Help With Sliding Screen Patio Doors

[sbattisti]

Hi all.

Recently, I moved into a new property that is about 30 years old. There are two patios, both with pretty typical sliding screen doors on rails that are no obvious brand. They are probably original. Both are beat to hell, don't slide anymore, and have been visibly repaired with L-brackets and stuff. In general, they don't seem salvageable so I plan to just replace them both. Rough measurements put them around standard size of like 36” x 78”.

So I started looking for replacement doors, but the inexpensive ones I see on big box sites and so on are full of awful reviews. Then the prices jump pretty quickly. I see some by RiteScreen with decent reviews that are like $300. Some of the Pella ones are upwards of $500, and that seems . . . excessive. I've looked into the magnetic ones, but we have cats that can't go outside, so those don't see like a fit.

I am probably below-average in "handiness" so I'm probably not going to tackle some of the products I see out there that require assembly.

I would prefer to do this inexpensively, but if there's a general sense that this is a case where it makes sense to invest in a better product, I'm open to that. If so, what do you guys recommend? We plan on being in this house for a good long time, so at the end of the day we want a good product that will last.

We just want decent working sliding screen doors so we can have our door open during the spring and summer!

Thanks very much!

 

[sandtaz]

Hi all.

Recently, I moved into a new property that is about 30 years old. There are two patios, both with pretty typical sliding screen doors on rails that are no obvious brand. They are probably original. Both are beat to hell, don't slide anymore, and have been visibly repaired with L-brackets and stuff. In general, they don't seem salvageable so I plan to just replace them both. Rough measurements put them around standard size of like 36” x 78”.

So I started looking for replacement doors, but the inexpensive ones I see on big box sites and so on are full of awful reviews. Then the prices jump pretty quickly. I see some by RiteScreen with decent reviews that are like $300. Some of the Pella ones are upwards of $500, and that seems . . . excessive. I've looked into the magnetic ones, but we have cats that can't go outside, so those don't see like a fit.

I am probably below-average in "handiness" so I'm probably not going to tackle some of the products I see out there that require assembly.

I would prefer to do this inexpensively, but if there's a general sense that this is a case where it makes sense to invest in a better product, I'm open to that. If so, what do you guys recommend? We plan on being in this house for a good long time, so at the end of the day we want a good product that will last.

We just want decent working sliding screen doors so we can have our door open during the spring and summer!

Thanks very much!

You might just need to replace the rollers. Fairly easy to do. After removing the door, pop out the old rollers (4) , compare with pictures of new units, install new roller, adjust. Done. Good luck.

 

[old dog]

Go to HomeDepot, I purchased all new windows & doors for my whole house and I got great advice, support and a good price.

 

[ford34]

Lift a door Out, lift up and out, check the wear on whatever the bottom guides are-- and if possible replace, But if your doors are past their sell by date maybe its time to replace them