New Home Build? Here’s When to Think About Security Screens and Doors

Building a new home comes with a long list of decisions. Kitchen benchtops, tile colours, tapware finishes- it’s easy for security to slip down the priority list until the very end, if it makes the list at all. But security screens and doors are one of those things that are far easier, cheaper, and better looking when they’re planned early rather than bolted on as an afterthought.

Here’s a practical guide to when security should enter the conversation, and why it’s worth bringing up sooner than you might think.

Why security is worth thinking about at all

It’s easy to assume break-ins are rare or that they only happen to other people. The numbers say otherwise. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the proportion of households broken into rose from 1.8% in 2022–23 to 2.1% in 2023–24, an extra 32,000 households, bringing the national total to 218,000. Of those households, one in five was broken into more than once.

A separate national survey backs this up from the homeowner’s perspective: almost 8% of Australians surveyed said they’d experienced a break-in or attempted break-in in the past 12 months, and nearly two-thirds of those also had packages stolen from outside their homes. Perhaps most telling, that same survey found that people who’d experienced a break-in said they’d pay substantially more to live in a safer suburb, a reminder of just how much security weighs on people once they’ve had a bad experience.

None of this is meant to alarm you. It’s simply the case for treating security as a genuine part of the build, not a box to tick at the last minute.

Stage one: at the design and quoting stage

This is, by far, the best time to think about security screens and doors, while the house is still on paper.

At this stage, your builder or draftsperson can factor Burwood security doors and screens into the door and window schedule from the start. That means the right frame sizes, the right hinge placement, and screens that are designed to match the sightlines of your windows rather than sit awkwardly over them later.

Getting it right at design stage also means you can choose where security doors go before walls, plaster, and architraves are finished. Front doors, back doors, and any sliding doors leading to a deck or patio are the obvious candidates, but don’t overlook laundry doors or side access doors; these are common, quiet entry points that are easy to forget.

Stage two: once windows and doors are chosen, but before they’re installed

If you’ve missed the initial design conversation, this is your next best window (no pun intended). Once you know the exact door and window styles, sizes, and opening types you’re using, a security screen supplier can measure and manufacture screens that are built to fit, rather than a generic size that’s modified on site.

This is also the stage to think about mesh type. Stainless steel mesh, for example, holds up much better in coastal areas where salt air causes faster corrosion. If your build is anywhere near the coast, this is worth raising with your supplier directly rather than assuming a standard product will do the job long-term.

Stage three: just before handover

Even at this late stage, it’s not too late, but your options narrow. Screens can still be measured and fitted to existing frames, though retrofitting sometimes means working around trims, locks, or hardware that’s already installed. It generally costs more than building security in from the start, simply because it involves extra labour and, occasionally, minor adjustments to existing fittings.

If you’re at this stage, the priority should be your most-used entry points first: front door, back door, and any sliding doors that open onto outdoor living areas.

What “security” actually means in a screen or door

Not every screen that looks tough actually is. In Australia, genuine security screens and doors are tested and certified against AS 5039, the Australian Standard covering security screen doors and window grilles. To meet it, a product has to pass a series of physical tests, including knife shear, impact, anti-jemmy, pull, probe and shear testing, carried out in an independent, accredited laboratory.

If a screen hasn’t been tested and certified to this standard, it’s classified differently, often as a “safety” or “barrier” screen. According to the National Security Screen Association, screens that don’t meet AS 5039 and AS 5041 are simply barrier, safety, or fly screens, and are good at keeping insects out, but shouldn’t be relied on to withstand a forced entry attempt. It’s a useful distinction to keep in mind when you’re comparing quotes, because “security” can be used quite loosely in marketing even when a product hasn’t actually been tested for it.

It’s also worth knowing that compliance covers installation as well as the product itself. The NSSA notes that a correctly certified security door should have at least three fixed-pin hinges, and that fitting is meant to be done by a licensed installer rather than as a DIY job, since incorrect installation can undermine an otherwise compliant product.

A few practical questions to ask your builder or supplier

• Can security screens and doors be included in the initial design and quoting stage, rather than added later?
• Are the products you’re quoting certified to AS 5039, and can you see the compliance label?
• What mesh type is recommended for your location, particularly if you’re near the coast?
• How many hinges are used, and are they fixed-pin?
• Who’s doing the installation, and are they licensed for security screen fitting?

The bottom line

Security screens and doors aren’t the most exciting part of a new build, but they’re far easier to get right when they’re planned alongside your doors and windows rather than added after the fact. Raising it early costs you nothing but a conversation, and it can save you a more expensive, more disruptive retrofit down the track.