Retractable Screen Doors vs. Retractable Accordion Screens

When choosing between installing a retractable screen door or a retractable accordion-style screen door in your home, you have a few things to consider. You will need to consider the size and type of door or opening you are planning to install it on, as well as what will look aesthetically better in your home. Both products offer different benefits and features, which will appeal more to some more than others. You also need to consider your budget for the project as one option will outweigh the other in terms of cost.

What are Retractable Screen Doors?

Retractable screen doors are screen systems that can be installed on a variety of applications and give many benefits to your home. Typically, a retractable screen door is composed of a screen housing, mesh, tracks, and a pull bar with a handle that is mounted on either side of a door or opening. Retractable screen doors retract out of their housing and across the opening, letting the fresh air inside without the pesky bugs and negatives of the outdoors, and easily retract back into the housing when you’re done using it. Retractable screen doors come in all types of different colors and sizes to ensure that they will match and fit your home perfectly. The main benefit of a retractable screen door is that it opens up your home and lets all the positives of the outdoors inside while keeping the negatives out.

What are Retractable Accordion Screens?

Retractable accordion screens are a type of screen system that retracts horizontally and are typically made with mesh that is composed in an accordion style. These types of retractable screens are great for covering large openings such as doors, outdoor patios, bi-folding doors, and more. Retractable accordion screens can be made with different types of mesh that can protect from solar glare and insects.

Key Differences Between Retractable Screen Doors and Retractable Accordion Screens

There are two key differences between traditional retractable screen doors, such as the ones that Mirage manufactures, and retractable accordion-style screen doors. The first key difference is that the mesh screen piece is pleated and stacks on top of each other when retracted, in an accordion-style fashion. A traditional retractable screen door works with a normal piece of screen mesh that is rolled up on a roller tube in the screen system and is spring-loaded. This allows for a smoother operation and is a much more aesthetically appealing product. The second key difference is that across the retractable screen industry, the most reputable products are all made as traditional retractable screens, not accordion-style pleated screen doors. Though not all quality is the same, most accordion-style retractable screens are made of lesser-quality materials and won’t be as high-quality as traditional retractable screen doors, such as Mirage Screen Systems.

Design and Functionality

The screen unit design on a traditional retractable screen door and an accordion style door are typically the same, with a square housing that has a pull bar and two tracks that are on the top and bottom of the door it is installed on. The biggest design difference is that the piece of screen mesh on the accordion-style screen is pleated and folds into each other, which doesn’t operate as smoothly as a traditional retractable screen door.

Space Considerations

Both retractable screen doors and accordion-style screen doors will take up the same amount of space, there might be small differences depending on the manufacturer of the product, or how big of an opening they’re being installed on.

Aesthetic Differences

The key aesthetic difference between a traditional retractable screen door and an accordion-style screen door is that the mesh on the accordion-style screen is pleated and folds into each other, which is more visibility noticeable as you can see the folds when looking through the opening. Both screen system options will be offered in a variety of colors to choose from, the screen units may have a rounded or square hood depending on the manufacturer.

Cost Differences

Typically, a traditional retractable screen door will cost you a bit more than an accordion-style screen door as it will be installed by a professional and will be a higher-quality product. Some, but not all accordion-style screen doors are do-it-yourself products which Mirage Screen Systems doesn’t offer. To get the most accurate price for your retractable screen, you will need to contact your local Mirage retractable screens dealer through our dealer locator.

Advantages of Retractable Screen Doors

Retractable screen doors offer many benefits for your home that you and your house guests will enjoy for years to come. Retractable screen doors let the fresh air into your home, naturally circulating it and cooling it in nature while keeping pesky bugs and insects outside. Unlike traditional screen doors, retractable screen doors roll back into their housing when not in use, blending in with your home seamlessly and not taking away from the aesthetic. Retractable screen doors can be installed on a wide range of applications including single entry doors, double doors, French doors, bi-folding doors, outdoor patios, garage doors, gazebos, lanais, and more! Typically, retractable screen doors are professionally installed by a company to ensure operation is smooth and the screen will have a long life.

Advantages of Retractable Accordion Screens

Retractable accordion screens are screen systems that will allow you to let fresh air into your home. These types of screens are somewhat similar to retractable screen doors but are configured slightly differently as they’re built with a pleated screen mesh piece that folds into itself. They can also be installed on a wide range of applications for various parts of your home and most of the time come as a do-it-yourself product that you can pick up from a hardware or home improvement store.

When to Choose Between Retractable Screen Doors and Retractable Accordion Screens?

When choosing between traditional retractable screen doors and retractable accordion style screen doors you have a few things to consider before making your decision. The first thing to consider is the style of mesh, as the accordion style screen door will have a pleated mesh that is more visible to the naked eye than the mesh on a traditional retractable screen door. Another thing to consider is the budget for your screen project, as retractable accordion style screen doors are typically a less expensive option compared to a retractable screen door installed by a Mirage authorized dealer. Across the industry the quality of retractable accordion style screens will be lesser than a traditional retractable screen, so if you’re looking to have a product installed that will last 10 years or more, we suggest going with a traditional retractable screen door installed by a Mirage authorized dealer.

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