Standard Flyscreens or Security Screens: What Should You Choose?

Flyscreens are a standard inclusion in many Australian homes. They allow fresh air to enter while keeping flies, mosquitoes and other insects outside. However, an ordinary flyscreen and a security screen are not the same product, even though they may look similar from a distance.

A standard flyscreen is designed for insect protection only. It is not intended to prevent forced entry. A security screen uses stronger mesh or a metal grille, a more substantial frame and secure fixings to provide a physical barrier against intruders.

This difference becomes particularly important when you want to leave windows or a sliding patio door open for ventilation. With ordinary flyscreens, an open window may be easy to access. With properly installed security screens, selected windows and doors can be left open more safely while the security barrier remains closed and secured.

What is a standard flyscreen?

A standard flyscreen usually consists of lightweight fibreglass, aluminium or synthetic mesh fitted into a simple frame. Its purpose is to stop insects from entering through an open window or door.

Ordinary flyscreens have several advantages. They are relatively inexpensive, lightweight and easy to replace. The mesh is visually unobtrusive, allows good airflow and generally has little effect on the view through the window.

For an inaccessible upper-storey window, a small window that is rarely opened or a window inside an already secured area, an ordinary flyscreen may be sufficient.

The problem is that a standard flyscreen provides little protection against deliberate entry. The mesh may be cut, torn, pushed out of its frame or removed from the retaining channel. If the glass window is open, an intruder may only need to damage the flyscreen to reach the window hardware or climb through the opening.

This does not necessarily mean that the flyscreen is defective or poor quality. It simply means that it was designed to stop insects, not burglars.

Why ordinary flyscreens can be impractical

Many new homes are designed with ordinary flyscreens on all openable windows. This may be done to reduce the construction price or create a cleaner and more minimalist appearance.

Visually, this solution can look attractive. From a practical perspective, however, it may limit how comfortably the occupants can ventilate the home.

When leaving the property, windows protected only by standard flyscreens will normally need to be closed and locked. Many people also feel uncomfortable sleeping with accessible ground-floor windows open because the flyscreen can be damaged relatively easily.

This can be particularly inconvenient during warm weather. You may have plenty of openable windows, but you may not feel safe using them at night or while you are away from home.

Ordinary flyscreens can therefore create a false sense of security. A screen is visible across the opening, but it should not be treated as a secure barrier.

What is a security screen?

A security screen is designed to provide both insect protection and resistance to forced entry. Depending on the product, it may use:

• stainless-steel woven mesh;
• perforated aluminium panels;
• steel bars or grilles;
• aluminium security grilles; or
• another tested security-screen system.

The mesh or grille is only one part of the product. The frame, fixings, locks, hinges, tracks and installation method are also critical. Strong mesh installed in a weak frame, or a strong frame attached with inadequate fixings, does not provide effective security.

When comparing products, owners should ask whether the complete screen and its installation comply with the current AS 5039 series for security door and window screens. The current standards cover performance requirements, installation and testing rather than assessing the mesh in isolation.

Traditional metal grilles

One option is a traditional metal grille installed together with insect mesh. These screens may use visible bars, decorative metalwork or the familiar diamond-pattern grille.

A properly designed grille can provide a much stronger physical barrier than an ordinary flyscreen. The visible metalwork may also deter an intruder looking for an easy entry point.

The main disadvantage is appearance. A heavy grille can interrupt the view, cast visible patterns across the window and make the interior feel more enclosed. Some owners do not like the impression of looking through bars, particularly from bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms.

Cleaning can also be more difficult because dust and cobwebs may accumulate between the grille and the insect mesh.

It is important not to assume that every metal grille is a genuine security screen. Some lightweight barrier grilles provide more protection than an ordinary flyscreen but have not been designed or tested as security-rated products. CHOICE similarly distinguishes products that claim compliance with Australian Standards from basic screen doors that provide only limited protection.

Modern fine security mesh

Owners do not have to choose between attractive windows and visible metal bars.

Modern security screens are available with finely woven stainless-steel mesh or perforated aluminium panels. Their openings are small enough to keep insects outside, but the screen is substantially stronger than ordinary flyscreen mesh.

From inside the home, a quality fine-mesh security screen can look similar to a reinforced flyscreen. It generally preserves the view better than a traditional diamond grille and can be supplied in a frame colour that coordinates with the aluminium windows and doors.

These products are sometimes described informally as reinforced, armoured or burglar-resistant flyscreens. However, “security screen” is the more useful description because it indicates that the complete assembly, rather than only the mesh, is intended to resist forced entry.

Fine security mesh is particularly suitable for:

• ground-floor bedroom windows;
• living-room and kitchen windows;
• windows facing a side passage or rear yard;
• accessible bathroom and laundry windows;
• sliding patio doors;
• stacker doors; and
• front, rear and side external doors.

The main disadvantages are the higher initial cost and the need for regular cleaning. Fine apertures can collect dust, pollen and salt residue, particularly in coastal locations. The selected mesh, frame, fasteners and coatings should therefore be suitable for the local environment.

Leaving windows open more safely

One of the most useful advantages of security screens is the ability to use the home’s windows for their intended purpose.

With a fixed security screen fitted over an openable section of a window, the glass sash can remain open while the security barrier stays in place. Unlike an ordinary flyscreen, the opening is not protected only by lightweight insect mesh that can be easily torn.

This means selected windows can be left open more safely:

• while sleeping;
• while working elsewhere in the house;
• when cooking;
• when airing the home after cleaning;
• during warm weather; and
• when leaving the property for a limited period.

A security screen does not make a home impossible to enter. Almost any residential security product may eventually be defeated with sufficient time, tools and access. Its purpose is to resist and delay entry, remove easy access points and make the property a less convenient target.

Homeowners should also check their insurance conditions before leaving glass windows open while the property is unattended. Some policies may require doors and windows to be closed or locked when no one is home, regardless of whether security screens have been fitted. From a practical security perspective, however, a properly installed security screen provides a substantially stronger barrier than an ordinary flyscreen.

Why the patio door matters so much

The patio door is often the largest openable area in the home. Opening it can provide considerably more ventilation than opening a small window.

When the patio door is combined with windows on another side of the house, it can create effective cross-ventilation. Fresh air moves through the living areas, helping to remove heat, cooking smells, steam and stale indoor air.

This is particularly useful:

• while cooking;
• after using the oven;
• during mild evenings;
• after cleaning with strong-smelling products;
• when cooling the home before turning on the air-conditioning; and
• when airing bedrooms and living areas.

With an ordinary sliding flyscreen, leaving the glazed patio door open creates a significant security weakness. The flyscreen may stop insects, but it is not designed to stop a person from entering.

A lockable security screen allows the glazed sliding or stacker door to remain open while the security screen stays closed and locked. This can make natural ventilation much more practical, including in the evening or while occupants are sleeping nearby.

The entire door assembly must still be considered. The screen mesh, frame, rollers, tracks and locking points all affect its performance. Sliding glazed panels should also have suitable locks and should not be capable of being easily lifted out of their tracks. NSW Police recommends properly designed and installed security screens, quality window locks and additional protection for sliding doors.

Security screens may reduce home insurance costs

Installing security screens to all openable sections of aluminium-framed windows, sliding doors and other external doors may also help reduce the cost of home and contents insurance.

Insurers assess a range of risk factors when calculating premiums. These can include the property’s location, construction, insured value and security features. A home with properly fitted security screens, secure external doors and suitable locks may present a lower burglary risk than a comparable property protected only by ordinary flyscreens.

Australian insurance comparison services note that additional home security, including security screens, alarms and deadlocks, may help an owner obtain a lower premium. They also recommend notifying the insurer about security improvements because these features may affect the quote.

The saving is not automatic. Different insurers use different underwriting criteria, and some may not provide a separate discount for security screens. The amount of any reduction will depend on the insurer, property, policy and type of security product installed.

A lightweight flyscreen or decorative grille should not be declared as a security screen unless it genuinely meets the insurer’s definition. Owners should accurately describe the products installed and retain invoices, specifications and compliance information where available.

When requesting or renewing an insurance quote, it is worth advising the insurer that the property has:

• security screens on all openable sections of accessible aluminium-framed windows;
• lockable security screens on sliding and stacker doors;
• security screen doors fitted to external hinged doors;
• compliant locks on windows and external doors; and
• any alarms, cameras or other security systems.

Even where the premium reduction is modest or unavailable, security screens still provide practical value through improved resistance to entry and greater freedom to ventilate the home.

What should be included in the building specification?

The difference between “flyscreens included” and “security screens included” is substantial.

A building contract that states only that flyscreens will be installed normally refers to standard insect mesh. It should not be assumed that the builder will supply security-rated products.

For comprehensive screening, the specification could state:

• “Security screens to all openable sections of aluminium-framed windows, all sliding external doors and all other external doors.”
• The specification should also identify:
• whether the screens are security-rated;
• the mesh or grille product;
• the proposed frame colour;
• the doors that require lockable security screens;
• the locking system;
• the applicable compliance standard; and
• whether supply and installation are both included.

For sliding and stacker doors, the screen configuration should be considered before construction. A large opening may require additional tracks, several screen panels or a particular stacking arrangement. Planning this early is usually more practical than replacing standard flyscreens after handover.

Should every window have a security screen?

The answer depends on the property, budget and intended use.

Ordinary flyscreens may be sufficient for upper-storey windows that cannot be reached from the ground or from an adjoining structure. Security screens should be prioritised for accessible windows and doors, especially those that occupants are likely to leave open.

Accessibility should be assessed carefully. A first-floor window may still be reachable from:

• a garage or patio roof;
• a retaining wall;
• a fence;
• a pergola;
• a balcony;
• an air-conditioning unit;
• a rainwater tank; or
• movable outdoor furniture.

A targeted approach may involve installing security screens on all ground-floor windows, the patio opening and all external doors, while retaining ordinary flyscreens on genuinely inaccessible upper-level windows.

For owners who want consistent protection and the strongest possible security profile for insurance quotations, installing security screens to every openable section of the aluminium windows, all sliding doors and all external doors may be the better option.

Emergency access should also be considered. A fixed security screen should not unintentionally remove an important escape route. Where necessary, the designer or supplier should consider an internally releasable screen or another suitable emergency-egress solution.

Which option is best?

A standard flyscreen is suitable when the only objective is insect protection. It is affordable, discreet and easy to replace, but it should never be relied upon as a barrier against intruders.

A traditional metal grille provides a visible physical barrier and may be more affordable than some premium mesh systems. However, it can obstruct the view and may not be security-rated unless the complete product has been properly tested.

Fine security mesh generally provides the best balance between appearance, ventilation, insect protection and resistance to entry. It allows windows and patio doors to remain open more safely without creating the heavy visual effect of traditional bars.

Although some new homes are designed with ordinary flyscreens because they are cheaper or appear cleaner, this is not always the most practical long-term choice. Modern security mesh can provide a similarly neat appearance while making the home more secure and easier to ventilate.

How ARK Houses can help

At ARK Houses, we consider window and door screens as part of the home’s practical design rather than as a minor accessory selected at the end of construction. We can specify security screens to all openable sections of aluminium-framed windows, sliding and stacker doors, and other external doors, while coordinating the frames with the selected window colours and overall architectural design. This provides insect protection, safer natural ventilation and a stronger barrier against unauthorised entry. Depending on the insurer and policy, comprehensive security screening may also help reduce the cost of home and contents insurance. For houses, duplexes and dual key properties, ARK Houses ensures that the inclusions clearly distinguish ordinary flyscreens from genuine security screens so owners know exactly what protection their new home will provide.

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