How to Choose the Best Mesh for Your Security Screens and Doors

Posted on: 4 December 2017

One good way to add security to your home is to choose heavy-duty mesh for window screens and entryway doors. The standard mesh used for most window screens and for screen doors is very lightweight and easy to bend or cut, so that it doesn't add much security or protection to the home. Security doors and security window screens usually come with a wide variety of mesh choices, so you can opt for what works for your needs in particular, to keep your home safe and secure but comfortable for occupants as well. Note a few tips on how to choose the best mesh for security window screens and security screen doors.

Material

Stainless steel is very strong and durable, and virtually impossible to cut with shears or other such tools. However, it can be prone to rust or corrosion, so opt for steel that's been zinc plated; zinc resists corrosion and can give steel the protection it needs from rust. Zinc is also very shiny, so zinc-plated screens can be very attractive as well as strong and durable.

Fabrication

There are usually two ways to create a metal mesh screen; the material can be woven or punched. A punched screen starts as a solid piece, and then a machine literally punches holes through the surface, to create the mesh. A woven screen is just that; strands of the soft metal are woven together to create the mesh.

Both types of mesh are very strong and durable, so note the overall design of the two when making your choice. Woven mesh is usually a diamond or square shape, whereas punching machines can create circles, honeycombs, and the like. This choice can be more important than you realize, as diamonds might seem a bit industrial and drab, whereas rectangles can work with a modern home and make a screen look taller or wider. Circles are often smaller than diamonds or honeycombs, so they're more difficult for a child to slide their fingers through, getting them stuck in the mesh, making circles a good choice if you have children in the home.

Hurricane and storm screens

If your area is prone to strong storms, you might opt for screens that are rated to withstand these weather conditions in particular. These screens may come in smaller sections, with more horizontal or vertical rails, or may be thicker, to keep the screens rigid against high winds. Hurricane screens may also have a smaller mesh, to protect the windows and inside doors from flying debris, reducing property damage.

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