10769 Security doors/gates - What type

As is the norm, my wife and I cannot agree on the style of security doors we want to fit to the trulli we are restoring.
We are trying to restore using original materials where possible so we are having harwood doors made that are two thirds double glazed with internal scuretti (I think that is the name for the internal wooden blind you can open). For security we need to fit either zincato steel gates or metal louvre style doors but cannot decide on the best option. Here in Puglia you see both options in equal measure.
Has anyone got any wise words about the best solution?

Also with regard to the zincato option, the suppliers we met had a very limited range of styles (more like prison gates) so any ideas on decorative designs would be appreciated. We have spent hours Googling but can find nothing we really like.

Category
Building/Renovation

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 10/25/2008 - 04:36

The reality is usually that you are fairly well limited to the local availability of the different designs. If it is "real" security door you are looking for, the prices start at around €2,000 - so not cheap. They will usually require fairly specialist fitting as well, so they are not something to take lightly.

Perhaps you might like to think of the steel gates that are fitted outside the main doors for security? You can have them made to your own idea by a local ironsmith - or [URL="http://www.google.it/search?hl=it&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=ferro+battuto+puglia&btnG=Cerca&meta="]ferro battuto[/URL] specialist. You will find some very decorative gates of this type around Puglia - around Italy as a whole, in fact.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 10/25/2008 - 05:09

There are wooden doors which have the 'security' metal buried inside them, so you don't see it. They are called porte blindate (porta blindata in the singular). They are mostly used in high end apartment developments, and any aspiring housebreaker will recognise one immediately and leave it alone.

The snag is probably that if your door just looks like a wooden door on a trulli in Puglia there might be thieves less familiar with clocking an impenetrable door, and damage it, and if you are having glazing in the door you'd need to protect that with some iron grille work (which could look very pretty).

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 10/25/2008 - 07:15

Make sure the frame is as strong as the door. I know of a Trullo where, when the thieves couldn't gain access through the super tough top quality door - they simply removed the framework.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 10/25/2008 - 09:20

Any of the doors, windows or shutters should also not have hinges attached on the outside. There are shutters all over Italy that are screwed on from the outside and I know where theives have simply unscrewed the hinges from the outside to access the less secure door or glass window behind.

Unfortunately if a thief has enough time they will probably get in if they want to...the key is to make your place more difficult than the next one so they skip you and move on.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 10/25/2008 - 17:32

Sadly if thieves have enough time they will get past anything so perhaps look around and if you see a nice combo, both aesthetically and security-wise ask the folk nicely where they got it.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 11/21/2008 - 10:58

Actually, the way to break into a trullo is to remove a few roof stones. :winki:

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/30/2008 - 11:52

For our renovation in Basilicata, our architect sourced both a high security door (feels like locking a safe when you turn the key!), and outside bars, which look very nice and don't make the place look too prison-like!