# DEFENDoor — FAQ corpus
> Verbatim questions and answers from every DEFENDoor page that carries genuine Q&A. This is the full-text companion to /llms.txt. Each entry names the page it comes from; cite that page.
## Retractable Trellis Security Gates for Patios | DEFENDoor®
### Can a retractable trellis gate secure a wide patio or sliding-door opening?
Yes. Every DEFENDoor® trellis gate is custom-built to the measured opening, so it fits wide patio, stacking and sliding doors cleanly. Open, it concertinas into a narrow stack against the wall; closed, it locks across the full width of the opening.
### Can I leave the door open for ventilation and still be secure?
That is what the gate is for. Unlike a fixed security door, a retractable trellis gate lets you keep the door open for airflow and then lock the gate across the opening, so the entrance stays usable without being left exposed.
### How secure is a trellis gate?
Most models use 19mm single continuous steel uprights — the entry-level DX-215 uses a 16mm single steel bar — so there is no seam for a crowbar to work into. The range uses high-security star-key hook locks, with two locks fitted as standard to the DX-222 and DX-420.
### Are the gates made to fit my opening?
Yes. Every gate is built to the exact size of the opening it needs to secure, so it fits the jamb cleanly with nothing to pack out. DEFENDoor® measures the opening at the free on-site assessment.
### What colours do trellis security gates come in?
Six standard powder-coated colours: White, Black, Anthracite Grey, Silver, Bronze and Chocolate Brown. Custom colours are available on request.
### How long is the guarantee on a trellis gate?
Five years on the DX-222, DX-420 and DX-310, and two years on the entry-level DX-215.
## Finance Options | Up to 24 Months | DEFENDoor®
### Can I pay for my DEFENDoor® installation in instalments?
Yes. Any DEFENDoor® order can be paid off in monthly instalments over a term of up to 24 months, in conjunction with FeverTree Finance.
### Who provides the finance, DEFENDoor® or FeverTree?
FeverTree Finance provides the finance. They are a licensed financial services provider (FSP 44281) and a registered credit provider (NCRCP19967), and the credit agreement is between you and them. DEFENDoor® provides the quotation, manufactures the product, and installs it.
### What do I need to apply for finance?
You need a colour copy of your South African ID, your latest three months' bank statements, and your written DEFENDoor® quotation. Submit them with your online application or email them to enquiries@fevertreefinance.co.za.
### Do I need a quote before I apply?
Yes. A credit application is made against a specific amount, and that amount comes from your written DEFENDoor® quotation, so book the free on-site assessment first. The assessment costs nothing and carries no obligation to proceed.
### What does the finance cost?
A once-off initiation fee charged on approval, a monthly admin fee charged with each instalment, and interest on the balance. All three are set by FeverTree Finance and change from time to time, so we do not publish figures here that could be out of date by the time you apply. FeverTree confirms your exact fees, interest rate and monthly instalment on your application, before you sign.
### Is a credit check required?
Yes. FeverTree runs an affordability assessment and a credit check, as the National Credit Act requires. Finance is available to South African citizens only.
### Which DEFENDoor® products can be financed?
Any of them. Retractable and swing security gates, industrial and residential roller shutters, burglar bars and window fixtures, transparent burglar bars, louvre security shutters, mesh security screens, and armoured doors can all be financed as part of a DEFENDoor® order.
### Who do I contact about my finance application?
Contact FeverTree Finance on 087 2100 336, or enquiries@fevertreefinance.co.za. They hold your application and your account. For anything about the products, your assessment, your quotation, or the installation, contact DEFENDoor® on 0860 333 363.
## Franchise Opportunities | FASA-Approved | DEFENDoor®
### What does it cost to open a DEFENDoor® franchise?
The investment in a DEFENDoor® franchise depends on the territory and the scale you start at, and we set it out properly at the first conversation. Tell us where you are and what you are planning, and we will give you the numbers for that case.
### What does FASA approval actually mean?
FASA approval comes from the Franchise Association of South Africa, which sets standards for franchise agreements, disclosure, and conduct, and audits members against them. DEFENDoor® is the only FASA-approved barrier security company in South Africa. For a prospective franchisee, it means the agreement you will be asked to sign has been held to an external standard rather than written entirely in the franchisor’s favour.
### Do I need experience in security or construction?
No prior security or construction experience is required, because full product training and ongoing technical support are provided.
### What do I actually sell?
You would sell the full DEFENDoor® range: retractable trellis and swing security gates, commercial, industrial, and residential roller shutters, horizontal and cottage pane burglar bars, transparent bars, window security fixtures, louvre security shutters, mesh security screens, and armoured safe room doors. All of it is manufactured in South Africa and custom-made to the opening.
### Is a territory exclusive to me?
Territory is one of the things we agree case by case, and it is covered in detail when we talk. It is a fair question to ask early, and worth asking any franchisor to put their answer in writing.
### Who are your existing customers?
DEFENDoor® serves both homeowners and businesses. On the commercial side, brands including Exclusive Books, Torga Optical, The Crazy Store, Nestlé, Dis-Chem, Standard Bank, JD Group, Cell C, KFC, JB Active, HiFi Corporation, Lewis, and Pepkor secure their premises with DEFENDoor®.
### How do I apply?
Email franchising@defendoor.co.za with your name, your location, and something about your background, and we will come back to you to arrange a conversation.
## Burglar Bars South Africa | Steel & Transparent | DEFENDoor®
### What are the benefits of installing burglar bars on my windows?
Burglar bars give a window a physical barrier that guards your home or business around the clock, even when no one is there. They act as a first line of defence and are especially valuable in high-risk or isolated areas. Because they are physical, they stop an intruder at the window.
### Which kind of burglar bar should I choose?
The right burglar bar depends on what the window still has to do. If it needs to open fully or serves as an escape route, choose a window security fixture. If you want to keep the view, choose transparent Lexan bars. If the window is period or cottage-pane, the traditional pane pattern suits it. Otherwise, plain horizontal steel bars are the strongest and most affordable option. Most houses end up with more than one kind.
### Can burglar bars be customised to fit different window sizes and styles?
Yes. Every DEFENDoor® burglar bar is custom-made to fit any window size and architectural style, worked to your exact measurements rather than adapted from a stock panel. That applies right across the range, including the transparent bars and the window fixtures.
### Are DEFENDoor® burglar bars resistant to rust and corrosion?
Yes. All DEFENDoor® burglar bars are treated for rust resistance and finished with a high-quality powder coating, which makes them highly durable. That is what suits them to coastal regions and humid areas, where an untreated bar would not last.
### Do burglar bars affect the look of my home?
Burglar bars need not detract from a home when they are specified well. They are designed to blend with the architecture, custom colours let them match your frames, and different bar styles suit different buildings. Where bars would still look wrong on a frontage, the transparent range obstructs nothing at all.
### How do I maintain burglar bars?
Burglar bars need very little maintenance. Wipe them regularly with a damp cloth to clear dust and debris, and use mild detergent and water for tougher grime. Avoid abrasive cleaners, which damage the powder-coated finish.
### How long does installation take?
Most burglar bar projects are finished within a single day, depending on the scope. Our own trained crews carry out the installation with tamper-resistant fittings, taking care not to damage your existing frames or the surrounding structure.
### How long is the guarantee on burglar bars?
Guarantees vary by product. Horizontal and cottage pane steel bars carry 18 months, and the transparent Lexan bars carry 5 years. Window security fixtures follow the DX range terms: 5 years on the DX-222, DX-420, and DX-310, and 2 years on the entry-level DX-215.
## Cottage Pane Burglar Bars South Africa | DEFENDoor®
### What makes cottage pane bars stronger than ordinary burglar bars?
Cottage pane bars get their strength from the fixing. Every bar is set 50mm into the wall on all sides and locked in with epoxy, so it is chemically bonded into the masonry rather than held by a mechanical fitting that can be drilled out or levered. That method has proven very strong, and it is what makes these much harder to get through than ordinary burglar bars.
### What are cottage pane bars made of?
Cottage pane bars are made from 19mm steel horizontal bars with 10mm round vertical steel bars set between them. Everything is rust-proofed and finished with a powder coating that can be matched to your property’s colour scheme.
### Will they suit a modern window?
Cottage pane bars can suit a modern window, though the pane pattern is the traditional choice and is at its best on cottage-pane, Georgian, and older windows. On a plain modern frame, our horizontal bars usually sit better, giving a clean set of lines instead of a divided pattern.
### Can I still open the window, or get out in an emergency?
Both fixed and swing-away units are available. Swing-away units suit a window that doubles as an escape route, or one you want to open fully for ventilation. It is worth deciding this room by room at the assessment.
### Are they made to fit my windows?
Yes. Cottage pane bars are custom-made to fit any window size and architectural style, and the pane layout is set to the window rather than adapted from a stock panel. We take the measurements at the free on-site assessment.
### How do I maintain them?
Cottage pane bars need very little upkeep. Wipe them regularly with a damp cloth to clear dust and debris, and use mild detergent and water for tougher grime. Avoid abrasive cleaners, which damage the powder-coated finish.
### How long is the guarantee on cottage pane bars?
Cottage pane burglar bars carry an eighteen-month guarantee.
### Can I pay burglar bars off over time?
Yes. You can pay any DEFENDoor® order off over a term of up to 24 months through our finance partner, FeverTree.
## Horizontal Burglar Bars South Africa | DEFENDoor®
### What are horizontal burglar bars made of?
Horizontal burglar bars are made from 19mm steel, reinforced with 25 x 12mm side steel supports. Everything is treated for rust resistance and finished with a powder coating, which lets the bars stand up to weather and to coastal or humid conditions.
### How are the bars fixed to the window?
Horizontal burglar bars are not fixed to the window at all. Each bar is embedded 50mm into the brickwork, so it is anchored in the wall rather than in a frame. A bar screwed to a window frame is only as strong as that frame, and embedding into brickwork takes the frame out of the equation.
### Can the bars be made to fit my windows?
Yes. Horizontal bars are custom-made to fit any window size, and we measure the opening on site at the free assessment rather than estimating it. That is also when spacing and configuration are agreed.
### Can I still open the window, or get out in an emergency?
Both fixed and swing-away units are available. Swing-away units suit a window that doubles as an escape route, or one you want to open fully for ventilation, and fixed units suit windows where neither applies. It is worth deciding this room by room at the assessment.
### Will the bars rust?
Horizontal burglar bars are treated for rust resistance and finished with a high-quality powder coating, which is what suits them to coastal regions and humid areas. The coating also keeps the surface smooth and easy to clean.
### How do I maintain them?
Horizontal burglar bars need very little upkeep. Wipe them regularly with a damp cloth to clear dust and debris, and use mild detergent and water for tougher grime. Avoid abrasive cleaners, which damage the powder-coated finish.
### How long is the guarantee on horizontal burglar bars?
Horizontal burglar bars carry an eighteen-month guarantee.
### Can I pay burglar bars off over time?
Yes. You can pay any DEFENDoor® order off over a term of up to 24 months through our finance partner, FeverTree.
## Transparent Burglar Bars South Africa | DEFENDoor®
### What are transparent burglar bars made of?
Transparent burglar bars are made from Lexan polycarbonate, the material police use for riot shields. It is a transparent sheet built to be struck, which is what lets a see-through bar work as a strong physical barrier.
### How do armed transparent bars work?
Armed transparent bars run an electrical pulse from your alarm control panel through wires fitted at both ends of the bars, wired as a permanent zone. The integrated sensor wires are connected in series, so the alarm activates as soon as a wire is cut.
### Do armed bars only work when the alarm is set?
No. Armed bars are wired as a permanent zone, so they are live around the clock rather than only when the system is armed. That is the point of the option: tampering with a window while you are at home triggers it just as it would overnight.
### Do I need an alarm system for these?
For the armed bars, yes, because they need an alarm control panel to run the permanent zone from. Where there is no alarm on the property, the unarmed option is the same bar without the loop, so the loop is a reason to consider an alarm rather than a reason to rule the bars out.
### What sizes do transparent bars come in?
Transparent bars come in two profiles, 6mm x 30mm and 8mm x 30mm. Both fit into a specially extruded aluminium channel designed to take the polycarbonate bars, and both are custom-made to the opening.
### Will they really not block the view?
That is the whole point of transparent bars. They obstruct nothing, which is what makes them the answer on a window where the view is the reason the room exists, or on a frontage where steel bars would change the character of the building.
### How long is the guarantee on transparent burglar bars?
Transparent burglar bars carry a five-year guarantee, on both the armed and the unarmed types.
### Can I pay transparent bars off over time?
Yes. You can pay any DEFENDoor® order off over a term of up to 24 months through our finance partner, FeverTree.
## Window Security Fixtures South Africa | DEFENDoor®
### What is a window security fixture?
A window security fixture is the DEFENDoor® DX range built to a window opening rather than a doorway, made from single steel bars with high-security flights, in four models. Unlike burglar bars embedded in the brickwork, a fixture leaves you able to clear the opening when you want it clear.
### How is this different from burglar bars?
Burglar bars are embedded into the wall and secure the window permanently, while a fixture secures the opening and still lets it be cleared. That is what you want on a window used for ventilation, for access, or as an escape route. Fixed bars are a streamlined, affordable answer when a window does not need to open fully.
### Are these the same as your trellis security gates?
Window fixtures use the same four models and the same construction as our trellis gates, single steel bars, high-security flights, and stainless steel rivets, built to a window opening instead of a doorway. The trellis security gates page carries the full model-by-model breakdown, including flight counts and upright gauges.
### Which model should I choose?
The DX-222 sits at the top of the range and the DX-215 is the entry-level model, with the DX-420 and DX-310 between them. What separates them is how much steel stands between an intruder and the opening. Our consultants will talk it through at the free assessment with a sample to hand.
### Why are the rivets stainless steel?
The rivets hold the flights together, and a corroded rivet can undo a fixture long before the steel around it gives way. Using stainless steel throughout means the joints last as long as the rest of the fixture, which counts for most in coastal and humid areas.
### How long is the guarantee on a window security fixture?
Window security fixtures carry five years on the DX-222, DX-420, and DX-310, and two years on the entry-level DX-215, the same terms these four models carry as trellis gates.
### Can I pay window fixtures off over time?
Yes. You can pay any DEFENDoor® order off over a term of up to 24 months through our finance partner, FeverTree.
## Mesh Security Screens South Africa | DEFENDoor®
### What is a mesh security screen?
A mesh security screen is a barrier of high-grade stainless steel mesh set into an aluminium frame, fitted over a door or window so the opening can be left open. It works as a security barrier, an insect barrier, and an animal barrier at once, while light, air, and the view pass straight through it.
### Can you see through a mesh security screen?
Yes. The mesh is black stainless steel, and a dark mesh is much easier to see through than a bright one, because the eye focuses past it rather than on it. Natural light and airflow pass through, which is what makes a screen an alternative to closing the opening.
### What is the mesh made of?
The mesh is 0.9mm wire diameter black stainless steel, in SS316 grade. SS316 is the marine grade, so the screens resist corrosion and suit coastal and humid sites as well as inland ones, in any climate.
### Will it keep insects and animals out?
Yes. Mesh security screens are an insect and animal barrier as well as a security one, monkeys included, which is a large part of why they are specified at holiday homes and game lodges as often as at houses.
### What locks are available?
You have a choice of three locks: a high-grade slam lock, a dead lock, or a high-security 3-point lock system. A range of hardware accessories is available alongside them, and the right combination depends on the opening and how often it is used.
### Can the screen be lifted off its rails?
No. Mesh security screens carry a hook locking system with anti-lift technology, specifically so the screen cannot be lifted off its rails.
### How long is the guarantee on a mesh security screen?
Mesh security screens carry an eighteen-month guarantee, across all three screen types.
### Can I pay mesh screens off over time?
Yes. You can pay any DEFENDoor® order off over a term of up to 24 months through our finance partner, FeverTree.
## Roller Shutters South Africa | DEFENDoor®
### What is the difference between commercial and residential roller shutters?
Duty, and what that makes available. The commercial and industrial range is built for wide spans and constant use and comes in solid steel as well as aluminium. The residential range is lighter-weight aluminium. Both carry the same three visibility options (solid, standard perforated, and the patented bubble perforation) in aluminium on the residential range and in aluminium or steel on the commercial and industrial range.
### Can I fit a commercial or industrial roller shutter to a house?
Yes, and it is often the right answer where an opening requires steel or the heaviest duty, because steel is only made on the commercial and industrial range. A domestic opening that needs light and air to pass while the door is shut can be served by the residential aluminium range in standard perforated or bubble perforated form. Garages, offices, and homes are all served by both ranges.
### Should I choose steel or aluminium roller shutters?
Steel is the heavy-duty choice and is available on the commercial and industrial range only. Aluminium is lighter, performs well in coastal and humid areas, and is available across both ranges, with the same three visibility options on each. Where an opening needs genuine heavy-duty protection, steel is the better answer; where it needs covering and securing, aluminium does the job at less weight.
### Can a roller shutter let light and air through when it is closed?
Yes. Standard perforation puts 166 three-millimetre holes through every 100mm of slat, and the patented bubble perforation does the same work in a pattern of varied circles that reads as a design feature rather than a security shutter. Both are available in aluminium on the residential range and in aluminium or solid steel on the commercial and industrial range; the solid slat is the zero-visibility choice on either.
### Are roller shutters manual or motorised?
Roller shutters can be either. Manual operation is available on both ranges up to 3m x 2.5m and is cost-effective on smaller or low-traffic openings. Larger openings and frequent access take a gearbox, chain drive, crank, or electric motor, matched to the size of the opening and how often it is used.
### Do you manufacture and install the shutters yourselves?
Yes. DEFENDoor® manufactures in South Africa and installs with our own crews, on both ranges. One of our consultants measures every opening on site first, so the door is made for the span it will close rather than adapted to it afterwards.
### How long is the guarantee on a roller shutter?
Eighteen months, on every range (solid, standard perforated, and bubble perforated) on both the commercial and industrial side and the residential side.
## Industrial Roller Shutters South Africa | DEFENDoor®
### What are the benefits of industrial roller shutters?
Industrial roller shutters give an opening robust security while shielding it from weather and dust and cutting outside noise, and they can be set up for controlled access on high-traffic entrances. Because the door rolls up into a box above the opening, it takes no floor or wall space when it is open.
### Can roller shutters be customised to fit specific openings?
Yes. Every roller shutter is custom-manufactured to your exact dimensions and operational needs. One of our consultants measures the opening on site rather than estimating from a photograph, so the door fits the span it was made for.
### What materials are used in DEFENDoor® roller shutters?
DEFENDoor® roller shutters are made from solid steel or aluminium, with galvanised slats. Finishes are powder-coated and can be colour matched, or fully galvanised where corrosion resistance counts for more than appearance.
### Are motorised roller shutters available?
Yes. Motorised roller shutters suit larger installations and high-traffic entrances that need to open and close easily. Manual push-up operation is available up to 3m x 2.5m, with a gearbox or chain drive covering the range between manual and a full electric motor.
### How do I maintain my roller shutter doors?
Roller shutter doors need little maintenance. Clean them with mild detergent and water, check the tracks for debris, and have the mechanism professionally inspected and lubricated once a year to keep it running smoothly.
### Can I see one before I order?
Yes, and you should. Ask to see a sample door before you commit to any purchase. Our consultants bring one to the free security assessment and will answer your security questions at the same time.
### How long is the guarantee on an industrial roller shutter?
Every commercial and industrial roller shutter carries an eighteen-month guarantee, across all three ranges: solid, standard perforated, and bubble perforated.
## Residential Roller Shutters South Africa | DEFENDoor®
### What is an aluminium roller shutter door and how does it work?
An aluminium roller shutter door is a set of horizontal slats hinged together into a flexible curtain. The curtain rolls up neatly into a compact box above the opening, which saves the space a hinged or sliding barrier would need. You can operate it by hand or by motor.
### Are aluminium shutter doors secure and durable?
Aluminium shutter doors form a genuine barrier for everyday security, and the interlocking slats can be upgraded with locks. Aluminium performs well in coastal and humid areas, though any metal will eventually corrode if it is not cleaned and maintained. It is the lighter-weight option, so for openings that need heavy-duty protection, our steel roller shutters are the better answer.
### Should I choose a manual or electric roller shutter?
Manual roller shutters are cost-effective and easy to use on smaller or low-traffic openings, and are available up to 3m x 2.5m. Electric shutters add convenience for frequent access or larger openings, with a crank or gearbox covering the range between the two.
### What maintenance is required for aluminium roller shutters?
Aluminium roller shutters need only routine upkeep: an annual service for electric units, and regular cleaning and lubrication for manual ones. Aluminium is lighter than steel, so it is worth keeping a closer eye on mechanical wear over time.
### What colour options are available?
Residential roller shutters come in six standard powder-coated colours: White, Black, Anthracite Grey, Silver, Bronze, and Chocolate Brown. The coating also protects against UV damage and corrosion, so the shutter holds its appearance through changing weather. Custom colours are available on request.
### How do I choose the right roller shutter for my property?
The right roller shutter comes down to the size of the opening, how often you will operate it, the convenience you want, and your local weather. Our consultants talk it through at the free assessment, and will point you to the steel range instead if the opening calls for heavier-duty protection.
### How long is the guarantee on a residential roller shutter?
Eighteen months, on all three aluminium ranges; solid, standard perforated, and bubble perforated.
## Armoured Safe Room Doors South Africa | DEFENDoor®
### What is an armoured safe room door?
An armoured safe room door is a steel-cored door and frame fitted to an existing opening, usually a bedroom, so that one room in the house can be locked and held against forced entry. It is thicker and heavier than a standard door, is fixed to the wall at eight points, and locks into its frame on all four sides.
### What makes it different from a standard security door?
An armoured door differs in what is inside it, what it is anchored to, and how many places it locks. It has a steel core rather than a timber or hollow one, comes with its own 1.6mm and 2mm mild steel frame fixed at eight wall mounting points, and locks on all four sides through an armoured Italian lock, deviator pins top and bottom, and static pins into the frame side.
### Can an armoured door be fitted to an opening I already have?
Yes. DEFENDoor® specialises in retrofitting existing openings, with the framing and sealing made good as part of the installation. We measure the opening on site at the free assessment.
### What stops the door being removed if the hinges are attacked?
16mm diameter 304 stainless steel static pins lock into the frame side and hold the door in the opening independently of the hinges. Cutting or knocking out the hinges does not release it, and the hinges themselves are heavy-duty and adjustable.
### Can the lock be drilled or manipulated?
The door comes with a lock cylinder protection plate fitted over the cylinder, specifically to resist manipulation and drilling. The lock behind it is an armoured door lock manufactured in Italy, throwing 18mm diameter hard chrome pins.
### What maintenance does an armoured door need?
An armoured door wants an inspection once a year: lubricate the bolts, check the lock, and check that the frame is still in alignment. There is more moving hardware in an armoured door than in an ordinary one, and keeping it aligned is what keeps all of it engaging properly.
### How long is the guarantee on an armoured door?
The armoured door carries a two-year guarantee.
### Can I pay an armoured door off over time?
Yes. You can pay an armoured door off over a term of up to 24 months through our finance partner, FeverTree.
## Security Gates South Africa | Trellis & Swing | DEFENDoor®
### What is the difference between a trellis gate and a swing gate?
A trellis gate is retractable. It concertinas back into a narrow stack against the wall, so it suits wide openings like patios and sliding doors where you want the space kept clear. A swing gate is hinged on a fixed frame and opens like a second door, which suits single doorways and entrances with nowhere to park a retracted gate.
### Are DEFENDoor® security gates made to fit my opening?
Yes. Every DEFENDoor® security gate is custom-built to the exact size of your opening, so it sits flush against the jamb. We take the measurements at the free on-site assessment.
### Do you install the gates, or is there a DIY option?
DEFENDoor® installs every gate, and there is no DIY option on either range. A gate only resists forced entry when it is aligned correctly and anchored securely, with tamper-proof fixings throughout, and all of that depends on professional installation.
### What are the gates made of?
DEFENDoor® security gates are steel throughout, on single continuous steel uprights. The higher-specification models use 19mm uprights, and the entry-level trellis DX-215 uses 16mm. Neither range uses plastic or nylon for structural parts, and both are powder-coated over a rust-protection treatment.
### How long is the guarantee on a security gate?
Most DEFENDoor® gates carry a five-year guarantee. That covers the trellis DX-222, DX-420, and DX-310, along with both swing gate models. The entry-level trellis DX-215 carries two years.
### Can I pay a security gate off over time?
Yes. You can pay off any DEFENDoor® gate over a term of up to 24 months through our finance partner, FeverTree. This applies across both the trellis and swing ranges.
## Swing Security Gates South Africa | DEFENDoor®
### Are swing security gates better than sliding gates?
Swing gates and sliding gates each suit different openings. A swing security gate is usually simpler and more affordable to install on smaller entrances, wherever there is room for it to open inward or outward. Where that room is not available, a sliding or retractable trellis gate is the better answer.
### Can I install a swing gate myself?
DEFENDoor® does not offer a DIY option, and we install every swing gate ourselves. A gate only swings smoothly and resists forced entry when it is aligned correctly and anchored securely, with tamper-proof fittings throughout, and all of that depends on the installation.
### Do swing security gates come in custom sizes?
Yes. Every swing gate is custom-made to the entrance, from a small pedestrian gate to a wider opening, in a range of widths and heights and in single or double leaf.
### How do I maintain a swing security gate?
A swing security gate needs very little upkeep. Check the hinges and locks now and then to keep them running smoothly, keep them lubricated, wipe the gate down to clear dirt and dust, and touch up any scratches in the powder coating before rust can start.
### Are swing gates suitable for pets?
Yes. Swing security gates are a popular way to keep dogs and other pets safely inside a yard while people come and go, and they work just as well for keeping small children in.
### How long is the guarantee on a swing gate?
Both swing gate models carry a five-year guarantee, the Criss-Cross and the Vertical or Horizontal Bar alike.
## Trellis Security Gates South Africa | DEFENDoor®
### What colours are trellis security gates available in?
Trellis security gates come in six standard powder-coated colours: White, Black, Anthracite Grey, Silver, Bronze, and Chocolate Brown. Custom colours are available on request.
### Which trellis model is the most secure?
The DX-222 is the most secure trellis gate in the range. It carries four sets of flights, two of them high-security 5mm zig-zags and two standard diamond crosses, and it takes two star-key hook locks.
### Do the gates contain plastic or nylon parts?
The DX-222, DX-420, and DX-310 use no plastic or nylon structural parts. Their bottom bolts are solid steel encased in glass-filled nylon, so they run more quietly while the steel core carries the load. The entry-level DX-215 uses nylon 6 bottom bolts that lock into the track and spin, which makes them very hard to cut.
### Are trellis gates made to fit my opening?
Yes. Every trellis gate is built to the exact size of your opening, so it fits the jamb cleanly with no gaps to pack out. We measure the opening at the free on-site assessment.
### How long is the guarantee on a trellis gate?
Trellis gate guarantees run five years on the DX-222, DX-420, and DX-310, and two years on the entry-level DX-215.
### Can I pay a trellis gate off over time?
Yes. You can pay a trellis gate off over a term of up to 24 months through our finance partner, FeverTree. The finance page sets out the current options and who qualifies.
## Louvre Security Shutters South Africa | DEFENDoor®
### What is a louvre security shutter?
A louvre security shutter is an aluminium shutter with blades that tilt, fitted across a window or doorway so the opening can be secured without being closed off. Tilting the blades controls light and privacy, and locking the shutter turns it into a barrier reinforced with 100mm hardened steel rods.
### Can I still get light and air through a locked shutter?
Yes, and that is the point of a louvre. The blades tilt independently of the lock, so the shutter can be locked shut and still let light and air through at whatever angle you set. Closing the blades fully gives you privacy instead.
### Which panel type should I choose?
Hinged panels are the most commonly specified for standard windows and are designed to be kept closed with the blades tilted. Bi-fold panels suit a doorway, a run of windows, or a room divider, because they fold away and leave the opening clear. Sliding panels cover an opening or divide an area without intruding into the room when operated.
### What stops the shutter being taken off its hinges?
The hinge pins are shouldered and tapered, so they cannot be removed or punched out. The hinges also carry nylon inserts, which keep them running silently.
### What are the shutters made of?
Louvre security shutters are made from 6063-T6 grade aluminium, reinforced with 100mm hardened steel rods on both sides. The aluminium keeps the frame slim and the maintenance low, and the steel rods are what make the blades a barrier rather than a screen.
### How long is the guarantee on louvre shutters?
Louvre security shutters carry a five-year guarantee, on all three panel types: hinged, bi-fold, and sliding.
### Can I see one before I order?
Yes, and you should. Ask to see a sample before you commit to any purchase. Our consultants bring one to the free security assessment and will answer your security questions at the same time.
### Can I pay louvre shutters off over time?
Yes. You can pay any DEFENDoor® order off over a term of up to 24 months through our finance partner, FeverTree.
## Why DEFENDoor® | Insurance-Approved Since 1995 | DEFENDoor®
### How long has DEFENDoor® been trading?
DEFENDoor® has been trading since 1995, more than 30 years spent entirely on manufacturing and installing security products. Design, fabrication, and installation stay under one roof, so the people who build your installation are the ones who answer for it.
### What does "insurance approved" mean?
Insurance approved means the products meet the security conditions insurers set. Many policies set conditions on the security fitted to a property, particularly in higher-risk areas, and approved products are the ones that satisfy those conditions. It is worth confirming the specifics with your own insurer before you buy.
### What is FASA approval?
FASA approval comes from the Franchise Association of South Africa, which sets and audits standards for franchise agreements, disclosure, and conduct. DEFENDoor® is the only FASA-approved barrier security company in South Africa.
### What is actually different about a DEFENDoor® gate?
A DEFENDoor® gate is set apart mostly by things you cannot see once it is installed. The uprights are single continuous bars rather than two joined together, so there is no seam to lever apart. They are 19mm x 19mm steel tubing rather than the 16mm commonly used. There are two hook-locks rather than one, the bottom bolts rotate so they cannot easily be sawn, and the U-channel protecting the locks faces the wall rather than the street.
### Do you install everything yourselves?
Yes. Installation is carried out by our own trained crews, working from measurements we take on site at the free assessment. Alignment and anchoring are what make security hold, and both depend entirely on the installation.
### How long is the guarantee?
DEFENDoor® guarantees run between 18 months and 5 years depending on the product. Security gates, louvre shutters, and transparent burglar bars carry 5 years, armoured doors carry 2 years, and roller shutters, mesh screens, and steel burglar bars carry 18 months.
### Can I see a sample before I decide?
Yes, and you should. Ask to see a sample before you commit to any purchase, because with so much variety on the market, it is the only way to know what you are paying for. Our consultants bring one to the free security assessment and will answer your security questions at the same time.
### Do you cover my area?
DEFENDoor® operates in three main regions: head office in Johannesburg, and franchises in Cape Town and Durban, covering Gauteng, the Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal, with teams that travel beyond them. If you are outside those provinces, call the national line on 0860 333 363 and we will tell you honestly what we can reach. We are also actively looking for franchise partners in new territories.
### Can I pay off an installation over time?
Yes. You can pay any DEFENDoor® order off over a term of up to 24 months through our finance partner, FeverTree.