Horizontal Burglar Bars
Steel bars in clean horizontal lines, embedded 50mm into the brickwork.
Products
Burglar Bars
Steel, transparent, and retractable barring for every window. Embedded into the brickwork, custom-made to the opening, and powder-coated to match your frames.
Burglar bars are a physical barrier fitted across a window so the opening cannot be climbed through. Windows are among the most vulnerable entry points in any home or business, and bars guard them around the clock, even when no one is home. DEFENDoor® makes four kinds, and which one suits a window comes down to what that window still needs to do.
Each product is different, but what they have in common is how they are made. Every kind is manufactured from high-quality steel or polycarbonate and tailored to your window rather than trimmed from a stock panel. They are rust-treated and powder-coated, which is what suits them to coastal regions and humid areas. The powder coating also matches the bars to your existing frames, and bars painted the same colour as the frame they sit against all but disappear from a distance.
- Kinds of barring
- 4
- Steel bars embedded into the wall
- 50mm
- Protection, no alarm required
- 24/7
Built into every DEFENDoor® bar
The four kinds differ in how they look and whether the window still opens, but a common build standard runs under all of them.
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Protection that never switches off
Bars guard a window around the clock, with nothing to arm, set, or power. Because they are physical, they stop an intruder at the window, which is what makes them valuable in high-risk or isolated areas.
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Rust resistance built in
The materials are treated for rust resistance and finished with a durable powder coating, so the bars stand up to harsh weather and long exposure. That suits them to coastal regions and humid areas.
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Made to any window
Bars are custom-made to fit any window size and architectural style, so they sit cleanly in the opening. Nothing is cut down from a stock panel.
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Colour matched to your frames
The powder-coated finish is smooth and clean, and comes in a range of colours that can be matched to your existing window frames, so the bars settle into the look of the house.
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Fixed or swing-away
Fixed units suit a window that just needs securing. Swing-away units suit a window that doubles as an escape route or has to open fully for ventilation. It is worth deciding this room by room.
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Payment terms available
Finance runs over up to 24 months through FeverTree, so a whole house of windows need not be done one at a time.
Which one do you need?
All four secure a window. They differ in whether the window still opens, how much you can see through, and how the building looks afterwards.
Horizontal Burglar Bars
Clean horizontal lines in 19mm steel, embedded into the brickwork.
- Best for
- Modern frames, commercial premises, and any window that does not need to open fully
- Does the window still open?
- No, though swing-away units are available; fixed units secure it permanently
- What you see
- Clean horizontal lines rather than a pattern
- Material and fixing
- 19mm steel on 25 x 12mm side supports, embedded 50mm into the brickwork
- Guarantee
- 18 months
Cottage Pane Burglar Bars
A traditional pane pattern, with every bar epoxied into the wall.
- Best for
- Cottage-pane and Georgian windows, older houses, and anywhere plain bars would look wrong
- Does the window still open?
- No, though swing-away units are available; fixed units secure it permanently
- What you see
- A divided pane pattern that follows the window’s own proportions
- Material and fixing
- 10mm round verticals on 19mm horizontals, epoxied 50mm into the wall on all sides
- Guarantee
- 18 months
Window Security Fixtures
The DX trellis range, built to a window rather than a doorway.
- Best for
- Windows used for ventilation or access, and any window that is also an escape route
- Does the window still open?
- Yes, the opening can be cleared, which is the whole reason to choose one over fixed bars
- What you see
- Single steel bars and high-security flights across the opening
- Material and fixing
- Single steel bars with stainless rivets, in four models: DX-222, DX-420, DX-310, DX-215
- Guarantee
- 5 years, and 2 years on the entry-level DX-215
Transparent Burglar Bars
Lexan polycarbonate bars, optionally armed to your alarm.
- Best for
- Windows where the view is the point, and frontages where steel would change the building
- Does the window still open?
- No, but nothing crosses the glass, so the window still reads as a window
- What you see
- Nothing. The bars do not obstruct the view at all
- Material and fixing
- Lexan polycarbonate, 6mm x 30mm or 8mm x 30mm, in an extruded aluminium channel
- Guarantee
- 5 years
Most houses take more than one of these. The free on-site assessment goes room by room, with no obligation attached.
Burglar bars and fixtures we make
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Cottage Pane Burglar Bars
A traditional divided-pane pattern, every bar epoxied into the wall.
Window Security Fixtures
The DX trellis range, sized for windows instead of doorways.
Transparent Burglar Bars
Clear Lexan polycarbonate bars, armed to your alarm or left unarmed.
How installation works
Good security should be as easy to install as it is to live with. Here is how an order works, from first visit to finished job.
It starts with an on-site assessment. One of our consultants measures the windows and talks through what you want: the design, the colour, the configuration, and which windows need to open. That is where the choice between fixed and swing-away units gets made, room by room.
Once the specifications are confirmed, your bars are manufactured to that exact fit and finish. Nothing is adapted from a stock size, which is why we measure on site ourselves instead of working from a photograph.
Our own trained teams carry out the installation. They mount the bars with tamper-resistant fittings and take care not to damage your existing frames or the structure around them. Steel bars are embedded into the brickwork rather than screwed to a frame, which is what makes them hold. Where a job also includes fixtures or retractable gates, the crew aligns everything and finishes it cleanly.
Most projects are finished within a single day, depending on the scope. The result should look like part of the building itself.
Frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of installing burglar bars on my windows?
Burglar bars give a window a physical barrier that guards your home or business around the clock, even when no one is there. They act as a first line of defence and are especially valuable in high-risk or isolated areas. Because they are physical, they stop an intruder at the window.
Which kind of burglar bar should I choose?
The right burglar bar depends on what the window still has to do. If it needs to open fully or serves as an escape route, choose a window security fixture. If you want to keep the view, choose transparent Lexan bars. If the window is period or cottage-pane, the traditional pane pattern suits it. Otherwise, plain horizontal steel bars are the strongest and most affordable option. Most houses end up with more than one kind.
Can burglar bars be customised to fit different window sizes and styles?
Yes. Every DEFENDoor® burglar bar is custom-made to fit any window size and architectural style, worked to your exact measurements rather than adapted from a stock panel. That applies right across the range, including the transparent bars and the window fixtures.
Are DEFENDoor® burglar bars resistant to rust and corrosion?
Yes. All DEFENDoor® burglar bars are treated for rust resistance and finished with a high-quality powder coating, which makes them highly durable. That is what suits them to coastal regions and humid areas, where an untreated bar would not last.
Do burglar bars affect the look of my home?
Burglar bars need not detract from a home when they are specified well. They are designed to blend with the architecture, custom colours let them match your frames, and different bar styles suit different buildings. Where bars would still look wrong on a frontage, the transparent range obstructs nothing at all.
How do I maintain burglar bars?
Burglar bars need very little maintenance. Wipe them regularly with a damp cloth to clear dust and debris, and use mild detergent and water for tougher grime. Avoid abrasive cleaners, which damage the powder-coated finish.
How long does installation take?
Most burglar bar projects are finished within a single day, depending on the scope. Our own trained crews carry out the installation with tamper-resistant fittings, taking care not to damage your existing frames or the surrounding structure.
How long is the guarantee on burglar bars?
Guarantees vary by product. Horizontal and cottage pane steel bars carry 18 months, and the transparent Lexan bars carry 5 years. Window security fixtures follow the DX range terms: 5 years on the DX-222, DX-420, and DX-310, and 2 years on the entry-level DX-215.
Not sure which burglar bar you need?
Tell us about the opening and we will come out, measure, and recommend. Free assessment, nationwide.
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