How to Choose Security Screens for Your Sunshine Coast or North Brisbane Home
Buyer’s Guide · Sunshine Coast & North Brisbane
How to Choose Security Screens for Your Queensland Home
Stainless steel, perforated aluminium, diamond grille, barrier screens, flyscreens — here is exactly what to check before you buy, from a local owner-operated installer.
The Short Version
Seven Things That Actually Matter
If you only remember one thing: a real security screen is tested to Australian Standard AS 5039. Everything else — mesh, frame, colour, warranty — is about matching the right product to each opening in your home.
- Does it meet AS 5039?Non-negotiable
- Which mesh — stainless, aluminium, grille?Depends on risk & location
- Is the frame heavy-duty and screw-fixed?Yes, or walk away
- Coastal home?316 marine-grade mesh
- Which openings really need it?Entry doors & ground-floor glass
- What warranty is written down?Up to 15 years
- Who installs it?A local who does it themselves
01 / The One Test That Counts
Make Sure It Meets AS 5039
AS 5039 is the Australian Standard for security screen doors and window grilles. To pass, a product has to survive five separate attacks in an independent lab:
- Dynamic impactRepeated heavy blows
- Jemmy testPrising with a crowbar
- Pull testRipping mesh from frame
- Knife shearCutting the mesh
- Probe testReaching through to the lock
If a screen can’t show AS 5039 compliance, it is not a security screen — no matter how solid it looks or what the salesperson tells you. Our full CommandeX security screen range is tested to AS 5039 when fitted with a three-point lock, and we’ll show you the test certification before you spend a dollar.
02 / Choose the Right Mesh
The Four Screen Types — and Where Each One Fits
The mesh is the heart of the screen. Two of these are genuine AS 5039 security products; two are barrier screens for lower-risk openings. Knowing the difference is what stops you over-paying — or under-protecting.
Stainless Steel Woven Mesh
Best for: front and back doors, ground-floor windows, coastal homes.
High-tensile 316 marine-grade wire woven into a fine, near-invisible mesh. Strongest option, best airflow and visibility, best corrosion resistance. The screen we fit most often.
Perforated Aluminium
Best for: windows, inland homes, screening a lot of openings on a budget.
Aluminium sheet precision-punched with thousands of holes. A genuine security screen when made to AS 5039, more affordable than stainless, and available in far more colours.
Diamond Grille
Best for: balconies, upper-floor windows, side doors, insect protection.
The classic Australian 7mm aluminium diamond pattern. A visual deterrent and a solid insect barrier — but it does not meet AS 5039 and should never stand in for a security screen on a main entry.
Flyscreens & Retractables
Best for: airflow and bugs where security isn’t the concern.
Fixed flyscreens for standard windows; retractable screens for wide openings, bi-folds and older Queenslanders with no reveal depth. Insect and light control only — not security.
See all three CommandeX security screens side by side on our Security Doors & Screens page, or read Stainless Steel vs Perforated Aluminium for a deeper comparison.
03 / Don’t Forget the Frame
The Mesh Is Only as Strong as the Frame Holding It
A brilliant mesh in a flimsy frame is a weak screen. Check for all four of these:
- Heavy-duty aluminium — strong, light and rust-resistant, with a wall thickness built for security, not just insect screening.
- Custom-measured — made to your exact door or window opening, not cut down from a generic size.
- Mechanically fixed mesh — the mesh is clamped or bonded into the frame under tension, not just pressed in with a rubber bead.
- Gold-grade powder coating — for durability and a colour that matches your existing frames.
Every screen we install is custom-made by CommandeX in Australia to the measurements we take at your home. Nothing is off-the-shelf.
04 / Build for the Queensland Climate
Location and Climate Change the Answer
Salt air — within about 5km of the coast, choose 316 marine-grade stainless mesh. The molybdenum in 316 grade gives it far better resistance to salt corrosion than standard stainless or aluminium. Right on the water, SaltWaterSeries adds a heavy-duty coastal coating on the same mesh.
Heat — a fine woven mesh lets you leave doors and windows open for cross-breeze on hot nights without leaving the house open, which takes load off the air conditioner.
Insects — Queensland bugs are a year-round problem, so a good security screen doubles as an insect barrier and keeps mozzies and midges out while the air still flows.
05 / Spend Where It Counts
You Don’t Need a Premium Screen on Every Opening
The smartest approach — and the one we recommend to every customer — is to invest in genuine security where a burglar would actually try, and use cheaper barrier or insect screens everywhere else.
Genuine security screens here
Front entry door. Back door. Ground-floor windows facing the street or a side path. Any door or window reachable from a shared fence, carport or alley. These are the first places anyone tests.
Barrier or flyscreens are fine here
Upper-floor windows. Balcony doors above ground level. Internal courtyard windows. Side windows boxed in by a fence with no access. Lower risk, so a diamond grille or flyscreen does the job for less.
We break this down opening-by-opening in Security Screens on a Budget.
06 / Get the Warranty in Writing
What a Real Warranty Looks Like
A quality screen carries a manufacturer’s warranty measured in years, not months. Typical cover across the range we install:
| Product | Manufacturer warranty |
|---|---|
| SecureView Eclipx (stainless) | Up to 15 years |
| SaltWaterSeries (coastal stainless) | Up to 20 years |
| Xceed (perforated aluminium) | Up to 7 years |
| Diamond Grille (barrier) | 7 years |
| Slideit workmanship guarantee | 6 months |
Extended warranty terms and conditions apply — we explain them at your quote. If a supplier won’t put a meaningful warranty in writing, treat that as a warning about the product.
07 / Choose the Installer, Not Just the Screen
A Local Who Does the Whole Job Themselves
Look for
Supplies and installs their own work. Doesn’t sub-contract the fit to a stranger. Puts a workmanship guarantee in writing. Carries public liability insurance. Can point you to real, recent local jobs and reviews.
How Slideit works
Owner-operated, servicing the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay and North Brisbane from the van — no showroom, no franchise. $20 million public liability insurance. The person who measures your home is the person who installs it, and when you call, you get an owner.
Straight Answers
Choosing Security Screens — FAQ
How do I know if a security screen actually meets AS 5039?
Ask the installer to show you the product’s test certification before you buy. A genuine AS 5039 security screen has passed five independent lab tests — dynamic impact, jemmy, pull, knife shear and probe — and the manufacturer can supply the paperwork. If nobody can produce it, it is a barrier or insect screen, not a security screen.
Is stainless steel or aluminium mesh better for security screens?
Both can meet AS 5039. Stainless steel woven mesh is stronger, gives clearer views and resists corrosion better, so it is the first choice for entry doors and coastal homes. Perforated aluminium is a genuine security screen at a lower price with more colour options, which makes it a good fit for screening many windows on an inland home.
Is a diamond grille door a security screen?
No. A diamond grille is a barrier screen. It uses a 7mm aluminium diamond pattern that deters and keeps insects out, but it does not meet AS 5039 and does not carry security screen warranties. It is a good, cost-effective choice for balconies, upper-floor windows and low-risk side doors — not for a main entry.
Do I need security screens on every window in the house?
No. Put genuine security screens on the front and back doors and on ground-floor windows that face the street or a side path. Upper-floor windows, balcony doors and boxed-in side windows are low risk, so a barrier screen or flyscreen is enough there. This mix protects the openings that matter and keeps the total cost down.
Which security screen is best for a home near the beach?
Within about 5km of the coast, choose 316 marine-grade stainless steel mesh — it resists salt corrosion far better than standard stainless or aluminium. On an exposed beachfront block, SaltWaterSeries adds a heavy-duty coastal powder coating on the same 316 mesh and carries a longer warranty.
How long does it take to get security screens supplied and installed?
Typically three to four weeks from the day you approve the quote and pay a deposit to installation day — among the fastest turnarounds in the industry. Every screen is custom-made to our on-site measurements, so the clock starts once the order goes to the manufacturer.
Keep Reading
More Security Screen Guides
Stainless vs Aluminium →
Security Screens on a Budget →
Compare All Screens →
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