# Security Screen Doors - Link: https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/metal-security-window-screens/ - Published: 2024-08-07T12:56:23+00:00 - Author: Rowdy [Home](https://selectslidingdoors.com/)/[Glossary](https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/)/ Security screen doors Locks and security # Security screen doors Also called: security screens, metal security screens **Quick answer:** a security screen door is a sliding screen built to keep people out, not just insects. It has a strong metal frame and a tough metal mesh that resists cutting and pushing. You can leave the glass door open for air while the screen stays locked. The mesh Woven stainless steel or perforated metal, not the fiberglass mesh a knife cuts through easily. The frame Heavier metal sections than a standard screen, with corners that do not twist apart under force. Its own lock Most have a keyed lock, so the screen stays secure while the glass door behind it is open. How the mesh is held in the frame 1. **Spline**, a rubber cord that presses the mesh into a groove 2. **Standard frame**, thin rolled aluminum 3. **Clamp strip**, screwed down in many security screens so the mesh cannot pull out 4. **Security frame**, a thicker, heavier section A spline-held mesh can be pushed out of its groove. A clamped mesh stays put. ## From first sign to fix A security screen is heavier than an insect screen, so small problems grow faster. Work through them in this order. 1. The screen drags or squeaks 2. Vacuum the screen track and adjust the roller screws. 3. Safe to do yourself 4. It jumps off the track 5. Lift it back onto the track and check the rollers. 6. Take care: two people 7. The lock will not catch 8. The rollers or the keeper need adjusting so the lock lines up. 9. Call a pro 10. Bent frame or damaged mesh 11. Repair or replace the screen: a bent frame no longer locks tight. 12. Call a pro ## Fix it yourself or call a pro * **Safe yourself**Clean the screen track and wash the mesh with a soft brush and water. * **Take care**Lifting a heavy security screen back onto its track: two people, and keep fingers clear of the frame edges. * **Call a pro**A lock that will not catch, a bent frame, or fitting a new security screen. Step by step: [how to put a screen door back on track](https://selectslidingdoors.com/sliding-screen-door-off-track/). ![Dark bronze security screen door closed across a sliding patio door, with a keyed lock on its frame](https://selectslidingdoors.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/ai- security-screen-door-768x573.jpg) AI image ## Which screen is on your door Insect screen Light, easy to rescreen, good airflow The mesh cuts or pushes out easily, no real security Pet screen Thick coated mesh stands up to claws and paws Still easy to cut, no lock to speak of Security screen Metal mesh and frame resist cutting and pushing, with its own lock Heavier, and usually the costlier option A security screen adds a layer, but the glass door’s own lock still matters. See [which patio doors are most secure](https://selectslidingdoors.com/which-patio-doors-are-most-secure/). ## Screen off track or not locking? Select Sliding Doors handles [sliding door repair](https://selectslidingdoors.com/sliding-door-repair/), including screens and locks, across Dallas-Fort Worth. Mon to Sat, 7am to 10pm. [Call 469-915-5230](https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/metal-security-window-screens/4699155230) [Sliding door repair](https://selectslidingdoors.com/sliding-door-repair/) ## Questions people ask Can I add a security screen to my sliding patio door? Usually, if the door already has a screen track. The screen is made to fit the opening, and the track has to be straight for the lock to line up. Do security screens block the view or the breeze? Fine woven stainless mesh lets air through and keeps a fairly clear view. Perforated metal blocks more of the view but adds privacy. Will a security screen stop a break-in? It slows one down and adds a locked layer. It works best together with a strong lock and an [anti-lift device](https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/anti-lift-devices/) on the glass door itself. ## Related terms [Sliding screen door](https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/sliding-screen-door/) [Anti-lift devices](https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/anti-lift-devices/)[High-security locks](https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/high-security-locks/) [Sliding door latch](https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/sliding-door-latch/) Photo: AI image. Diagram: Select Sliding Doors.