Installing retractable screen doors as an alternative option to an adjustable screen door is a modern option that has added functionality for your home. This blog intends to educate you on the differences between a retractable screen door and an adjustable screen door, and which screen solution is best for your needs. Many homeowners across North America still aren’t aware of retractable screens and the benefits they can provide for your home.
What Are Adjustable Screen Doors & How Do They Work?
Adjustable screen doors are screen door systems that are designed to fit a variety of door frames without the need for custom fabrication. Adjustable screen doors are typically DIY systems that can be installed on a wide range of applications due to the way the product is designed. Adjustable screen doors have some setbacks as they are of lesser quality than a retractable screen door, and take up much more room on your door frame. An adjustable screen door will retract the same as a retractable screen door, but may be less smooth, and you have fewer customization and handle options to choose from. Adjustable screen doors will cost less than a retractable screen door, but you have to install them yourself, and they may not last as long.
What Are Retractable Screen Doors & How Do They Work?
Retractable screen doors are a modern screen system that retracts in and out of their use depending on use. The added benefit of retractable screens, compared to traditional screens, is that they seamlessly blend in with your home as they mount to your doorframe or structure, come in colors to help them blend in, and the screen is only across the opening when you want to use it. Retractable screens are custom-made for each home and application they’re installed on, and have many different customization and handle options that you can choose from to best suit your needs. Retractable screens are installed on your door or opening with tracks running along the top and bottom of your doorframe, through which the mesh glides when opening and closing the system.
Adjustable Screen Doors vs Retractable Screen Doors
Comparing adjustable screen doors versus retractable screen doors shows many differences and apparent features that you should be aware of before deciding between one or the other. Adjustable screen doors are a DIY screen system that can be a viable solution for some homeowners, but the details below will show you why investing in a retractable screen door will be more worthwhile.
Functionality
Adjustable screen doors sliding or tension-mounted panels that can be resized to fit within your door frame. These typically are DIY systems that are one size fits all products that you expand to fit within the opening you are installing them on. Adjustable screen doors operate with a handle the same as a retractable screen door. Retractable screen doors are a custom made screen system that are built to perfectly fit the door or opening you are installing them on. Your Mirage retractable screen specialist will cut down the retractable screen door to the exact size and install it. Retractable screen doors come in any color you can imagine and also have the option of being with retained mesh, as well as multiple handle options.
Aesthetic & Design
The aesthetic and design of adjustable screen doors compared to retractable screen doors are similar, but do have a few key differences. Both screen systems are made of extruded aluminum with plastic end caps and components, but retractable screen doors are made with higher quality materials. Adjustable screen doors also appear bulkier due to their design, as they can expand to fit an opening size.
This will make the adjustable screen door not appear as aesthetically pleasing compared to a retractable screen door that blends in seamlessly with the door or opening you install it on. Adjustable screen doors are offered in a few common colors, while retractable screen doors are offered in standard colors, diamond series colors, and can also be custom colored if you have a unique color that you want to match perfectly.
Customization Options
Comparing the customization options of an adjustable screen door versus retractable screen doors, it’s pretty clear. Due to adjustable screen doors being a DIY product, you won’t have any customization options out of the box. The only choices you will have when purchasing an adjustable screen door are the color as the handle and size are stock. With retractable screen doors, you can choose from an unlimited amount of colors, multiple handle options, retained or floating mesh, and mounting type depending on the door or opening you are installing them on. Your local Mirage retractable screen specialist will guide you through the process and offer you the best retractable screen solution for you and your home’s needs.
Installation
Installing an adjustable screen door compared to a retractable screen door are very different. Adjustable screen doors are DIY products that you will have to install yourself. Which means you will have to figure out how to expand the screen system properly to fit the opening or door you are installing it on. Depending on your handiness, this can be tricky, but if you follow the instructions, you should be able to install it properly.
Retractable screen doors are a custom-made product that is only installed through authorized dealers. This means that you get to choose the type of screen and all the other customization options, and then a Mirage retractable screen specialist will come to your home and perfectly install it. The quality of a retractable screen door and the attention to detail while installing it by an authorized dealer will ensure the product lasts a very long time in your home.
Durability
The durability differences between adjustable screen doors and retractable screen doors are apparent when you compare the two screen systems side by side. Adjustable screen doors are DIY products that are similar in design to retractable screen doors, but are composed of lower-quality parts that will impact the lifetime of the product and are intended for more casual use.
Retractable screen doors, on the other hand, are screen systems that are custom-made products composed of the highest quality aluminum, plastic, and mesh materials that are designed for prolonged use and to last the test of time. Retractable screen doors can be made with pet mesh, which will protect the screen from being scratched or clawed by the furry friends in your home. Adjustable screen doors will be offered at a lower price point, but retractable screens are the superior product when it comes to durability.
Protection Against UV Rays, Dust, & Pests
When it comes to protection against UV rays, dust, and pets, adjustable screen doors and retractable screen doors have some key differences. Adjustable screen doors are a stock product that you can purchase from a home improvement store, and will typically only be offered with standard insect mesh that will allow fresh air into your home while keeping bugs outside. Retractable screen doors can be made with a few different types of mesh for pets, insect protection, UV protection, and privacy. Retractable screen doors are a custom-made product that has many customization options tailored to your needs.
Ventilation
Adjustable screen doors and retractable screen doors will both offer the same amount of ventilation. Both screen systems are made using mesh that will be of a similar weave and quality to allow adequate airflow to pass through. Retractable screens can be offered in various mesh types and grades that can limit ventilation and increase UV protection.
Space Saving
When it comes to space saving, both adjustable screen doors and retractable screen doors operate similarly. Because both screen systems are similar in design, they will typically take up the same amount of space when installed on an opening or door. Due to the adjustable screen door having extra parts for expanding, it may take up a bit more space. Both products are great for space saving in general, compared to traditional screens that are permanently installed across your opening or door.
Costs
The price of an adjustable screen door compared to a retractable screen door is different, but it comes at a cost. Adjustable screen doors are a DIY product that you can purchase from a home improvement store for a few hundred dollars. The downside of these products is that they’re lower quality compared to retractable screen doors, and you have to install them yourself. Retractable screen doors are a custom-made and installed product that can be up to double the price of an adjustable screen door, but that includes the cost of the Mirage retractable screen specialist installing it. Retractable screen doors are an overall higher quality product that will last much longer than an adjustable screen door.
Motorized Options
Retractable screens do come in motorized options, depending on the type and size of the opening you intend to install them on. Mirage motorized screens can be made up to 22 feet wide and 16 feet tall, and are typically installed on outdoor patios, garage doors, gazebos, lanais, covered porches, and other large openings. Adjustable screen doors are not offered in motorized screen options as they’re a stock product that you can buy at a home improvement store and you will install them yourself.
Why & When Are Retractable Screen Doors The Better Choice?
A retractable screen door by a top manufacturer is always the better choice compared to purchasing a DIY adjustable screen door system, unless you have major financial constraints. The small additional cost of a retractable screen door by a top manufacturer will outweigh the negatives of spending money on a DIY system that is of lower quality and will not last as long on your home.
At Mirage, we have homeowners reach out to us all the time after purchasing a DIY system that breaks or falls apart shortly after they install it. When you purchase a Mirage retractable screen, you can rest assured that your dealer will install it perfectly so it works well with your home, and our products are backed by our limited lifetime warranty that covers all parts of the screen system from factory defects, except for the mesh itself.
Make The Switch To Mirage Retractable Screen Doors
Making the switch to Mirage retractable screen doors is a great way to modernize your home with a screen solution that is built for your needs, and won’t deter from the aesthetics of your home. Mirage retractable screens are made using the highest quality components that are built to last. The benefit of retractable screens compared to traditional screen doors is that they hide away in their housing when not in use, and will blend in seamlessly with your home. Mirage retractable screens will be worth the investment as they will last for a very long time, unlike the competition and DIY products. Contact your local Mirage retractable screen specialist to start the process of getting the smoothest retractable screens installed on your home.
