Stainless vs aluminium screens in Wollongong.
The mesh you choose decides how long your security door lasts and what it costs. In the Illawarra, the deciding factor is salt air. Here is how 316 stainless, 304 stainless and perforated aluminium compare, and which one suits your street.
What each mesh actually is.
316 marine-grade stainless steel.
Fine woven stainless wire, typically 0.8mm, in an alloy that includes molybdenum for chloride resistance. This is the gold standard for corrosion and the only mesh we recommend for homes near the surf in Corrimal, Fairy Meadow, Towradgi and the cliff suburbs. It is the dearest option but on the coast it is the one that lasts.
304 stainless steel.
The same woven-wire construction, in a more common stainless alloy without the extra molybdenum. Strong and good-looking, but on a salt-exposed coastal street it eventually shows tea-staining and pitting where 316 stays clean. It is a sound, mid-priced choice for homes a few kilometres back from the water, like the western half of Figtree.
Structural perforated aluminium.
A solid aluminium sheet with precisely punched holes, not a woven mesh. The better products pass the AS 5039 forced-entry tests and it is strong, light and lower cost. Its one weakness is salt-air corrosion, so it shines in sheltered, inland suburbs like Unanderra and Dapto rather than the beach streets.
How they compare for Wollongong.
Salt-air corrosion resistance.
316 stainless wins clearly, then 304 stainless, then aluminium. On a Corrimal beach street this ranking decides the job. Five streets inland it matters far less.
Strength and security.
All three can meet AS 5039 when made and installed properly. Perforated aluminium is a rigid sheet and very hard to push through; woven stainless resists cutting and probing. For real-world Wollongong break-in attempts, any compliant option is a massive step up from a builder’s flyscreen door.
Cost.
Aluminium is the cheapest, 304 stainless mid, 316 stainless the most. The gap between an aluminium and a 316 door can be several hundred dollars, which is why matching the mesh to your salt exposure saves real money. See the cost guide for the numbers.
Visibility and airflow.
Fine woven stainless gives slightly better see-through and breeze than punched aluminium, though both keep the Illawarra outlook far clearer than an old diamond grille. If the view out is a priority, lean stainless.
Which to choose, by where you live.
- East of the Princes Highway, near the surf: 316 marine-grade stainless. The salt makes anything less a false economy.
- A few kilometres inland, mild exposure: 304 stainless or a marine-grade aluminium, your call on budget vs longevity.
- Well inland, sheltered: structural perforated aluminium, strong and the best value.
We confirm your exposure on the free measure and spec accordingly. You can read how this plays out suburb by suburb on our service areas page, and see the full service detail on the window security screens and security doors pages.
Where we install.
Not sure which mesh your street needs?
We check your salt exposure on the free measure and recommend the right spec, no over-selling.