As a nation full of outdoor living fans, it’s clear to see why Aussie homeowners love their alfresco areas. These covered outdoor living areas provide a wonderful blend of comfortable luxury living, and open-air entertaining. What’s more, they’re also incredibly flexible and can be used as dining areas, lounges, sunrooms, and even just another kitchen or barbecue set-up for your family to enjoy. With a versatile alfresco living space, the sky’s the limit when it comes to both aesthetics and functionality.
There’s only one downside to bringing the outdoors in, however, and that’s security. As alfresco living spaces are transitional areas melding your garden to your home interiors, they can be a vulnerable point of entry into your home if they’re not secured properly.
Thankfully, here at Affordable Pergolas, our extensive experience with creating stunning, functional alfresco living spaces, has also equipped us with all the necessary know-how for designing with security in mind. Here’s what you need to consider when securing your alfresco lounge space.
Ensure all doors and gates are secure
Most standard doors and gates come with basic latches that can often easily be opened from the street-side. Instead of making do with these and hoping for the best, we recommend working with a professional locksmith to install a multi-point locking system for maximum security. This can include a latch bolt, a deadbolt, and cylinder lock for improved security.
If you’re working with us to design your own alfresco living space, we’ll make sure to use locks you’d prefer for connecting doorways. If you’re working with existing doors and gates, however, then you’re welcome to consult with a professional locksmith.
Pro tip: working with a 24/7 locksmith is generally recommended to ensure you always have access to support in the event of an after hours callout.
Upgrade your fencing for extra security
A fence is among the most important outdoor security fixtures you can have, so it’s essential that yours is up to scratch. Here, it’s crucial to secure all entry points along the fence. We also recommend upgrading your fence as needed, including repairing any wear and tear that might have accumulated over the years.
It’s important to consider materials when designing your property fencing as well. Timber screens are a classic option that’s versatile enough to suit many different alfresco styles while still providing security. But there are also plenty of other options on the market today, including PVC, aluminium and steel, all of which have their own pros and cons.
For example, Colorbond steel fencing is seen as the gold standard for many Aussie homeowners today. Although they’re harder to scale, these UV-resistant fence panels can also maintain a higher price point when compared to traditional timber slat fencing.
Install LED security lighting for added visibility
A good security lighting system with motion-activated sensor technology can definitely aid in deterring bad actors looking for an opportunity to break in. Outside of security considerations, however, ensuring your alfresco space is well-lit is also a no-brainer in terms of comfort and liveability – especially if you’re looking to incorporate kitchen amenities into your alfresco design. Work-friendly lighting is a must for maximising the functionality of your alfresco kitchen.
There are plenty of ways to light your alfresco space, so it won’t be hard to find a lighting system that suits your aesthetic tastes. For instance, if all-purpose lighting isn’t your thing, you can create layers by installing festoon strings and pendants. You can also consider options like floor lights, fairy lights and various types of wall-mounted light fixtures.
Pro tip: worried about your alfresco space being too illuminated and thus visible from the outside? Why not install double roller blinds or other strategic coverings over windows and sliding glass doors to reduce visibility for outsiders looking in during evening hours?
Set up smart CCTV for round-the-clock surveillance
CCTV security systems can act both as a physical deterrent, as well as a solution for capturing evidence in the event that trespassers do gain access to your home through your alfresco living space. The key to maximising the value of your home’s CCTV system is, of course, ensuring your camera angles are optimised for peak coverage.
It may take a little trial and error to set up camera positions that provide optimal vantage points across your property. In fact, you may find you have more blind spots than anticipated, resulting in you needing to secure more cameras than you thought you needed. This is also the reason why a lot of homeowners opt to partner with professional electricians with CCTV experience when installing their camera systems. You can use their professional eye to make sure your angles are primed from the get-go.
As for using your cameras as a visible deterrent, it’s best to ensure that your cameras are positioned so that they may be visible from passersby on the street. You can even include signage in your front garden or along your fence stating that the area is being monitored by CCTV, if you’d prefer it.
When choosing camera systems, consider finding models that allow for at least a 110°+ view of the area to minimise blind spots. Most security experts today recommend a minimum of 1080p, but 2K and 4K with thermal or infrared vision of at least 720-1080p, can provide a much clearer resolution and reliable footage across all hours and light conditions, in case you ever need to identify a face between dusk to dawn.
Design your own 100% secure alfresco living area
Adding an alfresco area to your home is a fantastic way to make the most of your outdoor space and create an area where you and your loved ones can spend time.
However, building an alfresco also comes with its own set of unique security risks. Luckily, these risks are nothing that some good forward planning can’t alleviate, as you can see from today’s guide.
Here at Affordable Pergolas, we help homeowners build alfresco living spaces that are both beautiful and secure. If you’re interested in upgrading your outdoor area, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.
