Every summer the same choice comes up: leave the back door open for the breeze and let the mosquitoes in, or shut it and swelter. A well-made screen door means you don’t have to choose. If you are comparing screen doors in Western Sydney, this guide explains the main types, which one suits each doorway in your home, how to pick the mesh and what to have ready before you book a measure.
What a screen door actually does
A screen door sits on the outside of your main door. You open the main door for fresh air and the screen keeps the insects out. NSW Health lists fitting fly screens to windows, doors and vents as one of the ways to reduce mosquitoes around the home in its mosquito bite prevention advice.
Screen doors fall into two broad groups. Fly screen doors are light and built to keep insects out. Security doors keep insects out too, but they also use a strong frame, tough infill and a multi-point lock, so the door behind them can stay open without leaving the house unsecured.
Sliding screen doors for patios and balconies
Many homes in Western Sydney have an aluminium sliding door opening onto a patio, alfresco or balcony, and it is often the door that stays open the longest on a warm evening. A sliding screen door runs alongside your existing door, so you can slide the glass panel open and keep the screen closed.
A sliding screen is only as good as its fit. Before you choose one, look at:
- The track. A screen that drags or jumps off its track soon gets left open, which defeats the purpose.
- Gaps at the edges. In older homes the door frame may have moved over time. A screen made to the actual opening closes those gaps, where an off-the-shelf screen often leaves one at the top or side.
- How busy the door is. A door used by kids and pets all day needs tougher mesh than one that is opened now and then.
If you want security on the slider as well, a sliding security door runs on its own track outside your existing sliding door. Our security doors page covers the options.
Hinged screen doors for entries and laundries
Hinged screen doors swing open like a normal door, which makes them the natural choice for front entries, back doors and laundries. They suit doors you walk through often with your hands full, such as a laundry door on the way to the clothesline.
For the front entry, many people choose a hinged security door rather than a fly screen door. It is the door visitors knock on, and a security door lets you open the main door and talk through the screen. Our security doors are made with marine-grade 316 stainless steel mesh or perforated aluminium, a triple locking system and tamper-resistant hinges, in hinged, sliding and double-door versions.
A fly screen door is built to keep insects out, not people. If you are weighing up the two for a particular door, read our guide to choosing between a security door and a fly screen.
Screens for French doors
French doors are hinged double doors that open from the centre, and they can open inward or outward. That makes screening them a little different from a slider. The right screen depends on which way your doors open and how much room there is around the frame, so it is something to talk through at the measure.
If you are replacing old timber doors, our aluminium French doors can be made with a matching fly screen or security screen in stainless steel or fibreglass mesh, so the doors and screens are planned together from the start.
Choosing the mesh
The mesh decides how the door looks, how much air comes through and how well it copes with wear.
Fibreglass mesh
Fibreglass is the affordable option. It is light and easy to see through, which suits doors that don’t get much rough treatment.
Stainless steel mesh
Stainless steel mesh is stronger and lasts longer. It is the better choice for busy doors and homes with dogs or cats, because it holds its shape and stands up to paws and claws far better than fibreglass.
Perforated aluminium
Perforated aluminium is used on security doors. It is a solid sheet with a pattern of small holes, which gives more privacy and a modern look, while stainless steel mesh is finer and easier to see through.
The easiest way to decide is to see them side by side. You are welcome to visit our factory at 1/173 Power St, Glendenning, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm.
Matching colours and strata rules
Screen and security door frames are powder coated in the Dulux powder-coat range, so they can match your window and door frames. Colours include Monument, Black, Surfmist and Woodland Grey, among many others.
If you live in a townhouse or unit, check your strata by-laws before you order. Many strata schemes set rules on the colour or style of screen and security doors. Your strata manager can confirm what applies, and we will make the door to suit.
What to have ready before you book a measure
A little preparation makes the measure quicker and the quote more accurate:
- List every door. Note the patio sliders, entries, laundry and any French doors you want screened.
- Decide fly screen or security for each. Many homes use security doors on the entries and fly screens elsewhere.
- Think about pets and kids. They are the best guide to where stainless steel mesh is worth it.
- Take photos. A photo of each door, inside and out, helps us talk through options before we arrive.
- Check your strata rules. If you are in a strata scheme, have the by-laws handy.
Screen doors across Western Sydney and the Hills
Everything is made in our own factory in Glendenning, which sits between the M4 and the M7, and installed by our own team. That keeps most of Western Sydney and the Hills District close by, including Mount Druitt, Blacktown, Penrith, Parramatta, Rouse Hill and Castle Hill, where many family homes open onto a deck or alfresco and the screens are made to match bifold or stacking doors.
We have been making screens, windows and doors since 2007. We supply and install every screen door, so the door we measure is the door we make and fit.
Screen door FAQ
Can you make a screen door for my existing sliding door?
Yes. We measure your existing door and make a sliding fly screen or a sliding security door to fit. A sliding security door runs on its own track outside your existing sliding door.
Should I get a fly screen door or a security door?
A fly screen door keeps insects out and lets air in, but it is not designed to stop someone getting in. A security door does both. Many customers choose security doors for entry and back doors and fly screens for the rest.
Which mesh is best if I have pets?
Stainless steel mesh. It is stronger than fibreglass and stands up much better to paws and claws.
Do you sell screen doors for me to install myself?
No. We supply and install, so every screen door is measured, made and fitted by our own team.
Get a screen door that fits
Request a free measure and quote or call us on 1800 793 946.
