Which screen door should I buy?
Asked by
JLeslie (
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November 14th, 2016
from iPhone
I think I know what I’m going to do, but I thought I would throw it out to the collective for experience and opinions. I haven’t had a screen door on my front door since I was ten years old.
First, I live in a place where we open the windows about half the year and let the fresh air in. The best cross ventilation for my house is front (where the front door is) to back, which is also east and west. I do have sidelights next to my front door, so I do get some light in from there. I like having the light from the east come in the house.
The options are:
A fancy “screen door” that is glass, and the upper piece of glass can slide down like a window and reveals a screen. You can use it during hot and cold days with solid glass, or fresh air days with the screen. It has a lock in the door for some security.
The negative is having to open two doors every time you go in and out. It’s a little pricey. I think it will cost me $350 installed.
A tradition screen door with the simple lock like a screen door on a screened patio.
A retractable screen that retracts side to side. It doesn’t really lock, but you can have it completely open when not using the screen, so you don’t have to open two doors.
I tend to be a person who locks all my doors and windows, but realistically speaking when I have the sliders and windows open anyone can easily get in if they wanted too. The chances of violent crime here are quite low. Theft usually does not happen when the owner is home.
What do you think?
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14 Answers
My two cents: get the fancy one with the slideable glass. It’s the best of all worlds, and it provides a little bit of insulation and protection from the elements while still letting light in.
The screen door isn’t really for protection; it’s for ventilation and light.
You’re in a good climate zone for a screen door.
I am a huge fan of our “fancy” Anderson storm door with the self storing screen. To me it is worth every penny and it is sturdy and secure.
The fancy door would do you the most good, summer and winter. Having a easily workable (open/close) window for screen use is a great idea. And you’ll save more money in the winter when it’s cold outside.
Fancy door, absolutely. You’ll get used to the “opening two doors” thing very quickly, and the upping and downing of the glass panel will probably occupy you for 15 cumulative minutes per year, if you do it a lot.
I like the ‘fancy” glass doors myself. There is one in my new place and one here where I am house sitting now. They are attractive, let in lots of light and are sturdy. The only drawback is if you have dogs you will be constantly washing dog nose prints off the glass. haha
@Coloma, I just call it “snuffle art”. :-D
@canidmajor Haha, yeah, dip their noses in some watercolors and break out the canvas.
I once had my pet goose do flappy foot art, dipped his flappy feet in watercolors and had him walk across a big sheet of heavy paper.
I’m a big fan of a full glass door, with a full screen to substitute during warm weather: http://www.jandjwindows.com/images/StormDoorMain.jpg. I chose this style when I renovated my mother’s house, and also when I replaced the front and back outer doors on my own residence. I simply love the appearance.
I’m familiar with the sliding glass plane/screen design, but I personally don’t care for it. This version might be more practical but, at least in my own opinion, it diminishes curb appeal. I think it’s a better choice for a back or side door.
^^Your photo really helped me because I’m conflicted about what color to pick if I buy the door. I can go close to the trim color around the door, an off white taupish color. Or, slightly darker than the actual door. The door is painter a dark taupe-beige, and the screen door comes in a grey-brown color. I know it’s pretty impossible for anyone to know how the colors actually look.
I was thinking the browner color is more likely to disappear, and my husband leans towards it, but I’m not sure.
I’m with @Love_my_doggie, we have one like that at our house. I know where the screen is but we seem to go from hot (needs A/C) to cold (needs heat on) so I have never used the screen.
Aside the door we have has a lock-set that uses the same keys as the rest of the doors and deadbolts.
Can you screen the area (3.5 ft x 3.5 ft or so) right outside the front door? That is what I have screened so I can open my door and not worry about bugs. It also gives enough of security that FedEx, UPS, and USPS will leave packages by my front door instead of leaving that aggravating little pink slip.
^^The slip usually has to do with the service company and your area. USPS basically decides if your area is safe to leave packages or not. It doesn’t matter if you have a screen. Although, you make an interesting point about it seeming more secure for packages, I hadn’t thought of that before.
A lot of Florida uses screens way out in front of the door, because Florida, especially south Florida, has a lot of open out doors.
I can screen in as you suggested very easily though, but it wouldn’t be a glass door option.
@JLeslie It varies by deliveryman unless the shipper stipulates. I thought you wanted a screen, not a glass door.
^^The door I’m looking at is glass and screen. The top half slides down like a window and reveals the screen. The most important part of the door for me is the screen, but we think spending $100 more for the glass option and better door is probably worth it. I have no idea if that type of door can be put in way out as described for postal deliveries. I have my doubts. I think you would have to build a more solid structure than the typical screen enclosure.
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