What Are Breakaway Screws?

Breakaway screws, also known as snap off screws or scored screws, are longer screws that feature cutting points at various quarter-inch increments along the screw’s length.

Unlike standard screw packs that either come with hardware or are purchased separately, breakaway screws offer both versatility and agency for screw usage. They’re an eco-friendly option, to boot. Read on to learn about snap-off screws and a few methods to cut them to your preferred length.

The Benefits of Break Away Screws

When you buy replacement storm door hardware for your home, such as deadbolts and handle sets for a screen door or storm door, you often get a screw pack with many screws meant for different door thicknesses. This means sorting, measuring, and possibly losing screws, leaving you with only two you actually need, while the rest are left as clutter or waste.

Snap-off screws solve this problem by providing exactly the number you need, typically 2 for storm door handles and deadbolts. To reduce unnecessary clutter and make finding and using the right screws for the right products easier, some of Ideal Security’s storm door hardware (listed below) now includes two 3″ breakaway screws.

Breakaway screws also offer flexibility; you can adjust their length to your needs, avoiding the hassle of modifying your hardware to fit the screws we provide. If you prefer to use your existing storm door hardware’s screws, these adjustable screws can be repurposed for other projects with ease. Just snip off the excess length as required.

How To Cut Breakaway Screws

With the right tools and a good grip, you can cut breakaway screws to your desired length. Watch our step-by-step video guide to learn how to break a breakaway screw, and follow along with the instructions below.

To cut a break-away screw, all you need is:

• 1 to 2 pliers (or a similar clamping tool)
• 1 measuring tape or ruler
• 1 Ideal Security screw template for the hardware being installed

1. First, measure the thickness of your storm door, from the outer surface (where the storm door handle or deadbolt lock is installed) to the inner surface (where the inside latch or storm door deadbolt thumb turn is installed).
2. Once you’ve measured your storm door thickness, refer to the screw template included with your Ideal Security storm door hardware – your door thickness will be paired up with the screw length you need to cut at.
3. After you’ve identified the notch on the screw that needs to be cut, pre-cut your screw. This can be done by squeezing the pliers on the notch, rotating the screw a quarter inch, squeezing again, and repeating 4-8 times. A second plier can be used to hold the screw in place.
4. Grab the pre-cut notch with the tip of your pliers, and apply a gentle up-and-down motion to snap off the notch of your break-away screw. If the screw was properly pre-cut, the notch should snap off without the need for excessive force.

Storm Door Handles and Deadbolts – Now With Breakaway Screws

With a push to promote eco-friendliness and reduce waste, we’ve now begun introducing breakaway screws with some of our product lineup, slated to roll out between January and June of 2024. The Ideal Security storm door replacement hardware lineup includes:

The 703 Keyed Storm Door Lock Series

The VP Pull Storm Door Handle Series

The CS Pull Storm Door Handle Series

The 4390 Pull Storm Door Handle and Inside Touch Bar Series

The LSDXCR2267 Pull Storm Door Handle Series

The DX Pull Storm Door Handle Series

The EL15 Lever Screen Door Handle Series

Have any questions or concerns? Don’t hesitate to get in touch! You can contact us or visit our full line of storm door replacement hardware products online.