How to stop a security screen door squeaking

The short answer: find the part before you spray anything

A squeaking security door is telling you which part is rubbing, so listen before you reach for a can. Open and close the door slowly by hand, and if it has a closer, unhook the closer arm and swing the door again. A squeak that stays with the closer off is in the hinges or the latch. A squeak that disappears is in the closer. On a sliding door, roll it slowly and note whether the noise follows the bottom of the door or the top.

WD-40 Australia says a squeaky hinge is usually the result of a lack of lubrication or a build-up of dirt and dust. A screen door sits in the weather, so check for dirt first. Work in this order: clean the part, check the screws, then lubricate lightly. The table below matches the noise to the part and the first thing to check.

Hinges: tighten first, then a little lubricant, and leave the pins in

A squeaky hinge on a security door is fixed by tightening and a light lubricant, and on a fixed-pin hinge, not by pulling the pin. WD-40 Australia makes checking the hinge is sufficiently tight the first step, and lists a hinge bent out of shape or a loose screw among the other causes of a squeak. It also says a drop of lubricant will fix most squeaks, even if it's just in the short term.

The common timber-door fallback is to knock the pins out, clean them with steel wool and refit them, which is WD-40 Australia's own advice for a stubborn hinge. That step doesn't suit a security door. The National Security Screen Association (NSSA) says a security door should have at least three fixed-pin hinges, ideally recessed or with hinge fillings to prevent tampering. A fixed pin isn't meant to come out, so if the squeak survives the steps below, treat it as a worn hinge and a repair job.

1. Wipe each hinge clean with a damp cloth, then dry it.
2. Check every hinge screw and give any loose one a firm snug with a screwdriver.
3. Hold a folded paper towel under the hinge, as WD-40 Australia's hinge guide does, to catch drips.
4. Apply a small amount of lubricant to the hinge knuckle and wipe off the excess.
5. Open and close the door a few times so the lubricant works into the hinge.
6. Treat every hinge on the door, then test it with the closer unhooked.

Closer noise: check the door swings freely without it

If the squeak stops when the closer is unhooked, the closer or its brackets are the source, and the fix starts with the door itself. Lockwood's instructions for its 404 hydraulic screen door closer say to make sure the door closes freely before the closer is installed. A door that binds on its hinges or rubs the frame can make the closer work against it.

So hang the door off its closer, swing it by hand and fix any rub first. Then refit the closer and listen again. On the Lockwood 404, closing speed is adjusted by rotating the main body of the closer, following the arrows for faster or slower. Other closers adjust differently, so check the maker's instructions for the model on your door. Our door closer guide has more on how screen door closers work.

A closer that still creaks after that may need replacing. Lockwood says that when replacing an existing closer, all parts should be replaced, including the door and jamb mounting brackets.

Sliding doors: check the track and the rollers

If a sliding security door squeals or grinds as it moves, check the bottom track for grit and the rollers for wear. Start with the track. SCREENGUARD's cleaning advice lists clearing the bottom track and any drainage slots, and A&L Windows recommends vacuuming tracks regularly and treating them yearly with a light dry lubricant silicone spray. WD-40 Australia also suggests silicone spray on a sliding door track to keep it moving, used sparingly.

If the door scrapes, stop sliding it hard. A&L Windows says not to operate a sliding door that is scraping on its track, because it scores the track and can lead to roller failure. A scrape points to the rollers or the track, so look at both before sliding the door again.

Wheels can be checked once the track is clean. Rolltrak, which supplies replacement rollers, says bent or broken rollers need replacing, and that a door which no longer slides smoothly may only need new rollers rather than a whole new door. Our sliding door guide covers adjusting the rollers.

Lock and latch noise: keep oil out of the cylinder

If a hinged security door squeaks or clicks as it latches, the strike plate is one part to check, and the lock cylinder should never get oil. Gainsborough, which makes Austral Lock hardware, says not to use lubricant in the cylinder, oil or aerosol type, and not to let liquid enter the cylinder at any time when cleaning. For a sticky key, its answer is a small amount of graphite sprinkled on the key.

The strike plate is the part an owner can look after. Austral Lock's care instructions for its Elegance XC lock say to wipe the strike plates every quarter with a soapy rag to remove built up debris and to lubricate the strike plate, to prevent the door bouncing. The same instructions say the lock assembly has been lubricated for life and should not be taken apart by the user.

If the lock itself grinds or the key fights you, see our guide to a security screen door lock that isn't working.

Near the sea, use less lubricant and a drier one

On a coastal Cairns door, the right amount of lubricant is a small one, and a dry film beats a wet one. WD-40 Australia says dirt and dust tend to stick to silicone lubricant, so use it sparingly or use a dry version in dirty environments. It describes its dry PTFE lubricant as leaving a dry film on hinges that resists dirt and dust. Gainsborough says an extreme climate or dusty environment can affect the factory lubricant in its hardware, which may then need re-lubricating with a quality silicone or Teflon based lubricant after cleaning the mechanism with a non-corrosive substance.

SCREENGUARD, the stainless mesh range we build in, says to lubricate the locks and hinges as the hardware manufacturer directs, and that salt and grit do more harm to a lock cylinder than to mesh. Its washing schedule within 5 km of the coast is every 2 weeks, and a wash is the right time to check the hardware. Our cleaning guide sets out a coastal routine.

• Clean the part first, so the lubricant isn't spread over salt and grit.
• Use the lubricant your hardware maker names; Gainsborough names silicone or Teflon based.
• Prefer a dry film on hinges and tracks near the sea.
• Apply a little, work the door, and wipe away the excess.
• Keep oil, aerosol sprays and water out of the lock cylinder.
• Check the hinges, lock and track each time you wash the screens.

When the noise means a worn part

A squeak that comes back within days of cleaning and lubricating can mean a worn or misaligned part, and that is a repair job. WD-40 Australia notes that a door out of alignment with its frame can creak, because if the lower hinge is out of place the upper hinge takes most of the weight. Austral Lock asks owners to check once a year that the door has the correct clearances and opens and closes without obstruction.

Installing a security door is a job for a fitter. In Queensland, the QBCC lists fabricating and installing security screens and doors within its glass, glazing and aluminium licence class, and the NSSA recommends against DIY installation. If a hinge has dropped, our guide to security door hinges explains the checks.

We replace door closers, hinges, triple locks and patio bolts, and the wheels and track work on sliding doors, at your property. See what a visit covers on our onsite repairs page, or check the areas we serve around Cairns.