Every home with windows and doors eventually faces the same small decision: what actually goes over them to keep the bugs out while still letting the breeze in.
It sounds simple, but the options have quietly expanded well beyond the basic mesh screens most of us grew up with.
Today, homeowners weighing this decision are usually choosing between a standard flyscreen and something considerably more heavy-duty, Crimsafe flyscreens. Both do the job of keeping insects out. Only one does considerably more than that.
What a Standard Flyscreen Actually Offers
A standard flyscreen is exactly what it sounds like, a mesh screen fitted to a window or door frame, built to keep insects out while letting air and light through. It's a familiar, well-understood product, and for a lot of homes, it does exactly what's needed.
A few things standard flyscreens do well:
- Keep insects out without blocking airflow or natural light
- Cost less upfront than heavier-duty alternatives
- Suit most standard window and door openings without extensive customisation
- Come in a wide range of styles, from fixed screens to retractable options
For homes where insect control is the main priority, and security isn't a major concern for that particular opening, a standard flyscreen genuinely covers the need well.
What Crimsafe Adds to the Equation
Crimsafe flyscreens start from the same basic idea, mesh over an opening, but they're built from a fundamentally tougher material and construction method.
Rather than standard fibreglass or aluminium mesh, Crimsafe uses a marine grade stainless steel mesh, screwed rather than clipped into a specially designed frame.
That difference in construction brings a few genuine advantages:
- Security as well as insect protection, since the mesh and frame are built to resist forced entry, not just keep bugs out
- Greater durability, holding up well against impact, weather, and general wear over time
- A tested track record, with the product built specifically around withstanding force rather than just looking sturdy
- Peace of mind for ground floor windows and doors, where security is often a bigger consideration than airflow alone
Essentially, Crimsafe turns a flyscreen into a security screen, without sacrificing the airflow and light a standard screen provides.
Where a Standard Flyscreen Makes More Sense
Not every window or door needs the extra strength Crimsafe offers. A standard flyscreen tends to be the better fit for:
- Upper-floor windows where forced entry risk is naturally lower
- Budget-conscious projects covering multiple openings across a home
- Purely insect-focused needs, where security isn't a primary concern for that specific opening
- Retractable or specialty screen styles that prioritise convenience over maximum strength
Where Crimsafe Makes More Sense
Crimsafe tends to earn its higher price tag in situations where security genuinely matters:
- Ground floor windows and doors, the most common access points for forced entry
- Rear or side entrances that are less visible and therefore more vulnerable
- Homes prioritising security without wanting to compromise on natural airflow and light
- Areas with a history of break-ins or attempted entry, where standard mesh simply isn't reassuring enough
Weighing Cost Against What You Actually Need
Cost is naturally part of this decision, and it's worth being upfront about it.
Crimsafe costs more than a standard flyscreen, reflecting the heavier materials and more robust construction involved. For many homeowners, that additional cost is genuinely worth it for the security benefit on doors and ground floor windows specifically, while standard flyscreens remain a perfectly sensible choice for upper floors or lower-risk openings.
A mixed approach, Crimsafe on vulnerable entry points, standard flyscreens elsewhere, often gives homeowners the best balance between security, airflow, and overall budget.
Making the Right Call for Your Home
The right choice really comes down to what each specific opening in your home actually needs. A flyscreen keeps insects out beautifully and suits plenty of situations perfectly well.
Crimsafe flyscreens go further, adding genuine security without giving up the airflow and light a good screen should provide.
Walking through your home opening by opening, rather than choosing one product for everything, tends to deliver the best outcome: proper security where it matters most, and straightforward, cost-effective insect protection everywhere else.
It's also worth having a proper conversation with a supplier who genuinely installs both, rather than one pushing whichever product they happen to specialise in.
A good installer will look at your specific doors and windows, your ground floor exposure, and your budget, then recommend a mix that actually suits your home rather than a one-size-fits-all answer applied to every opening regardless of what it actually needs.
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