Fitting a single hinged security door usually takes about 1–3 hours on site, with sliding and specialist doors a little longer. From first measurement to a finished install, stock items can be done in days, while custom-made doors commonly take 3–8 weeks. Ask for a written start date and completion timeframe in your quote.
TL;DR:
- Published ranges run from 1–2 hours for hinged doors to 3–5 hours for French or double doors, while sliding screens take 2–4 hours.
- Custom orders typically take 3–8 weeks from measurement to completion; measuring several openings and manufacturing them together can shorten each door’s wait.
- A damaged, loose, or out of square frame may need repair before fitting, while complex locks and heavier stainless mesh add installation time.
- Ask for measurement, manufacturing, installation, delay, and pricing terms in writing; published hourly installation rates range from $80 to $140.
- Ask whether the door meets the current AS 5039 series, and confirm whether your state or rebate program requires a licensed security installer.
Table of Contents
- What affects how long a security door installation takes
- How long does installation take for each door type?
- How do measurement, manufacture and booking fit together?
- What should be in writing about start dates and delays?
- What happens on installation day?
- How should you prepare your home for the installer?
- Which standards and licences should you ask about?
- What should you ask and get in writing before you book?
- Why we put dates in writing
- Get a written quote and confirm your installation window
- FAQ
- Sources
What affects how long a security door installation takes
Two clocks run on every job: the hours our installers spend at your door, and the weeks between your enquiry and that visit. Both move depending on a handful of practical variables.
- Door type and construction. A standard hinged door is the quickest. Sliding doors, French or double doors and window screens each have their own fitting steps, and stainless mesh products are heavier and fussier to hang than aluminium mesh.
- Condition of the existing frame. Security doors are fitted to your existing frame, so the installer has to judge whether the frame is strong enough. A solid timber, aluminium or brick surround is quick work. A rotted jamb, a frame that has dropped out of square or a loose sub-frame needs repair first, and that adds time.
- Hardware complexity. A multi-point locking system, specialised hinges or a lock upgrade take longer to fit and adjust than a basic single-point lock.
- Number of openings. Bundling several doors and screens into one visit saves setup time per door, because tools, ladders and protective sheeting only need to come out once.
- Site and regulatory factors. Coastal-grade materials, bushfire-related requirements, strata or landlord approvals, wet weather and public holidays can all push a date out. These usually affect the booking window more than the hours on the day.
- A separate measure visit. Because most security doors are made to fit your opening, someone needs to measure it before manufacture begins. If that is a separate trip, it sits at the front of your timeline. Our guide on how to measure for a security door shows what accurate measuring involves and why it prevents rework later.
None of these is a reason to worry. They are the reasons two neighbours can have the same door fitted and report quite different timelines. Knowing which ones apply to your home lets you ask sharper questions when you request a quote.
How long does installation take for each door type?
Once the frame is ready and the door is made, on-site times are short. The table below draws on one installer’s published ranges, so treat the durations as a planning guide rather than a promise for your particular opening.
| Product or job | Typical on-site time |
|---|---|
| Standard aluminium-mesh hinged door | 1–2 hours |
| Stainless mesh hinged door | 2–3 hours |
| Sliding screen door | 2–4 hours |
| Window security screen | 1–3 hours |
| French or double-door pair | 3–5 hours |
These durations come from The Quote Yard’s WA price and duration table. A second published guide gives slightly different install-only ranges for hinged and sliding screens, such as 1–2 hours for a hinged screen and 1.5–3 hours for a sliding screen, which shows how much the spread depends on the product and the opening. Where two figures overlap, plan around the longer one.
Here is how that plays out in practice. A single front door with a ready frame can be in and tested within a morning. A pair of French doors needs both leaves hung, aligned to each other and locked to work together, so allow more time than for a single door. If you are doing the front door, the back door and a few windows together, expect the installer to be on site for most of a day, but with a lower total time than booking each item separately.
The on-site hours are only part of the story. Custom manufacture is what stretches the overall project from days into several weeks, which the next section covers.
A few points help when you compare quotes:
- Ask whether the price is a fixed fee or an hourly rate. Install-only hourly rates in the published ranges sit between $80 and $140 per hour, per the same Quote Yard table.
- Confirm that travel, fixings and final adjustments are included, rather than billed on top.
- Check whether removal of an old screen door and disposal are part of the job.
- Ask what happens if the frame needs repair on the day. A good installer tells you before they start, not after.
Our own products follow the same pattern. They are custom-made to suit your home. We give you the expected install window with your written quote so you can plan the day.
How do measurement, manufacture and booking fit together?
Most custom jobs follow the same order, and understanding it helps you spot where a wait is normal and where it is not.
- Enquiry and quote. You describe what you need and get a written price.
- On-site measurement. The opening is measured and the frame checked. Sometimes this is the same visit as the quote, sometimes it is separate.
- Manufacture or stock check. Made-to-measure doors go into production. Standard sizes may be available straight away.
- Installation booking. Once the door is ready, a date is set and confirmed.
- Fit, test and handover. The installer fits the door, checks the locks and walks you through operation.
The manufacturing step is the long one. Custom doors commonly add several weeks, and a typical total of 3–8 weeks from first measure to finished install is widely quoted for made-to-order products. We explain how to shorten that window in our guide to cutting security door lead times, and our overview of security door turnaround milestones sets out what you can reasonably expect at each stage.
Bundling helps here too. When several openings are measured and made in one batch, the per-door wait is often shorter than ordering them one at a time.
Before you commit to a date, get these four answers:
- When will the measurement take place, and will it be a separate visit?
- What is the expected manufacture lead time for my door?
- What install window are you proposing, with a start and likely finish?
- What is your rescheduling policy if either of us needs to move the date?
Pro Tip: Book your measure as early as you can, even if you are still deciding on finishes. The measure date is usually the first thing that sets the clock running.
What should be in writing about start dates and delays?
Timelines slip when nobody wrote them down. Consumer Affairs Victoria advises homeowners to ask for realistic timeframes in writing, including how the contractor handles delays to the quoted completion time. Written contracts are recommended for all work, and getting more than one written quote makes it easier to compare how each business treats timing.
For larger domestic building work, the rules are stricter. Consumer Affairs Victoria explains that domestic building contracts must include a start date or how it will be determined, and must state allowances for delays such as inclement weather and public holidays. A security door job is usually much smaller than a building contract, but the same thinking is a sensible benchmark for what a professional quote should cover.
Here is what to look for in your paperwork:
- A start date, or a clear statement of how it will be set once the door is manufactured.
- An expected completion timeframe, not just “as soon as possible”.
- How delays are treated, including weather and public holidays.
- A promise to tell you the cause and the revised dates in writing if the schedule changes.
- A named person to contact about scheduling.
If dates slip, ask for the reason and the new timeframe in writing, and keep copies of your messages. If a dispute cannot be settled directly, the Consumer Affairs Victoria guidance above is the place to start.
It is also worth asking whether the installer needs a specific licence for security work. Some states require a security installer licence, and licensing can affect rebate eligibility. Ask to see licence details before you book.
What happens on installation day?
Knowing the sequence helps you judge whether the job is on track. A typical visit runs like this:
- Arrival and site check. The installer confirms the opening, checks the frame and protects the floor and surrounding areas.
- Removal of the old screen. If there is an existing door or screen, it comes off first.
- Frame positioning and fixing. The new door frame is set level and plumb, then fixed to your existing surround.
- Hinge fitting and alignment. Hinges go on, and the door is adjusted so it swings freely and closes evenly.
- Lock installation and adjustment. The lock is fitted and the strike plate aligned so it latches cleanly.
- Testing and clean-up. Everything is operated several times, keys are handed over and the work area is cleared.
Fixings change with the material behind the door. Timber, brick and aluminium frames each need different fasteners, and the installer has to assess whether the substrate is strong enough to hold the screen securely. The preview of AS 5039.1:2023 notes that screens are fitted to existing frames and that correct fixing methods and substrate preparation are essential for a secure result. That is why a frame in poor condition can add time on the day.
Before the installer leaves, check the lock yourself. The key should turn smoothly, the door should latch without lifting or pushing, and the gaps around the edges should look even. If the product is covered by AS 5039 and you asked for it, this is also the moment to receive any compliance documentation.
How should you prepare your home for the installer?
A little preparation saves real time on the day. The amount of preparation needed depends on the home and the work area.
- Clear the area around the door and move furniture, shoes and plants out of the way.
- Make sure the installer has easy access and somewhere safe to park close by.
- Keep pets secured in another room or outside the work area.
- Have keys ready, along with any strata or landlord approval if you do not own the property.
- Tell the installer about any earlier frame repairs, water damage or termite treatment.
- Be home for the final check, or nominate a responsible adult to sign off on your behalf.
Pro Tip: Take a quick photo of the opening before work starts. If there is ever a question about the frame’s condition, you have a record.
Which standards and licences should you ask about?
Security screen doors in Australia are covered by the AS 5039 series. Standards Australia’s page for AS 5039:2023 is the starting point, and the parts break down as follows:
- AS 5039.1 covers the general requirements for security screen doors and window grilles.
- AS 5039.2 covers installation. The 2024 edition specifies requirements for installing hinged and sliding security door and window screens in residential buildings.
- AS 5039.3 sets out the methods of test for performance of hinged and sliding screens.
- AS 5041 supports those test methods, with impact, jemmy, pull, probe and shear tests.
In practice, ask for product certification showing the door meets the current AS 5039 series, plus any available test reports. Installation to the standard matters as much as the door itself.
Rebates and rentals add another layer. Some rebate schemes ask that work be done by a licensed security installer, so confirm licensing requirements for a rebate before you book. For rental properties, minimum security rules can be met by a deadlock or an AS 5039-compliant key lockable security screen door on the main entry and certain other external doors. Ask for licence details in writing and keep them with your records.
What should you ask and get in writing before you book?
Before you pay a deposit, run through this list with any installer, ours included.
- Dates. The measurement date, the manufacture lead time, and an installation window with a start and likely finish.
- Pricing basis. Whether installation is a fixed fee or hourly, and what is included.
- Compliance. Confirmation that the door meets the AS 5039 series and a copy of certification if available.
- Licence. The installer’s licence number, where one is required.
- Warranty. The warranty period and who handles follow-up service or repairs.
- Payments. The deposit amount, the payment schedule and the cancellation or reschedule terms.
If an answer is vague, ask for it to be written into the quote. A business confident in its timeline will not mind.
Why we put dates in writing
Most disputes we hear about start with a verbal “a few weeks” that nobody wrote down. Fast, transparent scheduling cuts arguments and gives you something to hold us to. That is why we visit your home, measure properly and give lead times upfront, with our workmanship backed by a warranty. Our view is simple: if a supplier cannot commit to a window on paper, it is reasonable to ask why. We also think you should insist on AS 5039 documentation where it applies, because a certified product fitted correctly is what actually keeps a home secure.
— MYBMC
Get a written quote and confirm your installation window
We offer an on-site consultation, custom manufacture and professional installation, with lead times and warranty terms in writing before you commit. Our security doors range is the best place to start.
- Free on-site consultation and quote
- Custom-made doors fitted by our team
- Lead times and warranty confirmed in writing
Request your written quote today and we will confirm your installation window with it.
FAQ
What is the average time to install a security door?
A single hinged security door typically takes one to two hours once the frame is ready. Sliding and double doors take longer. The overall project, from measure to install, is longer if the door is custom made.
How long should it take a carpenter to hang a door?
Hanging and adjusting a standard door is often a few hours’ work, depending on the frame. Security doors add lock fitting and alignment, so published installer ranges of one to two hours for a standard hinged door are a reasonable guide.
How much does it cost to install a security door?
Cost depends on the door, the mesh and the frame. Published install-only hourly rates range from $80 to $140 per hour for installers in one state. For our own products, ask us for a written quote.
Should I get the installation date in writing?
Yes. Consumer Affairs Victoria recommends written timeframes and written contracts. Ask for a start date, a completion timeframe and how delays are handled.
Sources
- Getting quotes for building and renovating – Consumer Affairs Victoria
- Standards
- Security Doors & Screens Services WA 2026 | The Quote Yard