South Africa’s scenic coastline offers unparalleled beauty, a relaxed lifestyle, and excellent investment potential. But it also has its challenges and property-related crimes in coastal areas remain a significant concern. Aluminium security gates are an effective way of meeting these challenges head-on.
Modern security gates like Trojan Alu Classic made by Trellidor are capable of safeguarding your home because they have in-built strength. These retractable security gates are corrosion resistant, which is a critical feature for any fitting installed in coastal homes. They are also visually pleasing. They have no external rivets, just a beautifully smooth surface powder coated in the selected colour.
Crime Trends in Coastal Areas
Recent statistics show a patchy picture in terms of property crimes in South Africa’s coastal regions. Burglary, residential robbery, and carjackings have increased in some areas. The figures represent a real threat to the security of coastal homes and the people that live in them.
In other areas home robberies and other crimes have decreased. This is usually due to targeted interventions like contracting private security companies to patrol the area. These measure create extra costs for homeowners.
Why Coastal Properties Are Especially Vulnerable
Several factors make coastal homes more susceptible to break-ins and vandalism:
- Isolation
Many coastal homes are situated in secluded areas. Visibility is limited and there are few neighbours. There may dense vegetation that hides the home from street view. Some are far from the nearest police station. This isolation provides cover for intruders.
- Seasonal Occupancy
Holiday homes are often vacant for months at a time. They become easy targets for burglars, who monitor occupancy patterns. Empty homes give criminals plenty of time to break in and take whatever they’re looking for.
- Weather Exposure
Salt air, humidity, and intense winds can weaken security fixtures. Weak burglar proofing, worn gates, and damaged locks make it easier for criminals to break into the home.
- Tourist Activity
Coastal towns experience seasonal influxes of visitors. This brings with it an increase in crime. Local police may be understaffed, under resourced, and unable to patrol all areas regularly.
- Valuable Assets
Coastal properties may contain valuables attractive to criminals. These range from electronics to jewellery, and art.
The Solution is Aluminium Security Gates
Top coastal security gates like Trojan Alu Classic are a simple, effective solution to weaknesses in coastal home security. They are manufactured in both sliding and fixed formats. The gates can be fitted to windows, doors, passages, staircases, patios, and between the garage and house. This creates wrap-around security that makes the home less of a target for criminals.
Here’s why Aluminium Security Gates are Ideal for Coastal Homes:
1. Durable in Harsh Conditions
Metal security barriers are vulnerable to rust. They deteriorate in salty air, especially if the powder coating is inferior quality. Coastal weather is tough on building materials, and rusted sliding security gates can become safety liabilities.
On the other hand, aluminium is naturally resistant to corrosion. Powder-coated aluminium maintains its integrity for years. It requires minimal maintenance, even in the harshest seaside climates.
The Trellidor Trojan Alu Classic manufacturing process includes an anti-corrosion treatment. This is followed by a high quality powder coating that coats all surfaces. The result is a strong, corrosion resistant security gate that performs well in harsh conditions.
2. Strength and Security
Modern aluminium security gates are engineered to be incredibly strong. They are lighter than steel but are not easily compromised, especially when fitted with advanced locking systems. Custom-fitted aluminium sliding security gates are a highly effective physical barrier against forced entry.
The Trojan Alu Classic gate has a robust lock that is capable of resisting attack. Each lock has a computer cut key with a one-of-a-kind code that prevents cloning. Turn the key in the lock and it locks in several places inside the lock stile, adding extra resistance to any attempt to breach it.
Aluminium outside security gates are perfect for coastal locations. But it is better to fit them to the inside of windows and doors if possible. This forces criminals to first break through a window or door before trying their luck on the security barrier. All this creates noise and the risk of discovery, which is often enough to persuade criminals not to try.
3. Visual Appeal
Aluminium gates work well as dependable protection from crime in coastal homes of all types. This is because they can be clearly seen from outside the home. The message they send is that this home is well protected, which helps to put robbers off trying to break in.
Trojan Alu Classic aluminium security gates attractive as well as highly visible. They have an appealing, smooth finish on all surfaces with no external rivets. The gates can be powder coated in a preferred colour so that they blend in seamlessly with décor.
4. Low Maintenance
Aluminium gates are easy to maintain. A simple cleaning process is often enough to keep them looking like new. This is a major advantage over other metals, which can rust and need regular painting or treatment.
Outside security gates must be cleaned regularly regardless of what they’re made from. This is because of the harsh environment they’re exposed to. But even if the aluminium retractable gates are fitted inside the home, they will need wiping down every now and then.
The recommendation is that if the home is within 500 metres of the sea, security barriers should be wiped down at least once every two weeks. Between 500m and 5km of the beachfront, this should be done a minimum of once a month. Between 5km and 10km away, do it at least every three months. Further away than that, every six months.
Find out more on cleaning security gates
5. Customisation and Versatility
Trojan Alu Classic aluminium gates can be customised to fit any entry point. This includes sliding gates for doors and windows, and fixed grilles for windows. They are powder coated in whatever colour the customer prefers.
In certain locations Trellidor Trojan Alu Classic gates can be designed with:
- A hinge up track to lift bottom track up and out of the way to avoid a tripping hazard.
- A hinge away track to allow the entire gate stack to swing out of the way to save space.
- Angled units that lock in a corner with no need for a pillar.
- A doggy door for pet access, although this option requires customer indemnity as it isn’t as safe as a complete gate.
- Different types of sash including single, double, flexi, or fixed.
- A choice of keys if there is more than one gate – gates are either keyed alike (all gates have the same key) or random (each gate has a different key).
Tips for Choosing the Right Aluminium Security Solution
- Choose with a Reputable Supplier
Work with a company like Trellidor that specialises in security solutions. They understand the unique conditions of coastal properties.
- Request a Professional Assessment
A site inspection can identify the most vulnerable access points and suggest tailored solutions. Trellidor sales consultants offer this as a free service so that you can plan your security armed with useful knowledge.
- Prioritise Strong Locks
Invest in high-quality locks. Locks are often the first point on the gate attacked by intruders. Trellidor security gate locks are purpose-designed and have unique keys for added protection.
- Combine Strength and Design
In risky situations you need the strongest security barriers you can afford. Don’t compromise on strength just because a barrier looks attractive. Choose barriers that have strength under attack as well as appealing design.
- Protect Windows Too
It’s not enough to install just a front door security gate. All entry doors and windows should be protected from intruder break-ins. Trojan Alu Classic can be made to protect all openings, from small to large and even those high up and seemingly out of reach.
- Layer Security Measures
Security needs to be multi-layered. Aluminium retractable gates should be part of a broader strategy that includes motion-sensor lighting, CCTV, and alarm systems. The more layers your home has, the harder it is for intruders to get into.
