Living Behind Bars

What is your first impression when you're driving through a strange part of town and you begin seeing iron grates and bars on the doors and windows to a store or business establishment?

If you're like most people, you will ensure that your car doors are locked and windows are rolled-up, and quietly hold your breath that your vehicle doesn't stop running, or that you get a flat tire.

With these thoughts prevalent to most people, then what about security bars on windows for the average residential home? Are they deterrents to burglary?

Iron bars are part of life, In fact, very few Spaniards would even think of living without them, and many even enjoy decorating their doors and windows with custom designs that are intended to be both beautiful and secure.

Security
The Meseta Central here in Costa Rica is wonderfully temperate and breezy; you will no doubt wish to have your windows open, perhaps your doors as well.

Before you open up your house to the cooling breezes make sure you have closed the security doors first. Be aware. Be very aware, if you want to keep your belongings -- then lock it up -- at all times.

The simple fact of life is that you must have window bars and door bars fitted on all windows and doors accessible from any roadway or adjoining property.

I have been told that some people with imagination use fishing rods to steal items from houses. It is used to “fish” through the security bars / grills. With today’s fishing rod being up to 15 to 20 feet virtually no part of a medium sized room is safe. So, even if you close the security doors, put any of your valuables out of sight.

You may have been on holiday and been to some Spanish villages and marveled at the apparent lack of crime, judging by all the front doors left open. However, although the doors are open there will almost certainly be someone inside. Even though the front doors are open just cast your eyes to the windows of all the houses along the road. I bet they all have bars fitted unless the windows are on the second floor. Ask yourself, if it is so crime free why all the bars

Are they a good security investment and crime prevention device? For the most part, the answer to these questions is "Yes!" However, allow me to share a few concerns with this type of crime prevention

Bars on windows, when properly installed, do exactly what they are supposed to do. That is, they delay entry by an outsider. And with that thought in-mind, "window security bars have no names." In other words, the bars will delay, or even prevent, not only a burglar, but police officers, paramedics, and fire fighters from making a timely rescue effort. The bars do not discriminate from whom they allow entry into your home. Any delay by emergency response personnel could prove to be a fatal and heartbreaking episode.

If you are considering security bars for your house, or already have them, keep these concerns in-mind:

Current law requires emergency release mechanisms be installed on bars covering windows.

Will the company doing the installation follow this law?

Can children or elderly occupants of your home operate these releases?

Your Spanish home will typically come with bars on doors and windows, but if you build your own home, you will be able to decide whether or not to install this security measure. And, if you plan to have the bars eventually, it is best to do it now as the built-in variety are more secure than those that are installed after construction is finished. Several of the newly developed housing developments do not have a full set of security bars fitted. This is one of the first things you must address. If there are people living nearby talk to them and find out where they got their additional security bars from, would they recommend the same firm? This is not always the case you will find, that people are more than willing to tell you all about the problems they have had.

Be prepared to give up quite some time once you have engaged them in conversation! Drive or walk round the local town to find your own supply and ask for quotes.


Types of Bars
If you get the chance to choose your bars, beware that some are solid and others are hollow. Obviously the solid bars will be more difficult to open - with a carjack, for instance - and are thus a higher quality choice.

Another distinguishing factors between various types of iron bars is whether or not they have been galvanized. Galvanization is a process of coating metal with zinc in order to keep it from oxidizing. Galvanized iron, if it has received a high quality treatment, might avoid rusting for up to 30 years - without maintenance!


Design Factors
You can order custom designs for your windows and doors. And you should be aware that certain designs are more secure than others. Placing bars closer together and using diamond shapes within the design, for instance, both contribute to making the structure more difficult to open.


Maintaining Iron Bars
Because galvanized bars are more expensive, most are not galvanized. Therefore, you will need to maintain the bars as often as rust begins to show through the paint. And as a word of advice, the more meticulous you are during the maintenance process, the less often you will have to repeat this time-consuming task.

The process of maintaining your bars begins with complete removal of all rust. This means you need to thoroughly sand each rusty section. Next, meticulously remove all debris with a dry cloth before applying two coats of a lead primer called "minio de plomo" in Spanish. Finally, you can finish up with a decorative metal paint in the color of your choice. (Note: you can use an anti-oxidant paint in order to prime and paint in a single step.)

It cannot be stressed enough, make sure your property is properly secure before you return home after your completion trip.


Bari