Imagine a screen door that disappears when you don’t need it. One that protects you from bugs without downgrading your home’s appearance. Well, you no longer need to imagine; it exists.
A retractable screen door blurs the line between indoors and outdoors, seamlessly letting fresh air in and keeping insects out.
What is a Retractable Screen Door?
A retractable screen door is essentially a frame with a roll of screen mesh on one side and tracks on the top and bottom.
The system mounts onto the door frame and differs from traditional hinged screen doors. When you need the screen, you pull it out; when you don’t, it rolls up out of sight.
Retractable screens seamlessly unify outdoor and indoor living spaces, making them ideal for house parties, family gatherings, or just catching a spring breeze in the kitchen without walking onto the patio.
The Trouble with Traditional Screen Doors
Traditional screen doors also let in fresh air, but hinged options require opening and closing whenever you enter or leave your home, even when you’re not using them for their intended purpose. This is inefficient, and unnecessary, especially when hauling in groceries.
Traditional screen doors are always in the way, even if you only use them a few months out of the year. Plus, a sliding screen door’s metal frame is always exposed to the elements, making it vulnerable to rust, and difficult to open and close.
It’s not just function that presents problems; it’s also the door’s form.
Traditional screen doors often negatively affect an exterior door’s appearance.
It’s difficult to find one that matches your home’s style, and these doors — which often look like a throwback to another era — can take away from a home’s curb appeal.
Advantages of a Retractable Screen Door
Retractable screen doors eliminate the problems associated with traditional screen doors.
For instance, RetractaView by Wizard Screens features a sleek, modern design that complements today’s homes. Wizard’s GlideSmooth Technology enables effortless one-handed operation along the low-profile upper and lower tracks. And, when needed, the screen conveniently retracts and stores out of sight in the side housing.
It’s made for single in-swing or out-swing, sliding, and French doors, and comes in a variety of colors, styles, and solar and insect mesh types. So, homeowners don’t have to choose between an unsightly traditional screen or not screening the door at all.
The system also is safe to use, with a magnetic catch that holds the screen in place when in use and releases should a pet or person run into the screen.
How is a Retractable Screen Door installed?
Retractable screen doors mount to the side of the door frame with a track at the top and bottom to guide the rolled screen. However, this is not a do-it-yourself job.
For optimal results and to ensure the screen’s proper installation, you’ll want professional installation. There are hundreds of Wizard Screens dealers in North America — here’s how to find one near you.
Once installed, operation is easy. Just pull the screen door out to allow fresh air into your home when needed and roll it back out of the way when not in use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do retractable screen doors last?
Quality retractable screen doors, with proper use and care, will provide many years of service. Because they retract when not in use, they completely avoid the elements, unlike traditional screen doors.
RetractaView’s rugged construction is weather, wear and UV-resistant, and the screen can absorb impact from people and pets without tearing or sagging.
In addition, all retractable screen systems from Wizard Screens come with a limited lifetime warranty, providing peace of mind. The housing is guaranteed to not warp, crack or fade and authorized dealers are available nationwide for service calls.
Are retractable screen doors worth it?
Retractable screen doors’ out-of-sight, out-of-mind style don’t block the beauty of your exterior doors, whether they’re French doors or custom-stained mahogany. Plus, they are attractive to home buyers, should you decide to sell. These features make them attractive to an increasing number of homeowners.
