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.
See also
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Everyone wants to feel a sense of safety and security in their own home, it’s a natural thing to want. However, this is not always easily accomplished. Though security doors are a great way to add a level of safety to the home, some of the most common types come with their fair share of drawbacks as well. To give a quick education on the subject, here are some of the most important pros and cons.
These pros are basically common sense benefits of security doors. They are the reason that so many people go in this direction when they’re looking for a greater sense of safety in their homes.
One of the biggest benefits of security doors is not being protected from the outside world at all, but just a sense of peace. A worried mind can feel inescapable, so if installing a security door instills homeowners with a sense of calm, it can be invaluable.
Of course, the fact that they keep outsider dangers out is another huge benefit. Not only do security doors create added protection from intruders, but they also help minimize risk and damage during storms. For example, high winds may be able to break an ordinary door with debris, but a security door will hold up much better in those situations.
The pros are certainly hard to argue against, but there are some cons to stay aware of as well.
Most people lack the technical know-how to properly install a security door, so they must turn to a contractor and handyman to assist them, which incurs an additional cost. Though inconvenient, this assistance is necessary because if not properly installed there’s no way for the door to fully serve its intended function.
Basic security doors can look like prison bars, ruining the aesthetic of your home. Expensive door designs can offer decorative looks but sometimes still look like a security gate. These obstruct your view if you wish to open the main door for a bit of breeze.
One might think that for as much as they cost, security doors would last a lifetime. Generally, this is not the case. Traditional security doors with steel bars may show rust or corrosion just a few years down the line.
Luckily, concerned homeowners do have a security door option that takes these pros a step further and minimizes the cons. Crimsafe security doors still require the installation of a professional, but they are incredibly strong, offer no visual obstruction, are visually appealing, and have a low susceptibility of corrosion, with no chance of rust if properly maintained.
These doors have all the same benefits as traditional security doors and more. They will hold up to the elements and they don’t create a barred eyesore in the home. Those looking for security without the downfalls of traditional doors: contact us today and let us provide you with peace of mind!