The front door may be the most commonly utilised point of entry when it comes to break-ins. However, that doesn’t mean that you should focus all your efforts on fortifying this particular entryway, and leave all the others on your property alone to chance. A burglar is generally going to choose to take advantage of the most vulnerable entryway available. Needless to say, if you ensure to provide all entry points to your home with sufficient protection, you may be able to discourage burglars from wanting to target your property altogether.
Now, when it comes to sliding glass doors, we generally tend to install them as back doors or side doors to our home. Of course, sliding glass doors are like a cross between a window and a door, so leaving them bare and unsecured can definitely leave them incredibly vulnerable towards burglar attacks. Any burglar would be able to smash through such a door if they had the right tools on hand, not to mention a strong level of willpower. For this reason, it’s vitally important for you to provide your sliding glass doors with additional security; and security screen doors are one of the best ways for you to do so.
Why Security Screen Doors?
Security screen doors are a simple yet effective way to add long-lasting protection onto your home, due to the fact that they’re manufactured to meet strict Australian Standards. Security screen doors are built specifically to adhere to AS5039-2008 for security doors, which generally involves having the door subjected to a number of tests in order to verify its strength and effectiveness. The tests administered include:
- Knife Shear Test – simulates knife attacks and blade cuts across the screen
- Dynamic Impact Test – simulates forceful impacts
- Anti-Jemmy Test – simulates lever attacks
- Pull Test – simulates attempts to pull at the screen
- Probe Test – simulates an intruder creating a gap to get their hand inside and try to unlock the door
In addition to this, security screen doors are typically subjected to a number of other tests as well, of which test their ability to hold up when placed in a variety of different conditions. Such tests involve:
- Cyclone Screen Test
- Fire Test
- 10,000 Hour Salt Spray Tests
As a result, security screen doors that pass all tests with flying colours demonstrate their ability to resist against burglar attacks and put up a strong first line of defence against thieves, even when placed in harsh environments such as those by the coast or in bushfire-prone areas.
How to Choose the Right Security Screen Door
So, how do you choose the right security screen door for your sliding glass doors? Well, the first thing to do would be to seek out a manufacturer of custom security screen doors. A custom door will give you much more control over the specific aspects of your security door. In this way, it will be much easier to receive a product that fits with your sliding door’s requirements, along with your own specifications.
Consider the Material
When customising your security screen doors, you will generally have a choice of materials available to choose from. Depending on your security needs and the area which you live in, you may find one type of material more beneficial than the other. For example, aluminium is generally better for coastal environments, however stainless steel is often recommended for those living in bushfire prone areas. Whilst aluminium security doors are fully capable of providing an adequate level of security, stainless steel doors are often considered the ultimate in security door solutions when it comes to strength and durability.
Consider Your Budget
If you’re working under a smaller budget, then aluminium security doors may be the more desirable option for you, especially if you don’t live in an area that experiences high levels of foot traffic and crime. On the other hand, if you’ve got a bit more to spend on your home security solutions, then you may want to consider investing in stainless steel security doors.
Consider Your Style Preferences
Thankfully, the fact that security doors are customisable means that you’re always able to have a say in the colour, style and finish of your door. In this way, you can be sure that the final product will be one that fits well with your individual preferences and splices well with your home’s existing design.
Interested in getting a security screen door for your sliding glass doors? At Rockingham Security, we provide custom security screen door solutions that you can trust when you want to ensure the highest level of security possible for your home, plus an overall worthwhile investment. To get started on your custom security door, contact us today and enjoy a free quote!