Questions Clients Ask Before Starting

How Long Does the Whole Process Take?

From the first site visit to a finished installation, most residential jobs run between two and three weeks. The measuring visit takes about thirty minutes. After that, fabrication happens in our workshop, which is where the lead time comes from. If you are replacing a front door, we can usually work around your schedule. For rental properties, we coordinate directly with the property manager so the tenant is not left waiting without a secure entry point.

Will a Security Door Change How the House Looks?

This is a fair concern, especially for older character homes where the front door is part of the street appeal. Steel frames and crimsafe-style mesh can look heavy if they are not chosen carefully. We work with powder-coated finishes in a range of colours, so the door can match existing trims or window frames. The mesh itself is much less visible than people expect. From a few metres away, it reads as a dark screen rather than a cage. If you want, we can bring finish samples to the measuring visit so you see the actual colour against your home.

What Happens to the Old Door and Frame?

We remove the existing door and dispose of it as part of the installation. If the frame is still solid, we work with it and fit the new security door into the existing opening. If the frame has rotted or warped, we replace it before hanging the new door. That is something we check during the measuring visit, so there are no surprises on installation day. For rental properties, we also patch and repaint the surrounding architrave if the removal leaves marks.

Are These Doors Compliant with Local Council Rules?

Yes. All our installations meet the relevant Australian standards for security doors and screens. For rental properties, this matters because property managers need to show they have met their duty of care. We provide documentation for each job, including the specifications of the mesh and lock hardware used. If your strata or council has specific requirements, let us know before the measuring visit and we will factor that into the quote.

Can You Secure a Patio Without Blocking the Breeze?

This is the most common question we get about back patios and verandahs. The short answer is yes. Crimsafe-style mesh is designed to let air move through while still resisting forced entry. The diamond weave is tight enough to stop hands reaching through, but open enough that you do not lose the afternoon sea breeze. We have installed these screens on patios, alfresco areas, and even garage entries that double as secondary living spaces.

If you are weighing up options for your own place, it helps to have a clear idea of what you want to secure and how you use the space. A front entry door has different requirements than a back patio screen. If you are still deciding between frame materials or mesh types, our earlier post on what to prepare before a first consultation walks through the details worth having on hand. And if you manage rentals, the service format comparison explains how we handle jobs for property managers differently from direct homeowner work.

If your questions are not covered here, that is fine. Send them through before the measuring visit and we will give you straight answers, not a sales pitch. The goal is to make sure you know exactly what you are getting and why it suits your place.

Once a homeowner or property manager decides to move ahead with security doors or screens, the conversation usually shifts. It stops being about whether to do it and becomes about how it will actually work on their place. After years of measuring and installing across Perth's northern and southern suburbs, we have noticed the same questions coming up again and again. Here are the ones worth thinking through before we arrive.

Will the door match the look of my home?

This is almost always the first question, and it makes sense. A security door sits right on the front of the house, so it needs to feel like part of the design, not an afterthought. For older character homes, we usually talk about powder-coated steel in deep charcoal or bronze tones that sit well with timber and weatherboard. For modern builds, a cleaner profile with a matte finish tends to work better. The mesh colour matters too, and we can show you samples side by side so you are not guessing from a photo.

How long will the installation actually take?

A straightforward front door replacement is usually a half-day job. We measure first, then come back with the fabricated door ready to hang. If we are also doing a patio screen or upgrading locks on multiple access points, it can stretch to a full day. The main variable is the condition of the existing frame. Older homes sometimes have door jambs that are out of square, and that takes a bit longer to sort out properly. We will always tell you upfront if we spot something that will add time.

What happens with the old door and frame?

We take the old door away with us and dispose of it, so you are not left with a pile of timber or metal on the verge. If the existing frame is still solid, we work with it and just replace the door itself. If the frame has rot or corrosion, we will flag it during the measure and quote for a new frame as part of the job. It is better to know that before we start than to discover it halfway through.

Do I need council approval for this?

In most cases, replacing a security door or adding a screen to an existing opening does not require council approval, because you are not changing the footprint of the home. But if you are enclosing a patio or verandah and turning it into a habitable space, the rules can be different. We handle the compliance side of things and can tell you during the quote whether your job needs a permit. It is better to ask now than to deal with it later when you sell.

Will the screen block the breeze?

This is a fair concern, especially for back patios and verandahs where airflow is the whole point. Crimsafe-style mesh is designed to let air move through while still stopping forced entry. The weave is open enough that you notice the difference compared to a solid door, but it is not the same as having nothing there. If airflow is your priority, we can talk through the mesh gauge options and how they affect both security and ventilation.

What about the locks and keys?

We fit quality deadbolts and multi-point locking systems as standard, and we can key them to match your existing locks if that is what you want. For rental properties, property managers often prefer a single key that works across all the doors we install, so tenants are not juggling a handful of different keys. We can also upgrade the strike plate on older doors, which is a small detail that makes a big difference to how secure the door actually is.

If you have a question that is not on this list, send it through before we come out. It is easier to answer things while we are standing at the door with a tape measure than it is over the phone. We will take the measurements, talk through the options, and give you a straight answer on what will work for your place.