Door screens have come a long way…
Lately, we have been doing a lot of research on screens and solar shades, and here are our notes:
1. Screen and Frame repairs. If you have a door screen with a bent frame, it screeches when you open it, and barely rolls or latches you might just need a new screen.
If you call a Mobile Screen Company (I am using Mobile Screens 805-562-8448 for the first time), they will come bid any opening that you may be considering and then you can select based on your budget which window or doors you want to do (by the way all the work is done from the exterior of your home and saves you the chore of taking them off yourself and taking them into a shop).
I am having this done right now. A sliding glass door screen 4’ wide by 8’ tall is $375 with a whole new frame and rollers. Screens over 6’-8” in height are considered “custom” meaning they are not in stock so if you have a 6’-8” door there will quite a bit of savings.
If you are only rescreening, it costs much less. A window on the small size runs $45. However, with a new door or window screen frame, you will get state-of-the-art rollers and most likely a much better frame than what you may have now (yours might be plastic and these will be powder-coated metal).
2. Brio Screens. The latest and greatest screen solutions are from Brio. They offer an accordion-style screen that can be recessed in a pocket (or not). When you open a Brio screen, you won’t have half of your view obstructed by a traditional sliding screen when you have the door closed. This is a great indoor/outdoor living solution and works well for entertaining.
They are terrific and now many leading door manufacturers include them in their door installation in lieu of a sliding screen. The screen does have a different mesh than a typical screen due to the pleats but I looked at one at Haywards (lumber yard location) locally and they looked great. Go to briousa.com to see more options.
3. Phantom Screens. These screens roll down from above outside, and the motor can be recessed in the ceiling or wall mounted. They are operated by a remote control or a wall switch. For a very large opening of 20’ wide by 10’-6” high, a Phantom screen would run about $5,008, including materials, labor, shipping, and tax. Visit phantomscreens.com to see more of their products.
4. Screens that double as Sun Control. Screen fabrics are now available that will screen out pests, control sun, and glare. Tired of wearing sunglasses inside or watching your sofa fade?Stay safe everyone! Trudi
