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ronin1
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| Joined: | Saturday January 21st, 2006 |
| Location: | S.F. Bay Area, California USA |
| Posts: | 622 |
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Posted: Thursday April 5th, 2007 05:18 am |
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RW and Home Security…
In the movie “The Saint” Val Kilmir finished pulling off a heist in Moscow where he tells his fence that “It’s the wild West over here…” Indeed, like the early West there are many dangers to be aware and wary of. They have been around for so many years it is without thought for them, yet it is there hanging like a cloud over each and every RW. They have to dodge the bullet of thieves, burglars, con artists, mafia, police & government. If that doesn’t get them then it’s the bitter winters, icy steps, falling icicles, muggers, cheats, skin heads, gangs, Russian drivers, drug addicts and even covetous neighbors to watch out for.
It wasn’t always like that. Before the Russian economic meltdown it was more the opposite, however now the dangers are everywhere. This is why all apartments and home doors are steel plated with two, three, four or five dead bolt lever locks (added 10/08) that engage into steel door frames. These locks use large long heavy keys that are often tricky to open. Windows on the first and sometimes second floors are iron barred. Entry into apartments is code locked. The only place a RW really feels safe is in their home space.
When a RW gets transplanted into the many Western countries, it maybe difficult to adjust to the less secure homes and apartments. For example, in the States, most abodes are made of wood stick construction. Such construction is considered to be temporary by Russian standards where everything that is to last is made of slab, block or brick. Add to this the wood doors with flimsy single bolts that inspire security and the panoramic sliding doors and windows that allow unprecedented easy access.
All this openness can make a RW feel uneasy. They are coping with many new things. Perhaps being stressed to the max and then when at home they don’t feel right either.
What to do to relieve some of this pressure? If you’re really serious, spring for metal skinned doors. Install full-length angle iron for the frame. Go to double bolt locks. Also, many Russians have little bells mechanisms that alert the residents whenever a door is opened. It would not hurt to do the same.
Window protection is difficult unless you go for the decorative iron bars like they have in Russia. What may suffice is to build a Russian brick fence with ironwork. This way the first line of defense is at the property line and not the thin pane of glass. Some other ways that are more psychological are the use of mutton panes that give the impression of bars across the large glass panels. Also, drapes and curtains help to define the inside and outside spaces.
Regardless, of what you do, there is nothing more important than a loving husband that can be depended on for protection, strength and security like the rock of Gibraltar. If you have such traits of character, then anyplace will be a comfortable home for a RW.
RoninLast edited on Friday October 3rd, 2008 08:15 pm by ronin1
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2tallbill
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| Joined: | Sunday March 4th, 2007 |
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Posted: Monday May 21st, 2007 02:56 am |
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Ronin, I am a window guy, actually more of a window freak. There are some window and door options, they have some drawbacks however.
There is impact glazing designed to stop a 2x4 by 8 foot from entering a window three times at 40 miles per hour in order to pass. This is the Dade county impact D missle glass. The glass is a special laminate its very heavy and relatively expensive.
There are also bullet proof glazings available but they are cost prohibitive except for the rich and famous and its incredibly heavy. Some of the other drawbacks are that you can't grow about 99% of house plants when you use this glass since this glass virtually eliminates 99.999% of ultra violet light. Most house plants need about 3-5 % ultra violet light transmission to live. One benefit of eliminating all the ultraviolet light is that fading of drapes, furniture art etc is nonexistant. Don't I laugh I have sold windows to some incredibly wealthy people with Art or furniture that you could trade for a no so small fleet of Mercedes.
Some of the other benefits to security glazings are vastly increased STC ratings (sound transmission class).
Definitely this glass isn't for everyone and most are not willing to pay the added expense. I can bore most people to tears talking about windows usually in a short period of time, so I will stop here.
Just my two kopecks
Bill
I also sell a variety of steel security doors that look like vaults with teak or mahogany overlays, fairly expensive in the $8K range for a 3-0x6-8 door, very beautiful incredibly heavy. Don't tell your RW about me LOL
Last edited on Monday May 21st, 2007 02:59 am by 2tallbill
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