Q.01Why does Richmond Hill's housing profile matter for security?
Richmond Hill has two very different housing generations on the same street network. Older Yonge-corridor bungalows (1950s-70s) typically have original wooden door frames and light strike plates — the frame is often the weak point, not the deadbolt. Newer Jefferson and Oak Ridges subdivision homes have attached garages, sidelight panels beside the front door, and large rear sliders. Each type has a different primary entry vector, and we assess them differently.
Q.02What is a sidelight panel and why is it a concern?
A sidelight is the narrow glass panel flanking one or both sides of a front door — very common on 1990s and 2000s subdivision homes in Jefferson and Oak Ridges. It sits within arm's reach of the interior deadbolt. Clear Guard Security window film bonds the pane so that even if the glass breaks, a hand-through reach does not work. It is one of the highest-impact improvements we make on Richmond Hill front entries.
Q.03Do you cover Oak Ridges and the Lake Wilcox conservation edge?
Yes. Oak Ridges is part of our standard York Region coverage. Homes backing onto the Lake Wilcox conservation area have reduced rear sightlines, which makes rear patio slider reinforcement particularly relevant. We walk the full rear of the home during the assessment.
Q.04What does the free assessment include in Richmond Hill?
A technician walks every main-floor entry point — front door, sidelight glass, garage man-door, rear patio slider, basement windows — and notes which openings carry the most exposure. You receive a written, fixed quote within 48 hours. No obligation, no pressure.
Q.05How long does a typical Richmond Hill install take?
Most Richmond Hill homes are completed in a single day. A scope covering sidelights, rear patio door, and main-floor rear windows typically runs 5-8 hours with a two-technician crew. ARX Guard door fortification adds 60-90 minutes per door. You do not need to leave the home.
Q.06Will the window film change how my home looks from the street?
No. Clear Guard Security film is optically clear — over 90% visible light transmission. From the street, filmed glass and unfilmed glass are indistinguishable. Decorative or frosted sidelight panels keep their appearance.
Q.07Does ARX Guard work on older Yonge-corridor door frames?
Yes. Older bungalow door frames are often the same width and profile as newer builds but lack the internal reinforcement that modern frames offer. ARX Guard reinforces the existing frame using structural screws that anchor into the wall framing behind the door jamb — it does not require replacing the door or frame.
Q.08What warranty comes with a Richmond Hill install?
10-year manufacturer warranty on the film, parts and labour. Lifetime workmanship warranty on the Clear Guard installation. If there is ever a bubbling or adhesion issue, we return at no charge.
Q.09What does XPEL Prime XR Security window film actually do?
It is a high-strength laminate bonded to the interior face of your existing glass. When the glass is struck — by a hammer, brick, crowbar, or boot — the film keeps the shattered shards bonded together. The pane no longer separates, so the hand-through reach an intruder needs simply isn't there. Optically clear, blocks more than 99% UV, compatible with tempered, laminated, single-pane and double-pane residential glass.
Q.10What does the ARX Guard door fortification system include?
A heavy-gauge strike plate anchored with structural screws into the wall framing (not the trim), the multi-point ARX hockey-stick locking system that engages multiple points along the jamb at once, structural reinforcement on both the lock-side and hinge-side jambs, and reinforced hinge plates with longer screws. Tested in our Oakville facility to absorb repeated kick loads that split standard residential door assemblies on the first strike.
Q.11Do I need both products or can I pick one?
Most homes benefit from both. Forced-entry attempts almost always exploit either glass or doors — and often both in sequence. Door fortification stops the kick-in path; window film stops the smash-and-reach path. Doing both gives you layered defence: an attempt fails at the first vector, the intruder either gives up or moves to the second, and the film/fortification on that vector buys the homeowner the same delay. We will scope both during the assessment and give you a written quote with each line itemised.
Q.12Will the film be visible from outside?
No. Most homeowners forget the film is there within a week of install. It is bonded to the inside surface of your existing glass and trimmed close to the frame. Your windows look exactly the same from the street.
Q.13Does ARX Guard work with my smart lock or keypad?
Yes. The ARX Guard system reinforces the framing and strike zone around your existing hardware. Smart locks, keypad locks, and traditional deadbolts all stay in place and continue to work. We are not replacing the lock; we are reinforcing where the door frame fails first under kick force.
Q.14How long does a typical install take?
Most homes are completed in a single day. A typical 10-15 window film install runs 6-8 hours with a two-technician crew. Door fortification adds 60-90 minutes per door. No drywall work, no painting, no door replacement — most customers are back in the house by dinner.
Q.15What is the warranty?
10 years on the XPEL film against bubbling, peeling, and delamination. 10 years on the ARX Guard hardware components. Lifetime workmanship warranty on the installation itself. All warranties are written, transferable on home sale, and honoured directly by Clear Guard — no middleman.
Q.16Can it be installed on tempered or laminated glass?
Both are compatible. We assess each opening on site and spec the right film grade per pane. Some openings benefit from 14-mil interior security film; others from 8-mil interior or 7-mil exterior. The right answer depends on the glass type, the opening size, and the vulnerability profile.