Do security screens stop burglars?
What Queensland Police and Australian crime research say about break-ins, and what a tested, locked screen adds in Cairns.
7 sections and 4 questions, about 7 minutes
What to know before you choose a security screen
The decisions that matter get made before anything is measured: which mesh suits the opening, how close the house sits to salt air, and which of the four ranges fits the job.
Before you buy
These guides answer the questions people ask before they buy and once a screen is on, from whether security screens stop break-ins to why a sliding door keeps jumping its track.
Choosing a security screen
- Hinged vs sliding security doors: which suits your openingNeither is more secure. Compare space, cost, downsides and upkeep, then match a type to each opening on your Cairns home.8 sections, a comparison table and 5 questions, about 8 minutes
- Heritage and decorative security doors for character homesChoosing a heritage or decorative security door for a Cairns character home: patterns, cast panel, grille or mesh, insects, salt air, price and council checks.9 sections, a comparison table and 6 questions, about 10 minutes
- Fly screen, barrier screen or security screen: the differencesHow the three differ on mesh, frame, locks and testing, and which openings on a Cairns home need which.5 sections, a comparison table and 5 questions, about 7 minutes
Mesh and materials
- Diamond grille or stainless steel mesh: what you gain and give upWe compare the view, insect screening, security testing and salt air upkeep for security doors in coastal Cairns.6 sections, a comparison table and 4 questions, about 8 minutes
- 316 or 304 stainless steel mesh: why the grade matters near the seaWhat molybdenum does, how far tea staining reaches from the surf, and the care that keeps mesh clean.6 sections and 5 questions, about 8 minutes
Brands and alternatives
Once it's on
How to clean security screens in salt air, and how often
How to clean security screens in coastal Queensland: what's safe on stainless mesh, perforated aluminium and powder coat, how often, and tea stain fixes.
6 sections and 5 questions, about 8 minutes
- Fitting a pet door to a security screen doorHow the mesh changes the fit, sizing for your dog or cat, and what the cut does to security, from Cairns.6 sections, a comparison table and 5 questions, about 7 minutes
- Security screen door lock not working? Check these firstMatch the symptom to the cause, try safe owner checks, and see when a Cairns lock repair or replacement is due.6 sections and 5 questions, about 8 minutes
- Sliding screen door jumping off track: how to fix itClean the track, set the rollers, re-hang it safely, and know when the wheels or track need a repair.7 sections, a comparison table and 6 questions, about 8 minutes
Built for coastal Cairns conditions
Screens on the northern beaches sit in salt-laden air year round, so the material matters. We specify 316 marine grade stainless steel mesh for its corrosion resistance, and the aluminium frames are manufactured and finished in Queensland in a range of colours. Which mesh suits your place depends on how close to the water it sits, and that is part of what we work out at the measure.
The four ranges, and how they differ
Four ranges cover most of what we build. SCREENGUARD is the woven 316 marine grade stainless mesh, the one people choose when keeping the view matters. PERFGUARD is a 2 mm perforated aluminium sheet, powder coated black with 40 percent view through, which also earns it privacy and sun screening work. Diamond Grille is the cost effective option, a visible diamond pattern rather than a fine mesh. Colonial Casting is the decorative one, cast panels for a front entry or an enclosed patio in modern and heritage designs. Every one of them is made to measure for the opening.
What the testing and the warranty mean
A product sold as a security screen should have testing behind it, and this is what that looks like in practice. SCREENGUARD mesh is tested for impact, knife shear, jemmy, pull and probe, and it is covered by a 10 year manufacturer's warranty. The frames around it are T6 grade high tensile extruded aluminium, manufactured and finished in Queensland. The rest comes down to fit: openings in older Cairns houses are rarely square, so a screen that performs starts with a measure, not a stock size.
Repairs, pet doors and hardware
Not every job is a new screen. We replace lock cylinders and complete locks when a door will not close or a key jams, and we replace the wheels and track work on sliding doors that bounce, jam or jump the track. Door closers, hinges, triple locks and patio bolts are all replaceable, and a pet door can be fitted into a screen you already own.
