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The right security doors will keep you safe while improving the appearance of your home and adding value. We’ve put together this handy guide to help you choose the best doors for you and your home.

Check the Safety Standards & Quality Certifications

Australia’s minimum standards for security screens and doors are really strict. According to the Australian security door standards AS5039-2008 along with the installation standard AS5040 must be met to be up to scratch.

Doors and windows that meet these standards are certified to meet requirements for quality and strength. So, they’ve passed tests for impact, anti-jemmy, fire, and knife shear. Any windows or doors that don’t meet these standards will typically not be strong enough to deter intruders.

Powder-Coated VS. Painted Security Doors

Whether the doors are powder-coated or painted, they’ll have a similar appearance. So, why is this such a big consideration?

Paint typically doesn’t weather well in the hot sun and it’s not heat resistant. In those warmer Melbourne months, your door frame will be exposed to all the elements — so, if your door is painted, it’s likely to wear quicker than a powder-coated counterpart.

While powder coating will eventually wear in the same manner paint does, it usually has significantly better longevity, making it a better option for your door frame. The other bonus of powder coating is that it’s corrosion-resistant. This is especially important if you’re living in Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs. Living ocean-side of the city means your security door will be exposed to ocean salt carried from the breeze. So, you’ll need to be more diligent with fighting corrosion. Routinely cleaning and maintaining the door frame will work to protect its surface from corrosion.

Does the security door frame design suit your home?

The classic diamond grille frame isn’t for everyone. The frame you choose will seriously impact the aesthetics of your home. Ideally, you want a security door that lasts you for some time too — so it’s important you like its appearance!

When you buy new security doors, you’ll be able to choose between a steel or hybrid frame and grille. Both of these materials provide different benefits, which we’ll get to a bit further on.

Hint: You should always ask your security door supplier if the frame has an anti-corrosion seal compliant with the Australian Standard.

You could opt for custom security doors

If you’re set on choosing a high quality security mesh like Crimsafe, you may still want a grille or a custom frame. These can seriously improve the appearance of your home and increase its value.

Ask your security door supplier if they’re able to complete custom designs for your frames and grilles. At My Security Door, our custom doors can be crafted with your preferred materials, finish, and design to give our home’s appearance a boost.

Security door frames: steel or hybrid?

Standard steel and hybrid are usually the cheapest materials available for security door frames. With a really similar price point, there are a few considerations to make when weighing up the difference.

Hybrid is easy to maintain and quite durable, while also offering corrosion-resistant properties. Hybrid material is also an easier material to work with for custom designs.

Steel is slightly more cost-effective than hybrid while offering similar durability. However, only stainless steel offers that same resistance against corrosion. Stainless steel is more durable than both hybrid and steel and offers a more stylish appearance for your security doors. It is, however on the more expensive end of the scale.

The handles and locks you choose count too

The best Crimsafe security doors on the market will be let down by cheap locks and handles. It’s important to find a supplier that offers quality locks made by quality, reliable brands. Ask your supplier to run you through any advantages or disadvantages of their standard range of locks available.

You should also ensure you’ve secured a good warranty on these items. Different lock designs offer different benefits, however, the mortice locks are safer than surface-mounted locks. Mortice locks see the body of the lock placed inside the lockbox inside the door’s framework.

This design is key in ensuring the lock can’t just be removed with force, such as a hammer. At My Security Door one of our go-to lock brands is Lockwood.

Is it Australian made?

Australian-made security doors will typically cost slightly more than their imported competitors. This is because Australian-made doors are created with quality, local materials and to Australia’s incredibly strict security door standards.

The Australian-made security doors usually come with really good warranties too, offering you better protection for your home and your purchase.

At My Security Door, we’re so confident in the quality and durability of our doors that we offer a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty on any defects. Our steel door collection comes with a 25-year structural guarantee.