Home security screen doors are designed to let you enjoy the feeling of fresh air, and cool breezes in summer, while maintaining the safety and security of a conventional locked door. But do they do the job? Many home security screen doors are easily compromised by a few swift kicks so it pays to do your homework when considering buying one.
While all doors provide some form of security barrier, just because a product is marketed as a home security product it does not mean it is. In fact, when it comes to home security many doors marketed as "home security screens" fall way short of security industry standards. A point well noted by the National Security Screens Association (NSSA) and the Australian Security Industry Association Limited.
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So how do you pick a good home security screen door from a bad one? What do you need to look for in a good security screen door?
When purchasing a home security screen door there are several features of the door which need to be considered including the materials the door frames are made from, grille strength, mesh type, the number of hinges and the locking devise used.
From a professional security perspective a proper home security door should be constructed of heat - strengthened (tempered) aluminum or galvanized and powder coated steel. Not only are these doors stronger, they also offer greater protection against rust and corrosion, which results from extended exposure to the weather. Double-check the door to make sure it has reinforced corners and that the corner joins are fully welded to the door.
Preferably the home security screen door should have three or more hinges with fixed hinge pins that cannot be removed. For added protection make sure your home security door hinges are recessed, this will minimize the gap between the door and the frame making the door more difficult to jimmy.
The home security screen door should have stainless steel mesh and be attached to the door frame using either stainless steel screws or Pac clamps. The ideal home security mesh is either marine grade 316 mesh or 304-grade mesh. There are several mesh grades available on the market so check the strength rating to make sure it is at least equivalent to the 316 or 304 grade mesh. Users of the different grades of mesh will argue over which is stronger, but apply the above check and you can not go wrong.
Similarly proponents of both methods of securing the mesh to the door argue that their system is superior to the other however both do a great job. The real thing to look for to ensure your home security door is strong is the number of clamps or rivets attaching the mesh to the door. While in most cases you cannot see these, the specific door manufacturer should be able to give you the construction information as most reputable home security screen manufacturers pride themselves on their product specs.
A further feature of a proper home security screen door is a solid grille. The grill should be at least 7mm thick and be joined at all joins by welds. A solid grill is only good if it is well secured to the security door frame. A good indicator of strength is to look at whether the grill has been riveted on or welded, with welding being the stronger alternative.
The final consideration is the home security door lock. A proper home security door lock should have a five pin cylinder or equivalent and be key operated. To add strength to the overall strength of the home security door I recommend a door with a three point lock. The three point home security door lock makes it extremely difficult to rip the door from its hinges while also spreading the load of the force applied by the person attempting to break through the door.
Home security screen doors are an important piece of your overall home security system and are your front line defense against would be intruders. If considering home security screens make sure you check all the features of the product as a weakness in one area of construction n can have a significant impact on both your personal safety and the protection of your valuables.
Security Screen Doors - Home Security Must Or Expensive Fly Screen, What Did You Pay For?
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