Tag Archives: security

Interior Window Security Bars

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Inside view of bathroom windows

Inside view of bathroom window security bars

Many older style homes and units have outward opening bathroom windows which makes it difficult to install suitable security bars. The solution we offered a client was to install them on the inside of the bathroom windows.

Interior security bar installations present their own set of difficulties not least of which is being able to open and close the windows which are now behind the bars.

These particular windows have a long arm which needed to be able to swing up from the locked position and then pivot out to push the window open. This was achieved by using a cross motif in the design which allows the opening arm to be manipulated through the open areas of the bars.

Window opening arm operation.

Window opening arm operation.

Exterior view of bathroom windows

Exterior view of bathroom windows

 

ODEON Art Deco Security Doors

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Art Deco security doors

ODEON style Art Deco security doors on an Inner city semi.

These ODEON style Art Deco security doors make an attractive additional to this turn of the century Sydney Semi.

The double doors stand three metres tall and mirror the arched entry to the verandah. The high centre opening doors create an impressive and expansive entrance to the house.

The top and bottom drop bolts used to secure the left hand side door have been fitted inside the door frame and operate in a similar manner to a rifle bolt with the operate knobs fitted near the centre of the door. With the right hand side door locked the drop bolts are also locked as they can only operate with the right hand door open.

The all steel framework is painted a metallic grey and fitted with plain dead lock. The ODEON is one of several designs unique to DecoWorks Pty Ltd.

Another view of the ODEON style Art Deco security doors

Another view of the ODEON style Art Deco security doors

The silhouette of the ODEON security doors

The silhouette of the ODEON from the hallway of the house

 

Art Deco Front Gate

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Plaza style Art Deco front gate

Plaza style Art Deco front gate

This Plaza style Art Deco front gate makes a stylish entrance into the new front courtyard of this terrace house.

In collaboration with the client the standard Plaza design was adjusted to suit the new front courtyard wall which replaced the old fence of the terrace house.

The addition of the garden bed along the front of the wall helps create an attractive overall design to the new wall.

 

gate silhouette looking from courtyard

View looking out from the courtyard

Another view of the courtyard entrance

Another view of the courtyard entrance

Stainless Steel Security Grille

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Artistic stainless steel window security grille

Artistic stainless steel window security grille installation

This unique artistic stainless steel security grille makes a very stylish addition to this family home in Sydney. The brief from the client was that she did not want traditional security bars on the front lounge room window because it would feel like living in a cage. In collaboration with the client the design evolved into a sinuous web of leafy vines.

Stainless steel was chosen for the construction to ensure a long and corrosion free life. Using flat bar gave the design a light and airy look while still maintaining a strong structure. More information on the stainless steel security grille construction can be found here.

Detail of the artistic security grille

Detail of the artistic security grille

Artistic Security Bars

Artistic security grille painted and ready for installation

Artistic security grille painted and ready for installation

Started work making artistic security bars for a front window today. The client did not want anything resembling security bars to avoid that *caged in* feeling. It was particularly important for the this window as it is quite large at 2.2m x 1.5m and looks out from the lounge room onto the street. The final design evolved into a sinuos group of ivy vines with no straight lines.

Long term corrosion was of concern for the client so these artistic security bars are made from stainless steel. They will outlive the house.

Stainless steel is an excellent material to use for custom security doors and bars which, because they are one-offs, are more expensive to build. By spending a bit more for stainless steel materials the client is guaranteed a product that will stand the test of time and be a sound long term investment for their property.

Welding the stainless steel parts together proved to be a difficult job. The design is all curves which had to be joined together seamlessly. Each weld was executed and smoothed one at a time because most of the welds would be inaccessible in the completed grille. To reduce warping the grille was welded in sections with the outer frame being the last part attached. The welding process took three days.

Starting work cutting and bending curves

Starting work cutting and bending curves for the artistic security grille

artistic security bars welding setup

All the stainless steel parts setup ready for welding

Welding artistic security bars

Welding the artistic security grille in sections to reduce warping

Completed artistic security bars

Completed artistic security grille with primer coat.

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Regal Art Deco Security Door

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Regal Art Deco security door installation

Regal Art Deco security door installation

The Regal Art Deco security door is a new design from DecoWorks. It is based on an Art Deco style leadlight window in the clients house which I thought would work really well as a security door. After seeing the design (based on the leadlight window) the client decided to go ahead and have it built.

The door is totally unique and is a great addition to the look of the house. The radiating fan and chevron motifs seem to express a burst of energy upwards from the bottom pyramid motif giving the design an exciting and uplifting feel.

Although the Regal is a complicated design the extra effort involved in its realisation is more than offset by its striking appearance. The door has an integral insect screen to keep out insects on a hot day when the front door is left open allowing a breeze to flow through the house.

Assembling the Regal security door on its template

Starting assembly of the Regal security door

Fitting door side support and hinges

Fitting door side support and hinges

Undercoated Regal Art Deco security door

Undercoated Regal Art Deco security door in its test frame

Silhouette of Regal door

Silhouette of the Regal Art Deco security door looking out from the hallway

Restored Art Deco Security Door

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New security bars

Building entrance with new security bars

The picture on the right shows the restored Art Deco security door on a Potts Point Inter-war apartment building.

Over the years several coats of paint had been applied to hide the corrosion that was occurring on the door and grille and additional security mesh and drop bar locks had been unsympathetically attached with pop rivets to ad-hock frames welded to the original Art Deco security door frame.

The door and frame were removed and all extraneous additions removed. The paint was cut back to bare metal and several severely corroded sections (#1 bottom) were removed with a grinder (#2) and welded (#3) before being ground back into shape (#4). To restrict access to the back of the door a perforated steel panel with 11mm square holes was welded to the back of the door bars. The Art Deco security door was then treated with rust converter before having an anti-corrosion etch primer applied. Finally two coats of epoxy enamel were applied to finish the job.

Art Deco security door restoration

Comparison of the old security door and the restored version

Fixing rust

Steps in repairing corroded steel bar

Inter-war Art Deco Security Bars

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The Carlysle style Art Deco security bar design

The owners of this Potts Point inter-war apartment block wanted to replace the existing contemporary window security bars with an Art Deco style more sympathetic with the heritage of the building. The existing bars, a modern addition, added nothing to the buildings character and were likened to “Play School” windows.

A new custom design was developed from an original wrought iron side security door which had survived from when the building was originally built. The most prominent feature was a wave pattern across the top of the door above two opposing scroll features. This motif became the basis of the new design for the window security bars for the building.

To keep costs down the original security bar outer frames and anchor points were retained. The old bars were cut out and the new design was fitted inside the old frames. This greatly simplified the subsequent re-installation of the security bars. The original side security door was also restored and this is described in another post.

Comparison of before/after security bars at the front of the building


Rear security windows

Here is a before/after view of the rear of the building which faces Greenknowe Avenue