Screen Door Reviews and Buying Guide:

The traditional wooden or aluminum screen doors that rest on hinges are definitely more solid and durable than the retractable doors. You will also find screen doors made from fiberglass, steel, and vinyl. The steel replacement screens from Ritescreen at Home Depot sell for about $50. The Larson retractable screen door goes for $170 but the installation may cost just as much depending on the doorway and fit. I bought the Larson retractable screen model from Home Depot and thought I could install it myself on my back door. The problems started right away because the door frame is not 'square' and the retractable framing would not fit properly. I had a contractor friend come over with his co-worker to do the install after I failed at it. They shaved down the doorway a bit and made some other adjustments to get the screen door in. It took them over an hour to do and it still was not perfect, but at least it worked. I like the functionality of the door but the magnetic strip that help keeps the door closed is also very hard to undo at times. My kids struggle just getting the retractable screen to open sometimes and closing it is not much easier. A regular screen door with hinges would probably be better if you have smaller kids. The door when closed is often hard to see in certain light and I've had some people walk right into it. My kids and neighborhood children have actually fallen through the door. The good thing is that the mesh screen will give a little and so when a child does fall into the door, it doesn't break. If security is a concern, stick with the traditional storm doors that have a locking mechanism. Even some of the screen doors have locks on them, but if a burglar or thief wanted in they could easily slash the screening itself and get inside without a problem. Your local home improvement or hardware store should carry a variety of screen doors. I have seen them advertised at Lowes, Sears, and Home Depot. Pricing varies on style and design, but expect to spend about $100 and upwards of $275 for a quality product. The doors are sold with basic installation guides but as we found out not all installs are the same. When in doubt, get a local door guy to install it so you know it will get done properly and last a long time. RECOMMENDED - We suggest shopping online at Amazon.com since they carry major brand names and usually have the lowest prices on the Internet. You can browse their most popular screen doors online here.

Best Screen Door:

Retractable Screen Door: The Larson Illusions Retractable Screen ($168) sells at Lowes and fits up to 39" x 84". Be sure to measure your doorway correctly so you get a tight fit. The retractable screens are great since they roll right up into the housing unit and are essentially out of sight when not in use. The framing is relatively simple to install on square doorways and the door simply slides across with a pull handle and the magnetic lock allows the door to close securely. The Larson model has an aluminum frame, it mounts to the door frame, comes with a 3 year warranty, absorbs impact to resist tearing, and provides the ultimate in convenience. Another good website for screen doors is at http://www.metroscreenworks.com. They offer french roll away screen doors and single roll away doors. The french doors are pricey at about $660 and the single retractable screen doors are closer to $300. Keep in mind that installation could run you another $100 to $200. You can order right on their website and customize your order as well. Go with the inside mount or surface mount, select the latch type, screen material, finish and handling.

DIY Screen Door Parts and Installation: