If you’ve been looking at installing security screens on your home, you may be surprised when we sometimes recommend installing your sliding security door on the inside of your existing glass door instead of the outside.
It’s a question we get asked quite often, especially by homeowners with older-style sliding doors.
💭 “Won’t it look strange?”
It’s a fair question because most people expect a security screen to be fitted to the outside of the house. In fact, for many homes that’s exactly how we install them. However, older sliding door systems can be a little different, and the correct installation method is often the key to achieving genuine security.
🛠️ The purpose of a sliding security door isn’t simply to cover the opening—it needs to securely interlock with the existing sliding glass door. This interlock is what allows the locking system to work properly and provides the level of security the door was designed to deliver.
With many older aluminium sliding doors, an external installation doesn’t allow this interlock to occur correctly. While it may still be possible to fit a security door to the outside, it isn’t something we recommend because it compromises the security of the installation.
Instead, we install the SecureView sliding security door on the inside of the opening using discreet top and bottom tracks. This allows the security door to securely interlock with the rear of the glass sliding panel while still operating smoothly and providing the protection your home deserves.
🤔 The Biggest Concern
The biggest concern homeowners usually have isn’t about the security—it’s about the appearance.
Many people worry that the additional tracks will stand out or make the doorway look bulky. We completely understand that concern because it’s one of the first questions we’re asked during a measure and quote.
✨ The reality is usually quite different.
Once the installation is complete, customers are often surprised by how neat and unobtrusive the finished result looks. In fact, one of the comments we hear most often is:
“I hardly notice it’s there. It looks like it has always been part of the house.”
That’s exactly what we’re aiming for. We want your security screen to protect your home while blending naturally with it.
🌞 Experience Makes the Difference
At Screens Plus, we’ve been installing security screens on the Sunshine Coast since 1996, and over that time we’ve worked on almost every style of sliding door imaginable.
Every home is different, which is why we don’t believe there’s a one-size-fits-all solution.
Sometimes the easiest installation isn’t the best installation.
Our recommendation is always based on providing the best possible security, even if that means using a different installation method to achieve it. We’d rather explain why an internal installation is the right solution than take a shortcut that compromises the security of your home.
📸 A Recent Sunshine Coast Installation
The photo shows a recent installation we completed for a Sunshine Coast homeowner with an older-style sliding glass door.
Because of the design of the existing door, an internal installation was the only way to achieve a secure interlocking system.
Like many of our customers, they were initially concerned about how the finished installation would look. Once the door was installed, those concerns quickly disappeared. The tracks blended neatly into the doorway, and the finished installation looked like it had always been there.
💙 Thinking About Upgrading Your Sliding Doors?
If you have an older sliding door and you’re unsure whether it can be fitted with a security screen, we’d be happy to inspect it and explain the best solution.
With over 35 years of experience installing security screens across the Sunshine Coast, we’ll recommend the option that provides the security, functionality and appearance you’re looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would a sliding security door be installed on the inside?
Some older-style sliding glass doors do not have enough suitable space or the correct frame arrangement for a security door to be installed securely on the outside. An inside installation allows the security door to use the necessary top and bottom tracks and interlock correctly with the existing glass door.
Is an inside-fitted security door still secure?
Yes, provided it is professionally measured, manufactured and installed with the correct tracking, locking system and interlock. The position of the door is less important than ensuring all parts of the system work together correctly.
Will a security door installed on the inside look unusual?
It can sound unusual before you see it, but a professionally installed inside security door generally looks neat and unobtrusive. Once installed, most homeowners find that the tracks and framing blend naturally with the existing doorway.
Can the security door be installed outside instead?
Not always. It depends on the design of the existing sliding door, the available space and whether the security door can interlock correctly. We inspect the doorway before recommending the safest and most practical installation position.
What is an interlock on a sliding security door?
An interlock is the section that connects the closed security door with the existing glass-door frame. It helps prevent the security door from being pulled or forced away from the doorway and is an important part of a secure installation.
Are inside installations only required on older sliding doors?
They are most common with older-style sliding-door systems, but every doorway is different. Frame design, available track space and the direction in which the existing panels operate can all affect where a security door should be installed.
Can a pet door be fitted into an inside-installed security door?
In many cases, yes. However, the available space, security-screen system and position of the glass door must all be checked first to ensure the pet door will operate without causing an obstruction.
📞 Contact Screens Plus today for a free measure and quote, or try our Instant Price Calculator to get started.
Posted By Melanie Ward, Owner Screens Plus
