Screen doors?

[Peter D. Tillman]

We're looking to install screen doors on our house near Santa Fe, NM.

Any experience with the vinyl-frame screen doors Home Depot (etc) sells? These are attractive, lightweight and reasonably-priced, but I have no idea how vinyl holds up. We live in a windy, sunny area.

Alternatively, HD sells a heavy wood-frame screen door for around $170. These have pine rails about the thickness of a typical (solid wood) interior door, and look well-made. Do they hold up?

Any other thoughts on screen doors appreciated. This is a traditional stuccoed-adobe house, so aluminum doors wouldn't do.

How about the retractable "invisible" screens? Any comments on these?

TIA & Cheers -- Pete Tillman Santa Fe

[Art]

Check out Pella screen doors at Lowes or a Pella store. Also they have neat invisible screens that roll away when not in use probably only at a real Pella store and not Lowes. Lowes only has the lower end Pella stuff. I just had a Pella sliding door put in with a invisible screen and it is neat but an animal could force itself out the screen so don't figure on an invisible screen if you are using it to keep a dog or cat in.

[Tracey]

We have a HomeDepot "Forever" Screen Door. We bought the white vinyl one with the full length screen/glass.

We have had it for about 4 years. The Vinyl has held up fine with no problems. Overall we are happy with the door except for one annoying thing. The lever style handle has a lifetime guarantee on the brass finish. About a year and a half ago, we noticed that the brass finish was all worn off, scratched up and looking generally awful. We called the manufacturer, and they sent us a replacement lever handle, so we were happy. Fast forward to now (1 1/2 years later)...the handle is all scratched up and the finish is worn off again. Sigh. I need to call and have them send another one. It has absolutely no bearing on the functionality of the door, but it just looks bad.

Tracey in CT

[SteveB]

I

Trust me. They will NOT stop a dog that is intent on going outside and dueling with the street sweeper.

STeve

[William Morris]

Had a wood screen door and hated it - the cycle of wet/dry/cold/hot warped it until with didn't fit the doorway anymore. Replaced it with a vinyl clad screen door and have never regretted that decision.

[suzn]

We have had one of these for about 8 years. I finally did toss out the screen section though because we never used it. Just something that the dog and cats would have torn anyhow.

Mine is looking a bit worn also but I never thought to see about replacing it. I need to get out my paper work and see about contacting the company and get a replacement. thanks for the suggestion!

[Peter D. Tillman]

So -- it's holding up OK otherwise? I'm supposing you painted it to match, paint sticking well to vinyl? Would you buy it again?

TIA & Cheers -- Pete Tillman

[suzn]

I never painted mine. Its a brown color although they call it bronze. They do have a spray paint specifically for these doors though. I painted all my window screen frames the same color to match. I would definatly buy again of need be. I have one on my back door also.

[Tracey]

Nope, we didn't paint it. In fact, I never even THOUGHT of it...it is white (as is the other trim on my house). I do think they had options of it in other colors (brown and dark green, IIRC).