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OME REPAIR AND M
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HEAVY-DUTY
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STRIKEPLATES
REINFORCEDFACEPLATE
SASH LOCK
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WINDOWPINAND KEY
HANDRAILBRACKET
ANDCLIP
MULTIPURPOSESAFETY LOCK
CHILDPROOFINGCATCH
DRAWER LOCK
RIMLOCK
SHOWCASELOCK
HOME REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENT
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HOME REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENT
HOME
SAFETY
AND
SECURITY
BY THE EDITORS OF TIME-LIFE BOOKS, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
The Consultants
let'l Palumbo is a registered journeyman car-
penterwho has a home-building and remod-
eling business in northern Virginia. His interest
in carpentry was sparked by his grandfather, a
master carpenter with more than 50 years' ex-
perience. Mr. Palumbo teaches in the Fairfax
County Adult Education Program.
Mark M. Steele is a professional home inspec-
tor in the Washington, D.C., area. He has de-
veloped and conducted training programs in
homeown-
home-ownership skills for first-time
ers. He appears frequently on television and
radio as an expert in home repair and con-
sumer topics.
David A. Mandel is the vice president of Liberty
Lock and Security, Inc., in Rockville, Maryland.
He is a memberofthe board ofdirectors ofthe
National Burglarand Fire Alarm Association
(NBFAA) and a past presidentofthe National
Capital Alarm Association.
CONTENTS
BARRIERS AGAINST BREAK-INS
5
Barriers against Break-Ins
A safe and secure home requires protection against fire and accidents as well as bur-
glary. Yet for many homeowners, break-ins remain the principal concern, largely be-
cause many residences are poorly equipped to bar intrusion. The improvements on the
following pages—a chain-link fence, well-placed yard lights, sturdy locks and window
grilles—can provide all the protection mosthomes need, simply and economically.
A Boundary of Chain-Link Fence 8 Basic Locks and Bolts 32
A Guardian for the Front Door
Anchoring the Posts
Protection for Special Doors
Installing the Top Rails
Hanging the Wire Mesh Locking Sheds and Garages
Taking Up the Slack
Gates for Walks and Driveways Putting On a Better Lock 38
Replacing Cylinders
Low-Cost Lighting 1
Adding a Deadbolt
Working with Conduit Installing a Spring Latch
Running a Cable for an Outside Light The Right Way to Attach a Rim Lock
A Mortise Lock
Tapping an Existing Fixture
Installing a Box in Concrete Block Vertical Bolts for French Doors
An Exit from a Basement or Crawlspace
Recessing a Light in a Stairway Wall Windows That Cannot Be Forced Open 47
Mounting a Fixture in an Eave
Adapting a Yard Light to a Mercury-Vapor Bulb Locks for Double-Hung Windows
An Incandescent Flood Lamp A Keyed Latch in a Casement Window
Low-Voltage Lighting
50
Panes of Shatter-Resistant Plastic
Strengthening Vulnerable Doorways 26
Setting Plastic in a Wood Sash
Holes to Grip Screws Tight Procedures for Metal Sashes
Matching Bits to Screws
Sawproofing a Door Ready-Made Window Grilles 52
A Deadbolt Strike Box
Stiffening a Frame Anchors for Masonry Walls
Securing Problem Doors
Safes and Vaults for the House 54
Repositories for Your Valuables
Building a Safe into a Wall
Bolting a Safe to the Floor
An Enclosure of Concrete Blocks
Homemade Strongrooms
A Boundary of Chain-Link Fence
Anyfenceisapsychologicalbar- is galvanized to preventrust, and it
rier, butahigh chain-linkfenceis a weathers to a dull gray. At addition-
realobstacleto illegalentry. Bur- al cost, you canbuy mesh and posts
glars alsoknowthatsuch afence with acolored vinyl coating; dark
makesremoval ofvaluablesawk- green is popularbecause itblends
ward andhighlyvisible. with shrubbery.
Anchors or Concrete: Posts for Planning the Job: Where you can
a chain-link fence mustbe set in place a fence and how high it is al-
concrete onlywhen the soil is lowed to be are generally regulated
rocky orvery sandy. Elsewhere, by code. Itiswise to set afence
metal anchors (right) simplify the afoot or so inside yourproperty
job. They also make the installation line to avoid accidentally infringing
go fast: Using anchors, two work- on the nextlot.
ers normally can erect 300 to 500 Before ordering materials, draw
feet offencing, complete with a rough scale map. Ma—rkthe loca-
gates, in aweekend. Concrete foot- tions ofterminal posts thickposts
ings, on the otherhand, require at needed atgates, corners, and other
least 2 days to harden before the positions as described in Step 1, op-
mesh can be installed. posite. Sketch in additional posts,
known as line posts, so thatno
Selecting Materials: Ifyou have a posts are more than 10 feet apart.
choice, buyheavy-gauge posts; Usingthe map, afence distributor
lighterones cost less, butthe tops can supplywire mesh, posts, and
may deform asthey are driven into hardware forthejob. Many distribu-
place, complicating thejob. Consid- tors also rent special tools, such as
er cosmetic issues whenyou post drivers, stretcherbars (page
choose the chain-link mesh. The 13), and cablejacks, or"come-
least expensive and most common alongs," to pull the fencing taut.
TOOLS Ropes MATERIALS Rail bands and SAFETY TIPS
Lineman's pliers cups
Posthole digger Cable jacks Wood stakes Top rails Put on goggles whenever you are
or shovel Stretcher bars Metal post anchors Tension bars hammering something at or above
Torpedo level Hammer or concrete Tension bands, waist level, and have your helper don
Post driver Adjustable wrench Line posts and caps nuts, and bolts a hard hat to steadyposts that you
File Electric drill with Terminal posts and Tie wires are driving. Cloves protect your
Sledgehammer carbide bits caps Prefabricated gate, hands when you work with individual
(12-lb.i Grindstone attach- Chain-link mesh hinges, and latch strands ofwire or with wet concrete.
Hacksaw ment
