Security is near the top of every South African homeowner’s list, so it’s a fair question to ask: are aluminium windows secure? The short answer is yes — aluminium is a strong, rigid metal, and paired with laminated safety glass and good locks, aluminium windows secure your home well. But real security always comes from a combination of the frame, the glass and the hardware working together. This guide explains what makes aluminium windows secure, and the practical choices that make them even harder to get past.
Are aluminium windows secure?
Aluminium is a genuinely strong material. The frames are rigid and hold their shape, so they don’t flex or bow easily the way a weaker frame might, and they hold locking hardware firmly. That makes them a solid, hard-to-force base. It’s worth being clear, though: no window on its own is completely burglar-proof. What makes aluminium windows secure in practice is the whole package — a strong frame, the right glass, and quality locks — so it’s best to think about all three together.
Strong, rigid aluminium frames
Aluminium won’t rot, rust or warp, so the frame keeps its strength and stays square for decades, and the locking points stay properly aligned. Slim aluminium sections are deceptively strong, resisting bending and prying far better than they look. A frame that holds its shape and grips its hardware is the foundation of a secure window, which is a big part of why aluminium windows secure a home so effectively over the long term.
The glass matters most
For security, the glass is often the weakest link — and this is where your Coetz windows have a real advantage. They’re glazed with 6.38mm laminated safety glass as standard. Laminated glass has a tough interlayer bonded between two panes, so if it’s struck it tends to hold together rather than shattering into a clear opening, which slows an intruder down and is far more resistant than ordinary glass. For higher-risk situations, thicker laminated or dedicated security glass can be specified — mention it when you request a quote.
Locks and hardware
Good locking turns a strong window into a secure one. Look for quality locking handles, key-lockable window stays, and multi-point locking on doors, which bolt the leaf at several points around the frame rather than one. Keeping keys out of reach of the window and using the locks consistently matters just as much as the hardware itself. Quality hardware is a simple, high-impact way to make aluminium windows secure.
Extra security you can add
Where you want another layer, aluminium windows work well with the usual add-ons:
- Security or safety film applied to the glass for extra hold
- Burglar bars or decorative security bars fitted to the reveal
- Clip-on or fixed security screens (mesh) over the opening
- Upgraded thicker laminated or security glass in high-risk openings
- An alarm or beam linked to your security system
Layering a couple of these on top of a strong aluminium frame and laminated glass gives a genuinely tough, well-protected window.
How to make your aluminium windows more secure
- Choose (or keep) laminated safety glass, and upgrade the thickness in vulnerable spots
- Fit key-lockable handles and stays, and always lock them
- Add security film, bars or screens on ground-floor and hidden windows
- Make sure the windows are installed square and fixed firmly into the opening
- Keep window keys nearby for escape but out of an intruder’s reach
Frequently asked questions
Are aluminium windows secure?
Yes. Aluminium is a strong, rigid metal that resists forcing and holds locks firmly. Combined with laminated safety glass and quality locking hardware, aluminium windows offer strong security — though no window is completely burglar-proof on its own.
Are aluminium windows more secure than uPVC or wood?
Aluminium frames are very rigid and hold their shape and hardware well over time. Security depends most on the glass and locks, but a strong aluminium frame is an excellent, durable base to build a secure window on.
Does laminated glass make windows more secure?
Yes. Laminated glass has a tough interlayer that holds the pane together when struck, so it resists being broken through far better than ordinary glass and slows an intruder down. Coetz windows use 6.38mm laminated safety glass as standard.
How can I make my aluminium windows more secure?
Use laminated (or thicker security) glass, fit key-lockable handles and stays and use them, add security film, bars or screens on vulnerable windows, and make sure the frames are installed firmly and square.
Browse our aluminium windows glazed with 6.38mm laminated safety glass, or send your sizes for a quote.
Related reading: aluminium vs wooden windows, how to clean aluminium windows, and top-hung aluminium windows. More on safety glass from SAGGA.
Specifying aluminium windows secure: what we need to quote
Most of the cost and most of the delay on a project is settled before anything is ordered. If you are specifying aluminium windows secure, the points below move the price, the lead time or the compliance position, so they are worth deciding early rather than on site.
- The structural opening. Measure the brickwork opening rather than an existing frame, and check the reveal is square and plumb.
- Configuration. Confirm the opening arrangement, which panes open, and which way they open before anything is manufactured.
- Colour. Five finishes are stocked — black, white, bronze, charcoal and natural anodised — and some carry a premium.
- Glass. Coetz™ glazes as standard with 6.38 mm clear laminated safety glass.
- Supply only. Aluminium windows and doors are supplied, not installed, so allow for your own installer.
Send those details with your enquiry and we can price aluminium windows secure accurately first time. If something is still open, say so — quoting two options for aluminium windows secure now is far cheaper than altering a manufactured unit later.
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