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Although sidelites at your front door can help brighten up your living space these features can also be a pretty major safety issue. There are a few different options when wanting to improve the privacy and safety at your front door but I prefer the ODL Add-on Blinds. I used this same design at my back patio door 3 years ago and I have been very happy with the no maintenance or cleaning of the ODL blinds.
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For privacy this looks great!
For security though, you'd better just replace the whole thing. Won't matter much if it's easy enough to go through another door or a windows though.
My front door is all glass. The ones they make that cover the whole door is perfect. Our dogs discourage thieves, but they bark at anything going by, so we need the door covered. Thanks for the tip! Our house will be much quieter now.
Useless for security and way too expensive.
My door is steel frame and as steel door industrial. For me I don't even want a window in the door.
not my double cylinder dead bolts
I have the 36×22 version on my front door, found on clearance at the local Lowe’s for about $35.
I thought those were called Pocket Windows? Is Side light Vs Pocket Window regional?
These are awesome! Should you have caulked around the original window frame before installing the new glass over it?
The devil invented side lights
I’m sorry, but that adds zero security to the sidelights.
For our house, its more likely a break-in would be attempted on the back door, rather than the front where they'd be very visible from the street. On our backdoor, I just got a piece of Lexan, about 24 inches square, and screwed it to our wooden door.
Good idea and explanation…
To the builders "how about stop putting those damn things in?"
Great idea!
It's more common for burglars to come through a door using a pry bar. It's very fast, effective, and the lower pitch sound attracts less attention than breaking glass. Unless it's a very heavy duty door, and there is a lot re-enforcement of the jam, doors and locks are only a minor inconvenience to a burglar. A high quality metal security door is a bigger deterrent than another layer of glass.
Well, how nifty is that! ????
Years ago we needed a new French door and wanted blinds too. The door contractor said "add the blinds to the outside" and didn't elaborate. We thought he dumb so we ordered doors with blinds between glass (also, for security- impact rated glass). Fast forward, and we saw these at Lowes and finally understood what he meant. We are dreading the day when the built-in blind cord breaks and the whole door needs replacement.
Side note: We live in a not so great 'hood so impact glass was a priority. After getting that, we will NEVER not get impact rated glass- it's so quiet. It's so solid. It's like knocking on a solid hardwood door. Yeah, you could get in with an ax… but 10 neighbors will be calling 911.
Very informative and interesting.
That’s why I have a double keyed deadbolt. No thumb latch inside.
My sidelight panel is hurricane rated, no one is going to get through it.
Pretty cool idea, window tint is another alternative, different pros and cons to it but nice video!
I mean, most front doors around here have a big window right on the door. Many have a giant oval window almost as tall as the door itself! The concern isn’t only limited to “side lights.”
Very sad that we have to live in times where you need to consider "another" way of keeping low lives out of our homes.
I installed one of these on the back door to our deck last year. It was a nice solution, if a bit expensive. Installation was really easy just like Scott showed.
Great idea! That can be a big help
Very interesting product. I never knew you can take the old frame that way. Thank you for sharing
Excellent demonstration. I just checked my front door as they look familiar. It appears I'm using the same ones and installed them over 10 years ago. We have a decorative glass door that has a window the same height as those sidelights and I installed the same brand on it.