Clear burglar bars are made of rods or panels of tough clear polycarbonate set in a slim metal frame. You see the garden, the mountain or the street right through them, and they do not rust or need painting. They suit sea views, show windows and rooms where heavy black bars would feel closed in. Tell us the sizes and where the bars will go, and manufacturers and installers near you quote you directly.
How clear bars work
Instead of solid steel, the bars are polycarbonate rods or tubes, typically 10 to 20 mm across, threaded through a metal frame or locked into aluminium channels. Polycarbonate is far tougher than glass and does not shatter into shards, so it resists hard knocks without cracking. Some systems add a steel core inside each rod for extra strength. The result is bars you notice only when you look for them, though they are not as hard to cut through as solid steel, so the frame and fixings must be strong. Ask the installer about the core, the frame and the fixings, and compare with steel burglar bars for strength.
Where clear bars work best
Choose clear bars when the view matters more than the maximum strength: sea-facing windows, mountain views, courtyard doors, patio windows and shop or office windows where you want light and a tidy look. They are also a good option in coastal areas because the plastic does not rust. They are less suited to remote farm buildings or to a window at the back of a house that is out of sight, where solid steel is the better call. Many homes mix both types.
Care, ageing and safety
Good polycarbonate has a UV coating so it does not yellow quickly, but cheap material can cloud within a few years of strong sun. Ask about the grade and the guarantee. Clean with mild soapy water and a soft cloth, not solvents or abrasive pads, which scratch the surface. Like any bars, they must not trap people: ask for a quick-release or hinged panel on at least one window per bedroom, opened from inside by a latch or a key kept nearby. See window burglar bars for the steel option.
What affects the price
Clear bars cost more than plain steel because of the material and the frame. The price follows the window size, rod thickness, whether there is a steel core, and the frame finish, as well as hinged panels and fixing into the wall. Expect to pay noticeably more per square metre than steel, but often less than stainless steel. Compare two or three quotes for the same rod size, core, frame and guarantee. See burglar bar prices for typical ranges.
What to include in your request
- Width and height of each window in mm
- Why you want clear bars: view, coast or looks
- Rod thickness and whether it has a steel core
- Frame colour and inside or outside fixing
- Which bedroom windows need a quick-release panel
Clear Burglar Bars for different properties
- Houses: clear bars on view windows and patio panels, steel bars kept at the back
- Townhouses and complexes: clear bars that keep the view and pass complex colour and style rules
- Flats and apartments: see-through bars on balcony and high-rise windows without blocking the outlook
- Farms and smallholdings: clear bars on the homestead windows facing the garden or veld
- Shops and restaurants: clear bars behind or outside show windows so customers still see the display
- Offices and practices: tidy clear bars for reception and meeting room windows that keep daylight
- Factories and warehouses: clear bars on front offices and canteens, steel kept for the stores
- Schools, clinics and churches: clear bars on school and clinic windows, with release panels for escape
Frequently asked questions
Are clear burglar bars as strong as steel?
How much do clear burglar bars cost?
Do clear burglar bars yellow in the sun?
Can clear bars be used on an escape window?
Clear Burglar Bars by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg