Lock on screen door?

[kfrere]

I'd like to leave my outer door open at night with the sliding screen door closed but can't figure out how to add a lock to the screen door. Has anyone attempted to do this? Any success?



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[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by kfrere

I'd like to leave my outer door open at night with the sliding screen door closed but can't figure out how to add a lock to the screen door. Has anyone attempted to do this? Any success?

A screen door can be cut easily with a pocketknife, so a lock on it is pointless. You could even tear out the screen material just by leaning hard against it, no tools required. A lock would provide a false sense of security.

You'd be better off just using the tip-out windows to get fresh air, but leaving the tip-out window on the sliding door closed, because again someone could simply punch out the screen, reach in, and unlock the door.

[Harleydeal]

Around here the bears, or raccoons for that matter, are not polite enough to attempt sliding the doors.

[InterBlog]

I sleep with the doors open as often as not. A lock won't do ya on a screen door, but a well-trained dog will get that job done better than any physical device ever could. Ours won't leave through an open door, and the hell that she raises is enough to scare the life out of pretty much anything that walks, crawls, or slithers upon the earth.

[Paddledipper]

I'm following this because we'd like a lock on our screen door that will keep our dog inside. Right now if she scratches at it, it pops open. We tried the simple hook and eye, but that also pops open with any pressure placed on the door.

[kfrere]

I appreciate the concern for my safety by pointing out the obvious vulnerability of the screen, I really do, but there are other reasons for wanting to put a lock on a screen door. If anyone has a suggestion how to best accomplish this I'd love to hear it.


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[Protagonist]

In that case, how about the same thing that people do to improve the security of sliding glass doors in their homes? At a convenient point of overlap between the fixed and moveable screen frames, drill partway through both from inside, and insert a locking pin.

[kfrere]

Unfortunately there is no overlap. The screen sits flush with the frame cushioned by a fuzzy foam material.



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[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by kfrere

Unfortunately there is no overlap. The screen sits flush with the frame cushioned by a fuzzy foam material.

Then maybe a ratchet lock for a display case might fit.

[HowieE]

I mounted a standard window sash lock about 10 in above the slide opening as a child proof so the grand kids could not crawl out the screen door. It also serves as a lock as we leave our outer door open 99% of the time. Easy to reach from either side but not obvious to passers by.

[airdreamers]

We also have our screen door open most times, including with the heat or with the AC. I installed riv-nuts in the screen door to receive turn clips to hold the plexiglass panels in the door. This allows light during those times of heat and AC. At the same time I lock the screen door with my interior dead bolt lock. The bolt protrudes just enough to catch the edge of the screen door. It is not used for security at all, just for securing the dog inside.

[romeb]

Interesting...I have the same issue. My dog could get out so easy. I have a grate that's meant for home screen doors and I lean it against the door from the inside but it's really awkward and always in the way. The screen is so flimsy it seems to me that just keeping the door closed isn't much help.

[OTRA15]

Could you Interstate owners post a photo or two of your setup? Solutions for a trailer screen door are kind of irrelevant here IMO. [see forum name above -- Sprinter and B-van Forum]

Originally Posted by kfrere

I'd like to leave my outer door open at night with the sliding screen door closed but can't figure out how to add a lock to the screen door. Has anyone attempted to do this? Any success?

[jet1]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

A screen door can be cut easily with a pocketknife, so a lock on it is pointless. You could even tear out the screen material just by leaning hard against it, no tools required. A lock would provide a false sense of security.

You'd be better off just using the tip-out windows to get fresh air, but leaving the tip-out window on the sliding door closed, because again someone could simply punch out the screen, reach in, and unlock the door.