Home Renovation Security: How to Protect Your Bermuda Property During Building Work
A renovation is an exciting project, but it can also leave a home more exposed than usual. Home renovation security is easy to overlook when attention is on designs, budgets and timescales.
Doors may be left open for deliveries, contractors come and go throughout the day and part of the property may be empty while work is carried out. With a little planning, you can protect your home during the works and finish with a security system that suits the space for years to come.
Why home renovations create security gaps
Building work changes how a property is used. Several things can make a home more vulnerable during this time:
- More people need access, including builders, electricians and plumbers
- Doors and windows may be removed, propped open or left unlocked
- Tools, materials and new appliances are stored on site
- The household may move out for part of the project
- Scaffolding and ladders can give easier access to upper floors
Each of these can create an opportunity for theft or damage. Recognising them early is the first step.
Keep your alarm working where possible
It can be tempting to switch the alarm off completely while work is under way. However, this can leave the whole property unprotected, including areas that are not being renovated.
In many cases, only the zones affected by the work need to be adjusted. Speak to your alarm provider before work starts so your intruder alarm can continue protecting the rest of the home.
Manage contractor access carefully
Avoid sharing your own alarm code or handing out spare keys without keeping track. Where your system allows, give contractors their own code so their access can be removed when the job is finished.
It also helps to:
- Keep a simple record of who has keys, remotes or codes
- Agree working hours with your contractor
- Ask that doors and windows are secured at the end of each day
- Check that any automatic gate is closed after deliveries
Our earlier article on construction site security tips looks at the same issues from the contractor’s side.
Protect tools, materials and new fittings
Building sites can attract opportunistic thieves. Tools, copper pipe, new kitchen appliances and bathroom fittings are all easy to sell.
Store valuable items in a lockable area where possible. External cameras covering driveways, entrances and storage areas can also act as a deterrent and provide footage if something goes missing. Selectron’s CCTV and video surveillance systems can be planned to cover the areas that matter most.
Think about dust and fire detection
Construction dust can affect smoke detectors and motion sensors. It can cause false alarms or, in some cases, stop detectors working properly.
Speak to your fire alarm provider before work begins. Detectors may need to be protected or temporarily isolated in the work area. It is important that they are restored and tested as soon as the work is finished, so your home is never left without fire detection for longer than necessary.
Watch for water leaks during plumbing work
Renovations often involve new pipework, moved appliances and fresh connections. A small leak behind a new kitchen unit or under a bathroom floor can go unnoticed for weeks.
Water leak management sensors placed near new appliances and water heaters can give early warning of a problem, especially if the property is empty for part of the project.
Plan home renovation security wiring while the walls are open
A renovation is one of the best times to improve your security system. While walls, ceilings and floors are open, cabling for cameras, alarm sensors, video intercoms and lighting control can be installed neatly and out of sight.
Adding wiring later is usually more disruptive. Bringing your security provider in at the design stage means the system can be built into the project rather than added afterwards.
Design security around the finished space
An extension, new entrance or change of room layout can affect how well your existing system works. A new rear door may need a contact, a larger living area may need extra detectors and a new garden room may need its own coverage.
If your system is several years old, a renovation is also a good time to consider an upgrade. Our article on signs your alarm system is outdated explains what to look out for.
Review home renovation security when the work is finished
Once the builders have left, take time to bring your security back to normal:
- Remove contractor alarm codes and collect keys and remotes
- Restore and test fire and smoke detectors
- Test the alarm across every zone
- Check cameras are still pointing in the right direction
This is also a good moment to explore smart home security upgrades that suit your new space.
Home renovation security planned from the start
A renovation is a chance to make your home more comfortable, and it can also make it more secure. Planning security from the start helps protect the property during the works and leaves you with a system designed around how you will use your home.
Selectron provides residential security systems across Bermuda, including intruder alarms, CCTV, fire detection and water leak management. If you are planning a renovation, contact Selectron or call +1 441 236 4181 to discuss your project.
Selectron Ltd
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