What is the best mesh for security screens?

Choose the Right Security Screen Mesh

SECURITY SCREEN MESH TYPES

Once upon a time, there was only one Security Mesh. A woven 0.9mm 304 Stainless Mesh Wire screwed onto an aluminium frame. How things have changed. Nowadays there are many types of security screen mesh or sheet. Let's have a look at the good, the bad, and the woeful to help you select the best one for your home, office, or the whole apartment complex!

SECURITY MESH TYPES

There are two main types of security screen mesh.

Woven Wire Mesh and Perforated Sheet.

Woven Wire Mesh

• Starline Security manufactures and uses three different stainless woven wire meshes.

  • BasiX: 316 stainless 0.7mm wire, 12×12 strand per inch weave.
  • SecureView: T316 high tensile marine grade stainless 0.8mm wire, 11×11 strands per inch weave.
  • Xtreme: 304 stainless 1.0mm wire, 10×10 strands per inch weave. This product is currently in development and testing but is expected to be available commercially late 2019.

• Visibility

  • Woven meshes have better visibility compared to perforated sheets.
  • The smaller the wire strand, the better the visibility.

• Ventilation

  • Woven meshes offer better ventilation compared to perforated sheets.
  • The smaller the wire strand, the better the ventilation.

• Cost

  • Stainless woven mesh costs more than a perforated sheet.
  • The larger the wire, the higher the cost due to the difficulty in consistent weaving and maintaining free-from imperfection standards.

• Strength

  • Increasing the wire diameter significantly enhances the strength of the finished security screen. For example, Xtreme's 1.0mm wire mesh would be at least twice as strong as BasiX's 0.7mm wire mesh.

• Manufacture

  • Woven wire mesh is designed and manufactured similarly to insect screening, using strands of wire woven into an even mesh structure. These meshes are much stronger than metal fly screen meshes.

• Flat vs. Rolls

  • Woven mesh used for security screens is manufactured into flat sheets rather than rolls, unlike typical metal wire insect screens.

• Types

  • In Australia, various types of woven mesh are marketed as “security screens," including galvanized wire mesh (which is of poor quality), 304, 316, and T316 stainless wire in varying diameters, strengths, and weave profiles.

• Weaves

  • Mesh weaves are specified in strands per inch, with smaller diameter wire strand mesh generally having more strands per inch while keeping the aperture or opening size square and similarly sized for security screen industry use.

The good, bad and ugly

What is the difference? Mesh is mesh, right? Actually, no. Mesh qualities vary across a range of issues.

1. Service Life

Security mesh will last decades in service when using high-quality stainless steel wire and following general maintenance practices. T316 marine-grade high tensile stainless wire is considered the best. However, 316 and even 304 stainless wire also have their place. Galvanized steel wire mesh has a very poor service life in security screens. Regular washing of the security screen mesh can considerably extend its life and minimize aluminum oxidation on the screen frame.

2. Weave consistency

As with all woven products, there are good weavers and poor weavers. High-quality weaves ensure a mesh that is easy to see through and has minimal manufacturing imperfections. Common imperfections in woven mesh wire include:

• Inconsistent weave, leading to reed lines.
• Curved mesh where wires are not woven straight and true.
• Uneven wire weave, making the mesh more difficult to see through depending on its rotation during security screen manufacture.

3. Paint

Almost all security mesh screens are powder-coated black. Poor substrate paint preparation, application quality, and paint thickness impact how long your screen looks like new. Wash down “cloudy” mesh immediately and rub it with a soft cloth to remove embedded debris. Avoid using “Mr Sheen” style products as they attract more dust. Buy from reputable suppliers to ensure high-quality paint applications.

4. Substitution

This is a significant issue in the security screen industry and occurs in two ways:

Mesh Manufacturer Wire Substitution

• • Some manufacturers substitute cheaper, lower-quality wires but market them as high-quality stainless steel mesh.
  • Starline Security avoids this by using a mesh supplier with an in-house manufacturing facility ensuring the use of high-quality stainless wire sourced from Japan.

Fabricator Substitution

• Local fabricators often substitute with cheaper, lower-quality meshes and sell them as high-quality options.
• Starline Security has never knowingly substituted inferior mesh in over 25 years. We source mesh from reputable suppliers and trace the manufacturer. Substitution damages trust, resulting in warranty claims, bad reviews, and business closures.
• Buy only from trusted suppliers, fabricators, or installers.
• If the quoted price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• Use a fridge magnet; if it sticks, the mesh is not stainless steel.
• If the mesh begins rusting soon after purchase, it may not be stainless steel or is suited for highly corrosive environments.

Perforated Sheet

Starline Security manufactures and uses one perforated sheet: Xceed. It is a black 1.6mm flat structural-grade aluminum sheet with closely spaced 2.2mm round holes.

• Visibility

  • Perforated sheets sacrifice visibility compared to woven mesh, especially at angles.
  • Thinner sheets improve visibility, but even thin sheets offer less visibility than comparably strong woven stainless wire mesh.
  • The opening area impacts visibility more than thickness. Closely spaced holes increase visibility but reduce strength. Xceed balances these factors well.

• Ventilation

  • Perforated sheets provide less ventilation than woven meshes in practice due to the breeze deflecting off the sheet rather than breaking up through the wire openings.

• Cost

  • Perforated sheet products generally cost less than stainless woven mesh.

• Strength

  • Xceed’s 1.6mm thick hardened aluminum sheet is robust enough to meet all Australian standards for security screens and doors.

• Types

  • In Australia, several perforated sheets are used in security screening. While thin stainless steel perforated sheets are good, Xceed’s 1.6mm thick aluminum sheet offers excellent strength with good ventilation and visibility.

Diamond grille and bar-type products are not included in this discussion as they are not security sheet products. We hope this information helps you choose the right security screen mesh type for your home. Contact us with any questions; we're happy to help!

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