We live in a world where personal safety is a major concern. An attractive property is equally important to modern homeowners, who are seeking new ways to secure their homes without compromising on style. Trellidor is best known for the original sliding security gate. But as an innovative brand, we have radically transformed the physical home security landscape in South Africa to satisfy these demands – we’ll show you how.
Traditional physical security measures like metal bars, high fences, and burglar alarms have been used for many years in the local fight against crimes like home robbery. But they also carry a visual and emotional weight that can make homes feel more like fortresses than sanctuaries.
Today, we’re seeing a new wave of home security solutions that merge cutting-edge technology, smart design, and architectural elegance to create security systems that are as attractive as they are effective. Trellidor has been a leading innovator in this change, being first-to-market with new designs, and perfecting others that were already in this space.
Rethinking Security: Beyond the Steel Bars
For decades, physical security has been synonymous with obstruction: solid gates, metal grilles, and reinforced doors. These methods are still highly popular, but the growing demand for open plan living and pleasing architecture has forced a re-evaluation of how we secure our homes.
The growing move away from free-standing homes into highly secure estates has also created a demand for a different type of protection. Here, the requirement isn’t for safeguarding against severe, violent crime. It’s more about preventing petty theft, creating privacy from neighbours, controlling light penetration and airflow, and protection from wildlife such as monkeys.
Modern design thinking prioritises functionality, subtlety, and user experience. The goal is to integrate security seamlessly into the home’s natural layout and the resident’s requirements, often making it invisible to the casual observer.
Invisible Strength: Transparent Barriers
One innovative trend in physical security is the use of transparent barriers that maintain visibility while ensuring protection. For example:
- High-strength polycarbonate panels offer the transparency of glass with high impact resistance. The Trellidor team has taken these panels one step further with the addition of an aluminium frame that encases the polycarbonate strips. Fitted to windows with tamper proof fixings, these units are tough but invisible, preventing a variety of threats from getting inside the home.
- Laminated safety glass, often used in high-end architecture, resists shattering and can delay or prevent forced entry without looking out of place. Coroview sectional doors are an example of this type of barrier. It can be fitted to entertainment areas that lead outdoors as well as to garages.
- Woven steel mesh security screens offer both visual appeal and security. These see-through screens can be custom designed to fit an opening in the home, providing security while allowing light and air to pass through. The Trellidor team introduced security screens to the South African market decades ago and its appeal has grown as people have realised how unobtrusive and multi-purpose it is.
Smart Security Meets Physical Design
Smart home technology is often discussed in terms of cameras and alarms. But the physical aspect of security is now being designed to integrate with these systems. The result is barriers that can be controlled from the smart home’s control centre.
An example available from Trellidor is Rollerstyle rolling shutters. These slatted aluminium doors can be remote controlled to open and close individually or simultaneously. A timer can further automate these functions. Rollerstyle shutters offer:
- Locked down doors and windows to protect the family when home, and their possessions when absent.
- Sleek, modern integration into the home with a slimline design. The door rolls up out of sight into a compact shutter box when not needed.
- A safe, protected zone when fitted to the entrance to the bedroom area. It prevents intruders from reaching the family when asleep at night.
Appealing Integration: Security as a Design Feature
Rather than hiding security features, many modern architects now highlight them as part of the overall appeal of their design. For example, a large front door protected by a charcoal grey sliding steel gate with a multi-point locking system doesn’t just secure your home—it makes a bold statement. Other examples include:
- Aluminium louvre shutters with internal reinforcing that double as blinds plus burglar bars in one elegant barrier – take a look at ShutterView by Trellidor.
- A bank of bi-fold mesh security screens add visual drama to a patio while serving a protective function – try GriffinGuard or Clear Guard, also by Trellidor.
- Cottage pane style burglar bars that match cottage pane windows in both colour and size offer security without permanently altering the home’s look – see Trellidor Cottage Guard.
- Rollerstyle roller shutters powder coated in matt charcoal across a line of bi-fold glass doors amplify the features of a home designed in the industrial style.
This design-forward approach does not just protect you and your home. It also increases its value and visual appeal if the products you choose are carefully considered.
Adaptive Security Systems
Modern physical security increases its return on investment by adapting to a homeowner’s needs as they change. In terms of how Trellidor caters to this need, these might include:
- Expandable security systems that can be extended or retracted depending on the level of security needed. Trellidor-developed home security solutions like sliding steel or aluminium gates and mesh security screens can be closed to keep children safely indoors, away from swimming pools, roads, and other dangers when they’re young.
- Interior room partitioning using Trellidor louvre shutters that divide open plan interiors beautifully, creating separate spaces for different functions. They can be used to create smaller, cosier spaces in winter, then opened up for warm summers.
- All round protection for a lock up and go lifestyle once the family has grown up. Barriers that used to protect the children or improve the look of your home will now protect it from theft and vandalism while you’re away enjoying yourself elsewhere.
Adaptability ensures that security grows with the family, lifestyle, and evolving risks, without requiring constant redesign or renovation.
Designing for Peace of Mind
Groundbreaking new security barrier designs mean that you don’t have to choose between safety and style. You can have both. But there is still a high demand for traditional sliding gates and burglar bars as they satisfy the need for highly visible security that deters criminals.
The Trellidor team has continued to upgrade these familiar forms of burglar proofing as innovative technology and materials become available. The range of retractable trellis-style designs offers strong, easy sliding gates with a smooth, corrosion resistant surface and unique locks – a combination that is hard to find elsewhere.
Inevitably, the big question is ‘what will it cost me?’ Trellidor home security prices will always depend on a number of factors because each barrier is custom made. These factors range from the product chosen to the size of the opening to the restrictions of the location. The best way forward is to request a site visit by a Trellidor consultant. Get them to quote on all the designs you are interested in, then choose the option that best suits your budget and taste.
Throughout the decades it has been designing home security in South Africa, Trellidor has focussed on how you can make your home safer without sacrificing beauty or comfort. Search for ‘trellidor near me’ to find all the help you need to find out how easy and affordable it is to achieve this.
