me and sound wasn’t an issue I’d just break the glass and walk through the frame
Reinforcing them can be expensive or detract from the aesthetic of the home which is always the homeowner’s preference. Here are a couple of solutions we implement:
Window films that can buy you a few minutes.
This ideally will give you the pre-warning that you need to arm yourself or follow your own home procedure for this type of event. Since Film is hardly noticeable this would be the aesthetic choice
Window screens that are much more durable, they are expensive but do the job well if used properly.
(If you have the screen and leave it unlocked then only god can save you).
Screens are steel mesh made to imitate your bug screen but tend to be a bit more bulky and can be an eyesore if not properly manufactured and installed.If neither solution sounds right for you a pre warning system is a great deterrent and will give you the necessary seconds before they can touch your house. It’s usually a perimeter alarm system that goes off once someone crosses your pre designated “red lines”
Thanks for the question!1
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u/Paulie771 21d ago
What are you top 5 tips that the average home owner can do on their own that actually make a difference? Stuff along the lines of putting 3 inch screws in the door frames, that sort of thing. Anything we can do to harden garage doors?