What’s a retractable screen?

It's the screen door you can’t see! That’s because it’s designed to be there for you when you need it and hide away when you don't. Find out how it works, how to install it, and more answers to your retractable screen FAQs! 
A woman is standing in the doorway of her patio door closing a retractable screen. Her two children are standing in front of her blowing bubbles on the patio.
Maybe you’ve never thought about your screen door, except when it’s not working. Or maybe you’ve thought about how it could be a whole lot better. We too thought screen doors could be greatly improved, and that’s why we offer a whole series of insect screens that work with various doors, from the LuminAire® Retractable Screen, which fits a front door, to the Big Door Retractable Screen, which fits our Folding Outswing and MultiGlide™ Doors. And now, we have a retractable insect screen that’s made specifically for our patio doors. Here’s what you need to know about this option. 

What is a retractable screen?

A retractable screen offers all the benefits of a traditional panel screen — keeping insects out and facilitating fresh airflow — but it also disappears when it’s not in use, so it won’t block light or views. This makes it different from a panel screen, which is always visible. Here are some additional benefits you’ll get with our patio door retractable screen:

  • Premium metal hardware that feels good in your hand and makes operation easy. 
  • Tear-resistant screen cloth that’s 50% stronger than traditional screen cloth and attaches securely on all four sides of the door.
  • Uniquely engineering for durability and strength — we cycle tested this screen 25,000 times.
  • Seamless design that matches our patio doors and adds to the door’s overall aesthetic.  

A panel screen can still be a great option, especially when you’re looking for the most cost-effective solution, but our retractable screen simply gives you more benefits.

How does a retractable screen work?

Retractable screens retract out of the way when not in use. You can do this with our patio door retractable screen by simply sliding the release up or down. It will then recoil gently into a canister so it’s completely out of view. And when you want to use the screen, just grab the metal handle and pull the screen across your patio door’s opening. That’s all there is to it! 
A woman is standing in the doorway of her patio door opening a retractable screen. Her two child walking up with excitement.

Can you replace an existing patio door screen with a retractable screen?

Yes, our patio door retractable screen fits Andersen® A-Series, 400 Series, and 200 Series Gliding Patio Doors manufactured from 1990 to present. It comes in 11 different color options, and you can install it yourself with minimal tools and in a short amount of time. 

Unsure if your door was manufactured by us?

How to install a retractable screen door on a sliding glass door

We’re going to go ahead and say: This might be one of the most worthwhile DIY projects you could take on! With our patio door retractable screen, there’s no need to sacrifice your whole weekend. It requires the bare minimum from you: three tools and 30 minutes or less of your time — see what we mean in the video below. 

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Jump-start your decision-making process by exploring some inspiring indoor/outdoor projects or start dreaming up your perfect patio door in our interactive design tool. 
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