Today's Technology and You

Bug Free 101: Screen Door Options

Q: Dear Jim: My old back screen door doesn't fit well and lets in mosquitoes. Also, I would like screens over the front door, but most screen doors are ugly. What options do I have for bug-free, efficient ventilation? - Jean D.

A: Dear Jean: Improving ventilation instead of continuously using air conditioning can lower your utility bills and often improve indoor air quality.

Another advantage of having screens over doors with glass is you can install special suncontrol screening. This fiberglass screening is easy to see through and provides adequate ventilation, but it can block up to 70 percent of the sun's heat. During the winter, the screen slows down the direct force of winter winds and reduces the outdoor air infiltration through your doors.

Retractable screens disappear when open

You have three basic options for adding screening over your doors: 1) make your own screen panels, 2) install new decorative screen doors, or 3) install retractable screens that disappear. Installing tight-fitting screens is also more important than ever with so many cases of West Nile virus occurring from mosquito bites.

Several companies offer do-it-yourself screen framing kits that you can size to your existing door. The kits include frame extrusions, splines, springs, pull tabs and corner connectors. Check at your home center store.

Installing a new screen door is an effective option, but an expensive one. You might get by with a moderately priced (several hundred dollars) door for the back. For the front though, a more decorative high-quality screen door can cost $500 or more with installation. Better screen doors often also offer the options of sun-control or super-strong pet resistant screening panels.

A more reasonably priced option is adding retractable screens over your front and back doors. Some designs are only dealer-installed, but others, such as mine, are available in do-it-yourself kits. When the screens are retracted, they are totally out of sight and out of the way.

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Many models have a lifetime warranty on everything except the screening fabric itself.

Most retractable screen systems operate in a similar manner to one another. You attach a narrow tubular housing (cassette) vertically on the doorframe and a latching channel on the other side. One small aluminum track is attached horizontally to the floor and one to the top of the door opening. A magnetic latch is built into the latching channel.

When you open your door for ventilation, pull the handle on the edge of the screen, which is coiled up in the cassette. It unrolls from the cassette and latches on the other side with the magnetic latch. There is slight spring tension on the screening to keep it taut and attractive.

There are quality differences among the various designs available. Replacement screening kits are available because any screen will wear out over time. Look for a long warranty. Since retractable screens can be mounted inside or outside the primary door where they are exposed to the weather, stainless steel hardware and aluminum extrusions are a definite plus.

Some kits use ball bearings in the cassette and pile lining in the grooves for smooth operation. Double latching magnets provide a sealed edge when closed. Durable reinforcing strips along the edge of the screen can increase its life substantially. Much of the wear on the screen occurs where it slides in the track.

There are somewhat similar designs of retractable screens for windows. These kits use a screen that automatically covers the window when you open it and retracts again when you close the window. Larger dealer-installed, motorized retractable screens are available to cover an entire balcony or porch.

If you want to work bugfree and comfortably cool in your garage or want to use it as a screened-in "porch" for entertaining at times, install a garage door screen kit.

Write for (instantly download - www.dulley.com) Utility Bills Update No. 813 - buyer's guide of 12 add-on retractable door/window screen kits, screen panel kits and special screening manufacturers showing types, sizes, colors, features, diagrams, and prices. Please include $3 and a business-size SASE. James Dulley, Illinois Country Living, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244.

James Dulley is a mechanicalengineer who writes on a wide variety of energy and utility topics. His column appears in a large number of daily newspapers.

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