Smoke and heat alarms
This is the one that matters most and gets the least attention. Battery smoke alarms are better than nothing, but a mains-wired interlinked system is a different level of protection — when one sounds, they all sound, which is what actually gets people out of a house at three in the morning.
- Mains-powered with battery backup, so they work in a power cut
- Interlinked, so an alarm in the loft sounds in the bedrooms
- Heat alarms in kitchens, where a smoke alarm would only nuisance-trip
- Correctly sited — hallways, landings and every storey as a minimum
If you rent property out, requirements differ from an owner-occupied home and they have tightened in recent years. Ring and describe the property and we'll tell you what applies.
CCTV
Camera quality matters far less than camera position, and position is what most DIY installations get wrong. A camera on the front of the house pointed at the street records a lot of the street and very little of use.
- Positioned to cover approaches, doors and the side return, at a height that captures faces rather than the tops of heads
- Cabled properly, so there's no reliance on wi-fi reaching the end of the garden
- Power run from a sensible point, not an extension lead through a window
- Recording set up so footage is actually retained and retrievable
We'll fit a system you've bought, or recommend one. We're not tied to a manufacturer.
Alarms and security lighting
Intruder alarms, and the lighting that goes with them. The two work together — a well-lit approach is a better deterrent than a box on the wall, and a camera in the dark is close to useless.
- Alarm installation, additions to existing systems and fault repairs
- PIR and security floodlighting, aimed to cover the approach rather than the neighbours' bedroom windows
- Lighting on timers or sensors so the house doesn't look empty
- Wired to a spur or a proper circuit, not spurred off a socket
Common questions
Do smoke alarms have to be mains-wired?
It depends on the property and whether it's rented. Requirements for rented homes are stricter and have changed in recent years. Describe the property and we'll tell you what applies to you.
Can you fit cameras I've already bought?
Yes. We'll tell you honestly if the positions you have in mind won't give you useful footage before we fit anything.
Do I need cable, or is wi-fi fine?
Wi-fi is fine for a doorbell camera by the front door. For anything at the end of a garden or through solid walls, cable is far more reliable — and it means the camera keeps working when the broadband doesn't.
Can you repair an existing alarm system?
Usually. Tell us the make and roughly how old it is and we'll say whether it's worth repairing or replacing.
Will security lighting annoy my neighbours?
Not if it's aimed properly. Badly aimed floodlighting is the commonest complaint and it's entirely avoidable — the light should fall on your approach, not over the fence.
