Ask anyone who owns a door screen, and they’ll tell you how much of a great addition it is to their home. Sure, a screen door isn’t absolutely essential home improvement, but it is a huge boost for quality of life—especially for those living in warmer year-round climates.

The reason is simple. Door screens allow owners to enjoy the outdoors—things like the smell of fresh-cut grass, a cool breeze, and the sounds of birds chirping—all from the comfort of their home. No pesky bugs or critters are getting in your home to disrupt your day.

However, before buying a screen door, you should familiarize yourself with all the different types of door screens and their advantages and disadvantages. That way, the door screen you settle on fits both your home’s style and decor as well as your lifestyle.

Benefits of door screens

As we mentioned just before, screen doors go a long way in improving a home’s livability by providing much-needed fresh air while keeping annoying insects at bay. On top of that, door screens also have a number of other benefits, including:

• Convenient and easy-to-use
• Energy savings
• More natural light
• Better mental health
• Enhanced security
• Improved curb appeal
• Safe for both pets and kids
• Protection against dust and pollutants

What are the different types of door screens?

There are a variety of door screens on the market. In general, these can be broken down into four categories: sliding screen doors, retractable screen doors, swinging screen doors, and security door screens. Each type of door screen comes with its own pros and cons, which we will cover below.

1. Sliding screen doors

Sliding screen doors are typically installed on double sliding glass doors that lead to a backyard, patio, or deck. Many homeowners opt for sliding screen doors because they allow so much natural light and fresh air into the home while also maintaining unobstructed views of your backyard. 

The one downside of sliding door screens is that they are not as secure as other types of screen doors because many lack locks. However, Screenmobile offers sliding screen doors that feature a heavy-duty design and multi-lock systems to ensure maximum household security.

2. Retractable screen doors

Retractable screen doors are quickly becoming the most popular type of door screen on the market. Why? Well, unlike other types of screen doors, retractable door screens are there when you need them and hidden out of sight in their protective casing when you don’t. This is great for homeowners who want to maintain a sleek, modern, and minimal home design.

Retractable door screens can also be fitted to almost any door, including doors that swing in and out, double French doorways, and sliding patio doorways.

3. Swinging screen doors

As the name suggests, swinging door screens open and close exactly like traditional doors. Swinging screen doors are commonly designed with either a grill or a solid frame; long gone are the days of door screens designed primarily of a mesh screen with a minimal frame around the edges. Our new and replacement swinging screen doors are built for heavy use. 

The frames on swinging screen doors are typically aluminum, steel, or wood and often feature ornamental designs. Screenmobile’s swinging screen doors are available in various colors, styles, and materials to match your needs and decor.

4. Security door screens

Security screen doors are for homeowners who want to prioritize security while keeping the ability to use a screen door when it’s hot outside, and they want to let a breeze in. Thanks to their strengthened and durable design, they can resist both burglars and damaging weather elements. 

Instead of having one door to provide safety and protection, you’ll now have two doors doing the job. Security screen doors are also pet-friendly and childproof.

How do I choose a screen for a door?

Selecting the right door screen boils down to four basic factors:

• Budget: How much money are you willing to spend on a screen door?
• Use: How often will you use your screen door, and what will you use it for?
• Style: Does the screen door match the design and style of your home?
• Convenience: Do you want a screen door that is heavy-duty, and focused on security or one that is compact and out of the way when not in use?

Once you’ve determined each of these factors, you can now go about choosing the type of screen door that fits your home. 

Security and swinging doors offer more protection and durability while sacrificing some space and convenience. Retractable and sliding screen doors, on the other hand, sacrifice some protection for a lightweight and convenient design.

Need Help Picking Door Screens?

For more information on what type of door screens are best for your home, contact the Screenmobile door experts today.

For many homeowners, garages are nothing more than a place to park a car or store things like tools and yard supplies. Other homeowners, however, are starting to consider the benefits of installing a garage door screen, and in the process, create an entirely new livable space for their home.

What Is A Garage Door Screen?

Garage door screens, also known as “lifestyle screens,” consist of a layer of mesh screening that keeps unwanted elements like bugs out while letting desirable elements like fresh air and a cool breeze in. Put simply, a garage screen converts your garage into a usable, open-air living space of your house. 

Garage door screens typically run anywhere from a few hundred dollars for budget or DIY options to a few thousand dollars for custom-fitted and installed screens. Some garage door screen kits can be purchased for as little as $25-50 and installed manually. Although, these kits usually are a significant step down from professionally installed garage screen doors.

Types Of Garage Door Screens

1. Lifestyle Garage Door Screens

These lifestyle screens transform your garage from a simple parking space to an additional cool and pest-free room in seconds. Lifestyle garage door screens are all about comfort and convenience. For this reason, these screens come with a door within a door that makes entering and exiting your screened-in garage possible without needing to retract the entire screen every time.

2. Side Sliding Garage Screens

As the name suggests, side sliding garage door screens are operated horizontally rather than vertically. Of all the options of garage screens, the side sliding variety tends to be the most budget-friendly way for homeowners to turn their garage into a viable outdoor living space. What’s best, side sliding garage doors are super durable and come in many different styles to choose from.

3. Roll Down Garage Door Screens

Also called “motorized retractable garage door screens” or “power garage screens,” roll-down screens are perfect for homeowners who want a garage door screen but don’t want to be hassled with manually rolling it up or down all the time. Simply press the button, and the motorized screen does all the work for you. Retractable garage door screens are also known to be highly energy-efficient, thanks to their thick weatherstripping at the bottom.

Garage Door Screen Uses

Since garage door screens can elevate your garage from an unfinished parking and storage area to a full-blown livable room, the uses for that new space are nearly endless. Here are a few ideas:

• Game room
• Screened-in patio alternative
• Mancave
• Second living room
• Workshop
• Office
• Outdoor dining area
• Additional bedroom
• Movie theater
• Gym
• Music area

Garage Door Screen Benefits

On top of all of those new use cases for your new screened-in room, you’ll also gain a handful of incredible benefits from installing a garage door screen. These include:

• More usable square footage
• Pest control
• Improved energy efficiency
• Reduce wear-and-tear on garage door
• Increased airflow
• Better home security
• Protection from inclement weather, dust, dirt, and pollutants

Choosing The Right Screen Door For Your Existing Garage

When picking a garage door screen for your home, it’s important to consider a few factors, such as your budget, the purpose of your screen, and how you will want to have it installed.

In the vast majority of cases, we recommend turning to professionals to handle the installation of your garage screen. This will ensure that your garage door screen is professionally installed and will function for years without any hitches or hiccups. 

On top of that, if you are going to use your new screened-in garage often and want it to be both comfortable and pleasurable, you don’t skimp on the quality of the screen. High-quality garage screens allow for much better airflow, protection, and security than their cheaper counterparts.

Contact Screenmobile Today

If installing a garage door screen and increasing your home’s usable space sounds like an enticing idea, why not contact Screenmobile to get a free quote today? Our screen experts are always on call to help you with any questions you might have.

Installing a Garage Door Screen

If you’re thinking about adding garage door screens to your home, we’re here to help. To get started, contact your local Screenmobile or request a free estimate today.