We have three sets of french doors next to each other leading outdoors and we need to put a screen door on at least one door to let in cool air in the summer but don’t want year-round screens impeding the nice view. Heard about these retractable ones that pull across sideways or ones that pull down from the top. Any feedback on any of these types or other recommendations? Doors are all painted white on interior, bronze on outside.
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Hi Connie,
We also are looking for the same. Will be going to the "Home Show" this week and will let you know what I find,but would like also to hear from someone who has experience with them.
Jim
http://www.HeartlandsHome.com
The above link has them I believe.
Connie363,
My neighbors have them and aren't fond of them. Their cat has discovered that she can crawl out the bottom of the screen. I've used them and the handles are hard to hold against the pull of the screen. They want to snap back too strongly. Otherwise I like the look a lot.
I have installed the vertical type and have found them to be a problem. Junk gets in the tracks and the bottom moves slower than the top causing the screen to come off. We are on the water and the springs don't work any more. I bought them on sale from a store and when I called the company they were gone.
Connie,
My husband and I are going to have Mirage Retractable Screens installed for our french doors this spring. I did a lot of research on them and came up with this outfit out of Canada because they are very sturdy, easy to grip, slide easily and are pretty unobtrusive when retracted.
My research included going to the Pacific Coast Builders Convention in San Francisco two summers ago (Good Lord! Well over a thousand vendors all together!) at which a bunch of retractable screen companies had booths. I tried 'em all out and liked this one way better than any other. Only problem is that our local installer says they'll cost us about 600 smacks. Said he'd give us a good discount if we bought some other window treatments from him, too (we're finishing up a new build.)
In the end, I think it'll be worth it to get these rather than a less expensive set (less sturdy and flimsy handle) as I'd probably regret it every time I used 'em and they'd probably break down a lot sooner than Mirage.
Ah, decisions, decisions...
doo
http://www.nanawall.com just sent me info on disappearing screens -- I know their folding glass wall is topnotch.
We have a smallish 5' wide french door and installed the sliding screens on them last year. We bought the horizontal sliding type. First thing I think that you should know is that the screens may disappear from the view when they are retracted but the hardware installed on the door is always there-and a bit fugly.
Sorry I don't have any pictures of it but let me try to explain. You install two tracks for the screen to slide in. One on the door sill and one in the header area. The screen mech is a black plastic cylinder that mounts to a base that you attach to the wall/window trim on either side of the door. So we have two screens that slide out and meet in the middle and are held together by strong magnets in the handles.
We have two very active cats and they can not get out. We have been very happy with the mech and the added breeze on hot summer nights.
We have curtains that cover the sides of the doors so the big black plastic cylinders are always hidden. If you didn't have curtains I'm thinking that you could build a wood box to cover the mech and have it blend into your window trim.
Sorry for the life of me I can not exactly remember the manf. of the screens but I am pretty sure its retract-a-way screens.
I'll look it up when I get home if you want to know it for sure.
Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
We've had a Phantom screen on our french doors for five years and they are great. The only complaints are: Bottom does come out of track if not opened slowly from the middle, spring is strong and the screen will snap back if released, magnet catch in middle is difficult to separate to close the screens. All of the aboe nusiances are not difficult if you learn how to use the product. Once you get through that, they are great for maintaining your views when the screens are retracted and do agood job of keeping insects out when closed. Curious pets can bump the bottom out of track, but it can easily be realigned by just closing the screen and opening it again.
Good luck.