Security screen doors are a great way to make your home safer. Because they let the air in, they are also particularly beneficial in summer, allowing you to stay safe in your home without having to shut out the breeze.

The guide below will help you weigh up all the factors involved in choosing a security fly screen so you can make the right choice with confidence.

What Are Your Security Needs?

When reading through the information in this article, don’t lose sight of your actual security needs. Do you live in a safe, tight-knit community and have a good security system installed already? Or is your home in a more turbulent area where break-ins and petty crime are common occurrences? Keep these question in the back of your mind when considering the various options available.

Don’t Let Standards Drop

Make sure the security screen you are considering meets Australian Standard AS5039-2008 – otherwise it is a security door in name only. Any reputable supplier or manufacturer will happily supply you with this information.

Steel or Aluminium?

The best security screen doors will have either a stainless steel or aluminium frame. Industry experts agree that steel frames provide the best security overall, though aluminium is still a good lower cost option.

What’s in the Frame?

The material of the ‘screen’ itself, known as the infill, can be made of a variety of materials: steel bars, an aluminium grille, structural grade aluminium perforated sheet or stainless steel mesh.

These are all good options for security, except for aluminium grille, which is really just flyscreen. Steel bars – or a decorative steel pattern – can provide good security, but if there’s no mesh it won’t keep insects out. The best options overall are stainless steel mesh or aluminium perforated sheet. Steel mesh is the premium option, keeping out intruders and mosquitoes, but not the breeze. The aluminium perforated mesh is a more affordable product and offers comparable protection to the steel mesh.

Check the Locks

The type of lock on your security door is very important. Avoid wafer locks, which are quite vulnerable. Instead, look for five-pin cylinder locks, preferably with three lock points. By securing the door at the middle, top, and bottom, you will make it difficult for an intruder to force entry into your home.

Hinges

The door should have at least three hinges with fixed hinge pins that can’t be removed. The bigger the pin, the better. Ideally, the hinges should be recessed or the door should have a hinge filling between the door and the frame that doesn’t allow any access.

Know the Costs

It’s important to know the potential costs involved with different types of doors. In a safer area you may be able to save money and still rest easily; in a bad neighbourhood peace of mind might be worth the extra cost.

A Guide to Prices

  • Aluminium: $450+
  • Steel: $650+
  • Stainless steel mesh: these premium doors start from $800 and can cost well over $1,000
  • Structural grade aluminium perforated sheet: $650+

Opt for Custom Design

Security doors should almost always be custom-made. This will ensure that they meet stringent installation standards and provide complete protection.

For more information about security screen doors sand custom design, contact us online or call Stan Bond Security on 08 9249 8852 today.