How To Measure and Install a Security Screen Door

Security screen doors in Australia are held to a high standard. The National Security Screen Association has detailed a list of regulations that determine the integrity of a screen door. 

But all of these regulations are moot without the primary foundation in place: Making sure that your security screen is installed correctly in the first place.

Measuring your doorways to fit your security doors correctly is critical. This fit is where the structural integrity of your screen will hinge on. There must be no gaps or crevices that can get penetrated by a sharp object and damage your security screen, making it less protective.

Proper measurement also ensures that you get the maximum protection from your security screen, guaranteeing that it will hold in place for a long time, even against the elements. If you measure for a security door well, you should have little to no problems in the installation.

Different Door Sizes

Standard sizes for doors are either 81.2cm or 91.44cm wide. For smaller properties with slimmer doors, there are 76cm fits available. For very large doors, often used commercially, companies can customize some models for a perfect fit.

It’s advisable, however, to still measure your door correctly. Pre-cut doors may make things simpler. But with various opening widths that contractors can cut down to fit your doorway, knowing the absolute measurements of your doorway will create that perfect, custom fit.

Preparing for Measurement

Check your doorway to ensure that there aren’t any obstacles or obstructions that could get in the way of installing your security door. This goes for all areas around your door. Remember that the security door has to open at a swing, and there should be nothing that could hinder it—such as furnishings or light fixtures.

Next, you have to consider the type of doorway you have. Is your door bracketed by brick moulding? Does it have a trim? Does stone surround it? These different entryways will require varying mounting and measuring techniques for your door. You may have to have a customized door depending on the type of entryway your home has.

Two varieties of mounting are recommended: one with a single, long mounting screw, used when the door is to be mounted on top of existing trim. It’s called a surface mount. The next type is when the security door is mounted on the inside, called a recessed mount. It will require a mounting screw on the trim and behind the hinge of the security door. Measurement for this comes into play later.

Now that you’ve determined the type of doorway you have and what kind of mounting you’ll need, as well as whether you need a surface or a recessed mount, it’s time to measure your door.

Measuring Your Door

Start with identifying the key areas of the doorway that will need to be measured. It’s not as simple as the length and width of the door. You’re going to need at least four major measurements:

Area 1 – The width of the doorway for about two and a half centimeters from the top bar of the doorway. 

Area 2 – The width of the doorway across the center of the doorway. 

Area 3 – The width of the doorway about two and a half centimeters from the floor.

Area 4 – The height of the doorway from the top bar to the floor.

These are measurements you’ll need for the opening directly. However, secondary measurements that you’ll need include:

Area 5 – The width of the opening from the outside of the door, from doorpost to doorpost. This will be the proper width of the security door.

Area 6 – Add 2.5cm of measurement through the doorway starting from the exterior door, which will act as the space between doors. There must be good space between your security and exterior doors that won’t hinder how you open both.

All of the measurements you will take henceforth needs an additional minimum 2.5×2.5cm over the doorframes. Measure from the corners of the trim or the jambs of the doorway. This will serve as the mounting surface where the security door will get mounted or attached to your doorway.

Area 7 – Measure the height from the floor to the handle of your existing doorway. Most security doors have a handle of 100cm off of the ground. 

However, you need to make sure that your door handle and your security door handles won’t interfere with one another when you open your door. If you have a recessed mount, you might likely have handle problems. Make a note of the measurement and adjust the door handle for your security door accordingly.

In Case of Interference Between Doors

During your measurements, you might find that your door and the security door are likely to have issues with opening comfortably. There might not be enough space, the hinges getting in the way, or the handles being too close together. In this case, do the following troubleshooting tips:

• Mount your security door with an opposite swing. This prevents your doors from slamming into one another.
• Add to the trim of your doorway, to create a space that will allow for comfortable mounting of your security door, and give you space on the frame to install the door.

Measure Your Security Door Properly for that Perfect Fit

By taking all of these critical measurements into account, you can make sure that your doorway and security doors have a snug fit and will effectively defend your home.

If you need more help about correctly measuring your door or prefer to have a professional appraisal of your doorway, you can contact Safeway Security Screens for a free quote.

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This post was written by Safeway Security Screens