What Should I Look for in a Security Screen Door?
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Security screen doors offer a nice look and added protection from weather, bugs and criminals.
If you’re thinking about installing a new security screen door in your home, there are a number of features and factors to consider. Here's what you need to know when shopping for one.
What type of door frame material should I get?
Most security screen door frames are constructed of steel, aluminum or a metal alloy. Each material can be made strong enough to function as a security door; however, because aluminum and metal alloy frames are weaker than steel, the frames must be made wider to gain the necessary strength.
The 2- to 3-inch-wide steel frames allow for more than 40 percent air flow and visibility than aluminum or metal alloy frames, which need to be almost 6-inches wide for strength. Aluminum doors will not rust, but are significantly more expensive. If steel security screen doors are properly treated and powder coated, they should not show signs of rust for at least eight to 10 years. They then can be recoated.
What type of door mounting installation method should I use?
Both flush-mounted installation and tube-frame mounting provide security, but flush mounting the security screen doors looks more natural and provides a better seal because there isn't a gap around the opening. Mounting the security screen door on a tube frame means the door will stick out 1 to 1.25 inches from the door opening, because it’s mounted on the door trim instead of inside the opening.
Ask your door installer if your security door comes with a warranty. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member DeAnn H. of Phoenix)
How do security screen doors seal out insects and scorpions?
Make sure you understand how the new security screen door will close and seal out bugs. In the Midwest and Eastern portions of the United States, the biggest problem is mosquitoes. In the West and around the Phoenix metro area, insects are less of a nuisance, but you don’t want pesky flies or dangerous scorpions sneaking in.
MORE: 6 Tips for a More Secure Front Door
Most door installation companies use a peel-and-stick foam tape to create a seal around the security screen door. That foam tape will eventually harden and crack. Replace it once a year. Quality door companies will use felt strips to seal the door. Look for a bug-tight seal. Felt strips last a long time and require almost no maintenance.
Should the door be painted or powder coated?
Paint is typically not heat tested or heat resistant, so it doesn’t hold up well under the sun. A painted door may just add another maintenance item to your list of projects.
Powder coating is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. The difference between paint and powder coating is powder coating doesn’t require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form like paint. The powder coating is typically applied electrostatically and then cured under heat to allow it to flow and form a “skin,” which creates a hard finish that's tougher than conventional paint.
Even the screws and screen frames should be powder coated, so everything matches in color and lasts a long time.
What other security screen door features should I seek?
• Mitered corners: This means the corners are solid steel on top and bottom, instead of being hollow. If the corners are hollow, water can penetrate the frame and rust the door from the inside. The rust can also create stains on your stoop or sidewalk. If you choose a tube-frame mounting, make sure the tube frame has mitered corners.
• Closers: Make sure the security screen door you choose uses a pneumatic closer to pull it shut.
• Wind chains: These chains prevent wind gusts from blowing your door open too far.
• Sill extensions: These may be required to ensure a bug-tight seal on the bottom of your door.
• Matching keys: Ask your door installer about rekeying the security screen door to match the key for your entry door so you don’t have to use two keys to enter.
What kind of warranty or guarantee comes with security screen doors?
Ask your security door installer about product guarantees or warranties. What happens if there is a break-in? What happens if the handle comes loose? How long can you expect the door to open and close correctly under normal conditions? Is there anything that can be done if the house settles and the door becomes misaligned? Are there any guarantees on the labor?
RELATED: How to Ensure the Security of Your Entry Doors
There are a lot of considerations when you think about installing a new security screen door, so make sure you get all of your questions answered before you pay a down payment or deposit.
Leave a comment below and tell us which features you like most or least about your security screen door.
Editor's note: This is an updated version of an article originally published on Feb. 18, 2013.
About this Experts Contributor: Sam Gambino is the marketing director and customer care manager of Eco Advantage Security Doors, which offers door services in the Phoenix metro area.
As of July 22, 2015 this service provider was highly rated on Angie's List. Ratings are subject to change based on consumer feedback, so check Angie's List for the most up-to-date reviews. The views expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect those of Angie's List.