Securing Your Home with Style

Combining several design innovations and a remarkable new glass similar to the security glass being used in U.S. government buildings, Larson Manufacturing has developed what may be the world’s toughest and most beautiful storm door. Marketed under the name SecureElegance, this door just became available to consumers this year.

SecureElegance doors are made with a special type of security glass that is reinforced with a KeepSafe plastic interlayer, which is invisible to the eye. The tough plastic interlayer is produced using heat and pressure to bond a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) plastic interlayer between two panes of tempered glass thereby creating a glass sandwich.

Similar to the glass found in front windshields in cars, the glass doors may crack upon impact, but the glass tends to remain in its frame continuing to offer protection even after repeated blows from an intruder. This strong glass can withstand repeated blows from blunt objects such as crowbars, baseball bats and sledgehammers.

In addition to incorporating a tough plastic interlayer, SecureElegance doors utilize a tough metal frame, hidden hinges and a triple locking system that is unique to the industry. Combined, they are as good for security as the traditional “barred” storm doors but infinitely more attractive.

Jeff Rief, of Larson Manufacturing explains that the company’s objective was to make these doors look like conventional full glass models, so they don’t appear to be an obvious barrier from inside out. According to Rief, “We wanted people to be able to open their homes and let in light without compromising their safety, or the look of their home.”

The glass used in the design of the SecureElegance doors provides additional benefits, including helping to significantly reduce exterior sound, blocking 99 percent of UV rays and improving insulating qualities.