A screen door can refer to a hinged storm door (cold climates) or hinged screen door (warm climates) covering an exterior door, or a screened sliding door used with sliding glass doors. A screen door incorporates screen mesh to block birds, flying insects or airborne debris such as seeds or leaves from entering, and pets and small children from exiting interior spaces, while allowing for air, light, and views.
History
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The first screen doors were made using cheesecloth. After the American Civil War, wire cloth was coated with paint and sold for window screens.[1]
Construction
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Aluminium framed
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Aluminium sliding screen doors are generally constructed by two methods: rollformed or extruded. In both cases the rectangular rollformed or extruded shapes are joined together into a door frame using metal corners or screws.
Rollformed
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The first are rollformed from thin aluminium sheets into a rectangular shaped door frame which incorporates a screen channel to hold the window screen material.
Rollformed aluminum sliding screen doors are the least expensive to produce because they can be manufactured from thin aluminum sheets formed into a relatively strong rectangular shape.
Rollformed screen doors have mitered corners into which a steel or aluminum alloy corner is forced using a friction fit. If a steel corner is used, the rollformed sections are often pierced or staked into the corners, to help secure the corners together. If aluminum alloy corners are used, the corner relies on its friction fit alone to hold the door frame together.
The weakest point of a rollformed sliding screen door is the corner. After repeated opening and closing, stresses will cause the rollformed shape to loosen in the area of the corner. The door will then stick and jam and typically will require replacement rather than repair.
Extruded
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The second are extruded aluminum shapes, with aluminum frames made from thicker aluminum than rollformed doors. This makes an extruded aluminum door much stronger but also more expensive. Extruded aluminum screen door frames can be mitered and joined with aluminum alloy corners or can be notched out and joined together with screws that fit in screw holes made as part of the extrusion process.
Extruded aluminum screen doors are generally longer lasting than rollformed screen doors. They are also more easily repaired since, if the corners break, new corners can be inserted without losing the friction fit necessary to hold the door together.
Wood-framed screen doors, hinged and sliding, are also available from limited production and custom carpentry sources, used for aesthetic style and sustainable building applications. Wood-framed screen doors were a fixture of many homes in the American South before air conditioning was common.
Screen door from early 20th centuryRetractable screen doors
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An alternative to sliding screen doors is a version of pocket doors, retractable screen doors which 'disappear' out of sight into their own protective housing or casing. These casings can be mounted in several ways. An inside mount is where it can be flush with the door frame. A surface mount can be mounted on the surface of your door frame. Thirdly, you can build your casing inside the wall and your screen and casing will recess completely out of the way. These screen doors are custom made to fit the measurements of your doors.
Most retractable doors use a spring-loaded roller very similar to a window blind, except the roller is mounted vertically when used in a door application. Screen material is attached to the roller while the opposite side of the material is attached to the sliding bar riding on top and bottom tracks. The bar is moved back and forth to open or close the screen. The bar is usually held closed with a magnetic closure. Different types of mesh fabric options are available from standard fiberglass mesh, pet screen resistant mesh and solar screen mesh. The operation of the screens is typically manual, but motorized versions do exist.
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Dogs and cats make wonderful companions for your family, but even the most well-behaved pet can wreak havoc on your home on occasion. For example, the screens surrounding your pool or patio enclosure may have suffered some shredding from the claws of your pets, significantly weakening the screens and potentially leaving a hole for escape. Fortunately, a Phifer pet screen offers durability far beyond the strength of regular screens. A look at the differences and similarities between the two screen materials can help you understand the value of pet screen for your home.
Construction and Material
Pet screens are designed with the destructive potential of pets in mind. The materials used are strong and resistant to the claws of a cat or the brute strength of a dog. The screen is constructed from polyester yarn coated with PVC, making it about seven times stronger than regular screens. By comparison, cheaper enclosures and screen doors are constructed with the same lightweight materials used to make window screens. If you have a dog or cat, it’s vital to invest in pet screen for your pool or patio enclosure.
Visibility, Airflow and Pests
Some homeowners are concerned that the durable materials used in pet screens will reduce the visibility and airflow in their pool or patio enclosure. Although the individual strands that make up a dog or cat proof screen are thicker, the strands are placed further apart to avoid significantly impacting visibility and airflow. You may notice some slight visual differences between regular screens and pet screens, but the difference is negligible for most people. You’ll still be able to enjoy the fresh air in your enclosed patio without worrying about your cat or dog destroying the screen enclosure.
Many homeowners choose to enclose their pools and patios to avoid harassment and bites from perpetually present pests. Although the gaps between strands are wider in pet screens, they’re still close enough together to protect you and your family from pests.
Simple Installation
The process for installing pet resistant screens is exactly the same as the process for regular screens. Existing door and enclosure frames can be refitted with pet screens. If you have a regular screen that is beginning to fail due to your pets, you can have it replaced easily.
Phifer Screens has so many high-quality screen materials to choose from. See all the types of Phifer Screens we use to provide you the best solution for your needs.
If you have pets, replacing the screen of your patio enclosure with a Phifer pet screen is a good way to improve the durability of your enclosure. To learn more about installing pet screen in your Florida home, please contact Dulando Screen & Awning, Inc. at 407-862-6060 or fill out our online form for a free estimate today.