Security Screens for Doors & Windows

What is a security screen and how does it protect your home?

A security screen is a high strength mesh panel set inside a rigid aluminium frame, fitted to a door or window opening and locked into position. The mesh is woven from 316 marine grade stainless steel, the same alloy used in marine hardware and surgical instruments. It resists cutting, prying, and impact while remaining almost invisible from inside the room.

The frame is extruded aluminium, powder coated to match your existing window and door profiles. It bolts to the building structure rather than just clipping on, which means the screen cannot be levered out of the opening. Discreet locks secure the panel from inside, typically with a three point locking system that engages top, bottom, and side simultaneously.

From inside your home, you see through the mesh as clearly as looking through a standard fly screen. From outside, the mesh reduces visibility into the house, giving you daytime privacy without curtains or blinds. Air moves freely through the mesh, so you can sleep with doors and windows secured and still have cross ventilation through the house.

Why do homeowners replace burglar bars with security screens?

Burglar bars have protected South African homes for decades, but they come with trade-offs that security screens eliminate entirely. Bars darken rooms, obstruct views, trap heat, and make your home look and feel like a cage. Steel bars on the coast corrode within a few years unless repainted constantly. And they offer zero insect protection.

Security screens give you the same physical barrier without any of those compromises. The mesh is strong enough to resist forced entry, but thin enough to let light and air pass through freely. Your rooms stay bright. Your views stay open. Your home looks like a home, not a prison.

On the Garden Route specifically, salt air and humidity accelerate rust on steel burglar bars. Powder coated aluminium frames and 316 stainless steel mesh are inherently corrosion resistant. Custom Blinds has installed security screens from Mossel Bay to Plettenberg Bay since 2010 with zero corrosion related warranty claims.

Estate agents consistently report that aluminium security screens add resale value, while burglar bars are often flagged for removal by buyers before transfer. Most South African short term insurers recognise security screens as a qualifying security barrier.

Where do security screens work best in a South African home?

Security screens suit any opening where you want protection without sacrificing light, air, or the feeling of openness. On the Garden Route, these are the most common installations.

Sliding and stacker doors. The most requested security screen installation. Families want their main living area open to the patio and garden without worrying about break-ins, baboons, or mosquitoes after dark. Sliding security screens track smoothly alongside your existing door and lock into position.

Bedroom windows and doors. Sleep with fresh air moving through the room while the house stays locked. Security screens on bedroom openings let you ventilate at night in complete safety, even on the ground floor.

Kitchens and sculleries. Open windows during cooking attract flies. On the Garden Route, they also attract baboons. Security screens let you cook with fresh air and no uninvited guests, whether they have six legs or two hands.

Holiday homes and Airbnbs. Properties that stand empty between visits need security that works unattended. Screens stay locked in place permanently, so the house is protected whether you are there or not. Guests can ventilate freely without compromising security.

Baboon zones. Homes near the Knysna Forest, Pezula, The Heads, Brenton, and parts of Plettenberg Bay and George share space with Cape baboon troops. Standard fly screens will not stop a baboon. Security grade stainless steel mesh with reinforced frames and tamper resistant fixings is the only reliable solution.

What materials are security screens made from and why does it matter on the coast?

The Garden Route’s combination of salt air, UV intensity, humidity, and temperature swings destroys inferior materials within a year or two. Every component in a Custom Blinds security screen is specified for this environment.

316 marine grade stainless steel mesh. The same alloy grade used in boat fittings and coastal architectural hardware. It resists salt corrosion, maintains its tensile strength over decades, and does not pit or discolour in humid coastal conditions. This is not standard 304 stainless, which can corrode in persistent salt exposure.

Powder coated extruded aluminium frames. Aluminium does not rust. The powder coat finish is UV stabilised to prevent fading and chalking in Garden Route sun. Frames can be colour matched to your existing window and door joinery in white, charcoal, bronze, natural aluminium, or custom colours.

Stainless steel fixings and locks. Every screw, hinge, and lock component uses stainless steel or marine grade hardware. No zinc plated fixings that corrode within 18 months at the coast.

All screens are supplied by Corner Star, South Africa’s leading screen manufacturer. Corner Star’s patented corner system and tensioning methods ensure the mesh stays taut and the frame stays square over years of daily use.

How to get security screens for your home

1. Send photos to Duncan. WhatsApp photos of the doors and windows you want screened to 079 523 5407. Include a shot showing the full frame and one showing how the door or window opens. Duncan will confirm which screen type and configuration suits each opening.
2. Free site measure. Duncan visits your property to take precision measurements of every opening, check mounting surfaces, assess handle clearances, and confirm lock positions. This is a free, no obligation visit available anywhere on the Garden Route from Mossel Bay to Plettenberg Bay.
3. Custom manufacture. Each screen is built to your exact dimensions by Corner Star using 316 stainless steel mesh and powder coated aluminium frames. Colour matched to your joinery. Typical turnaround is 2 to 3 weeks from measurement.
4. Professional installation. Our team fits every screen, checks smooth operation, and tests locks before leaving. The installation is clean and neat with no mess left behind. Full insurance coverage on all work.

Which security screen configurations are available?

Hinged screens for standard doors, French doors, and windows. The screen swings open on heavy duty hinges when you need full access to the opening, then locks closed for protection.

Sliding screens for patio doors, stacker doors, and wide openings. The screen slides on a top or bottom track alongside your existing door. This is the most popular configuration for Garden Route homes where sliding doors are the main connection between indoor and outdoor living spaces.

Fixed screens for windows that do not need to open for access. The screen is permanently mounted in the frame, providing continuous protection with zero maintenance. Suitable for small windows, bathroom windows, and any opening where the screen stays in place year round.

Bi-fold and multi-panel screens for large openings and commercial installations. Multiple screen panels fold and stack to one side when full access is needed, then lock into a continuous security barrier when closed.

Every configuration uses the same 316 stainless steel mesh and locking hardware. The choice depends on how you use the opening and how often you need full unscreened access.

Where does Custom Blinds install security screens on the Garden Route?

Duncan and the installation team work across the full Garden Route every week. Security screen installations are available in all of the following areas with free on site measurement and consultation.

Knysna including Thesen Island, Leisure Isle, Knysna Heights, Pezula, Simola, Brenton on Sea, and Belvidere. Baboon activity is high in many of these areas, making security screens essential.

Plettenberg Bay including Beacon Island, Signal Hill, Robberg, Keurbooms, and Nature’s Valley. Extreme salt exposure makes 316 stainless steel the only reliable mesh choice.

George including Herolds Bay, Garden Route Mall, Pacaltsdorp, and Blanco. Lower salt exposure than the coast, but security and insect protection remain priorities.

Sedgefield including Cola Beach, Myoli Beach, and The Island. Holiday homes in Sedgefield benefit from screens that protect the property when owners are away.

Mossel Bay, Wilderness, and Buffalo Bay. Each town has different exposure conditions. Duncan assesses every site individually.