Hacks to keep your home safe and secure, according to an expert

Building and renovation expert Ryan Thompson shares some easy hacks and tips on how to amp up your security at home.

As summer approaches, and more Canadians are travelling, home security becomes one of the top concerns people have.

According to Toronto building and renovation expert Ryan Thompson, there are simple ways to upgrade your home security.

Here’s three things you can do to enhance your home security:

Solar-powered camera

Thompson told CTV Your Morning Wednesday, that one reason Canadians may not have cameras installed is because of concerns of how to install the wires. But using a solar-powdered camera gets rid of the worrying of properly installing those types of cameras.

“With a solar-powdered camera, you can put it anywhere,” he said. “Just make sure you charge it up and make sure it gets a few hours of sunlight everyday.”

Additionally, he also says having a camera that has two lenses is optimal.

“A camera that has two lenses is a nice feature because then you can monitor two points on the camera,” he said.

Longer nails for door

Thompson explains that strike plates — the metal plate attached to a door frame where the door latch or deadbolt goes in when the door closes — come with shorter nails.

As a result, if someone is attempting to enter a home by breaking down the door, it could be easier.

To combat that, Thompson suggests getting a longer nail, which can be purchased at any hardware store, to replace the smaller nail.

“Then what happens is that you’re going to connect to the backing, because that’s what you want to get into, the wood backing behind the actual door frame,” he said.

“A three-inch screw will get into there, and make it much more resistant to like a kick.”

Window films

If Canadians have a glass door, Thompson suggests installing clear window film on the door. They come in different sizes, but a 12 millimetre would be one of the thickest.

“Once you install it, you can add some silicone just around the edges,” he said. “The idea is that if you hit it, it’s not going to shatter.”