Are Security Screens Worth It in Los Angeles?
For many Los Angeles homes, yes. Security screens let you keep doors and windows open for the breeze while the house stays locked, they do it without the "behind bars" look, and the bedroom versions open from inside so nobody is trapped in a fire. They are worth it most if you would actually use them: if you want your doors and windows open often. They are not a replacement for good locks, lighting or an alarm, and no screen is unbreakable.
Here is how to decide for your own home.
The short version
- Worth it: you want doors or windows open on warm evenings or overnight, and you do not want to leave the house unlocked.
- Worth it: you want something stronger than an insect screen, without bars.
- Less worth it: your doors and windows stay shut most of the year.
- Less worth it: you only want to keep bugs out. A retractable screen may be enough.
Why LA homes are good candidates
Los Angeles has a mild climate, and a lot of homes here are built to open up: patio sliders, French doors, windows on every side. The valleys get hot in summer, and nights cool off. Near the coast, there is often a sea breeze in the afternoon.
All of that pushes people to open the house. The catch is that an open door or window is also an unlocked one. A security screen closes that gap. The main door or window stays open, the screen stays locked, and the air moves through.
Air conditioning is the other way to cool a house. Opening it up in the evening is the simpler one, as long as you can do it safely. See how this works in the San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley.
What you actually get
- A locked opening you can see through. Woven stainless-steel mesh in a heavy frame, with its own lock.
- Resistance to the common ways in. The mesh and doors we install are tested against cutting, kicking and prying (per the manufacturer). See how the tests work.
- No bars. From the street, the screens look like tidy dark screens. Mesh vs bars
- Bugs out. The weave is fine enough to stop insects.
Where they are worth the most
Patio sliders. The back of the house is often the most private and the least watched. A sliding security screen runs on its own track and is built so it cannot be lifted out from outside.
Bedroom windows. Sleeping with the window open is one of the best reasons to have them. On a bedroom window, the screen must be a fire-escape type that opens from inside without a key or tool. Read our fire-escape guide
Ground-floor and side-yard windows. Windows out of sight from the street can stay open with security window screens on them.
Homes near the beach. Salt air is hard on ordinary steel. If you live near the coast, ask for 316 marine-grade mesh by name. Read: 316 vs 304
When they may not be worth it
- You never open the windows. A security screen earns its keep when the glass behind it is open.
- You only want to keep bugs out. A retractable screen rolls away out of sight when not in use. It is not a security product.
- You rent. You will need the owner's permission.
- Your HOA or historic district has rules. Check before you order.
How to make sure it is worth the money
- Ask what the mesh is. You want a number (316) and a named maker.
- Ask about the lock. Its own key, and more than one locking point.
- Insist on fire-escape screens for bedrooms.
- Get it measured. A screen made to fit your opening closes properly and locks properly.
- Check the license. Any contractor should give you a California license number you can look up with the Contractors State License Board. Ours is CA Lic. #1119881.
Frequently asked questions
Do security screens stop burglars?
No screen is unbreakable. A security screen is built to resist a set attack for a set time. In real life that buys time and makes noise, which is often what sends someone away.
Do security screens add value to a home?
They make a home safer and more comfortable, and buyers notice that. Nobody can honestly promise a figure. Read more on value
Can a security screen trap me in a fire?
Not if bedroom windows have fire-escape screens. They open from inside only, without a key.
Will they rust near the coast?
The mesh we install is 316 marine-grade stainless steel, the grade recommended near salt air.
Do they make the room darker?
A little, the way an insect screen does. You still get daylight and a clear view.