How should I take care of my retractable screen door?

Step 1: The most important factor is to make sure that your retractable screen door has been correctly installed by a qualified technician, such as a factory-trained installer or experienced handyperson.

Step 2: This step should be perfomed once per month for best results:

Carefully vacuum the retractable screen door bottom track to remove any dust, debris, pet hair, etc., that may have accumulated. Next, carefully wipe down the track with a hot soapy cloth to remove the greyish grime that commonly sticks to the painted track surface, making the operation of the screen door difficult. Repeat for top track. Wipe both tracks dry.

Step 3: Apply "dry" silicone spray track lubricant (available from most retractable screen companies) to ensure years of trouble-free, smooth operation of your screen door. Spray top and bottom tracks (lightly) at a 45-degree angle to the surface, then operate the screen door through three complete open/close cycles. The purpose is to lubricate the point where the tracks and plastic slide bar caps meet. Do not use WD-40 nor similar products, as they may break down the plastic sliding components that slide on the tracks - crucial to the screen system.

(If there is still too much friction when attempting to close or retract your screen door, use spray lubricant on the tracks one more time). If the problem persists, the top track may need adjustment (raised or lowered slightly) by a technician, as the slide bar may be getting stuck between the top and bottm tracks.

Step 4: Always keep the screen door retracted (rolled up) when not in use. Do not leave in closed position (mesh across doorway) for extended periods of time, such as overnight or in place all summer long. This may result in unexpected damage and will cause dust and debris to accumulate on the entire screen mesh and components, causing extra friction and possible warping or creasing of screen mesh.

Where are your retractable screens made?

All of our retractable screen door components are sourced and assembled exclusively from North American manufacturers. Depending on the brand and model chosen, these retractable screens are then custom sized to the exact measurements specified by our installers. Our mobile technicians are able to measure, fabricate and install a complete retractable screen door on site in about 90 minutes - thus saving time for the homeowner.

"Large Opening" or "XL" retractable screen doors are custom ordered and made directly in the respective manufacturers’ state-of-the-art factory where precision machines are used to cut extra large mesh to size and heat-weld the retention zippers for their "captured mesh" systems. These are then shipped to us where we then proceed to have our technicians to professionally install them for our clients. These larger screen systems require two technicians to complete one installation that may take up to 3 or 4 hours to install, depending on the complexity of the application.

Man installing window screen with drill.

Warranty and Servicing

My retractable screen door is damaged - do I have to buy a new one?

No that is not necessary. We repair various popular, top quality retractable screen door brands, and carry a full line of replacement parts to make them as good as new in case they have been damaged! We are familiar with most of the products in our specialized industry, and can sometimes even repair discontinued retractable screen door brands.

The most common retractable screen door repair is to replace a damaged screen mesh. This requires the removal of the screen door, disassembly, removal and inspection of the damaged screen mesh (to determine possible internal malfunction), attachment of a brand new screen mesh to the inner roller tube, trimming of the screen mesh to size, lubrication of moving parts, then final assembly of all original parts. The retractable screen is then ready to be re-installed in its original position. This type of repair can usually be done in less than one hour.

Other more complicated repairs such as broken handles, plastic slide bar caps, and protective housing caps, rusted magnets, old weatherstripping (piling) or damaged aluminum rails, can also be done on site if deemed necessary. Discontinued products may require back ordering original parts from the respective manufacturer.

A "Large Opening" retractable screen system with damaged mesh needs to have a new ("zippered") mesh ordered directly from the manufacturer's facility, which is then replaced by a trained technician who removes and re-installs the screen system in order to be able to switch the new mesh for the old one.

Repairable retractable screens allow the homeowner to keep their original investment as a cost effective screening solution for their home.

Which retractable screen door has the best warranty?

All of our retractable screen doors brands including Stowaway, Phantom, Mirage and Wizard come with a limited lifetime warranty from the manufacturer, aside from our own installation labor warranty. These warranties are limited to the moving parts such as the internal spring (breakage under normal wear) and the magnet mechanism (failure). Super (rare earth) magnets are now available in all brands,

Proper original installation is key to avoid "rollaway" retractable screen doors from poor performance.

Warranty limitations: Our manufacturers stand behind their products by offering a limited lifetime warranty to the original purchaser, so it is recommended to keep proof of purchase.

The actual screen mesh is expressly excluded from these warranties (check brand websites for more information). When properly taken care of, your screen door should work properly for many years, without any major problems. Always keep it rolled up when not in use and keep the top and bottom tracks clean and lubricated with dry silicone track lubricant at all times.

How long does a screen door installation take?

A new retractable screen door purchase is comprised of taking measurements and choosing frame color (on first home visit), and the actual full installation (on second visit). We are able to measure for your screen door in about 15 minutes, including any extra parts or filler pieces that may be necessary for the installation.

The actual time at your home to install one retractable screen door takes between 45 and 60 minutes.

Sometimes both measurements and installation can take place in only one visit, thus saving time!

The fabrication and installation timeline is usually between 5 to 10 business days, depending on seasonal demand.

What do I do if my cat tore the screen door mesh?

Screen door mesh is usually damaged by pets or humans hitting forcefully against the mesh, forcing the screen mesh to become entangled, torn, or creased in some way. Cats and dogs can cause extra damage by scratching at the mesh with their claws, eventually causing a tear.

Unlike fixed screens, retractable screens' mesh cannot be "patched up", since the retractable screen mesh must be perfectly flat with evenly spread tension to perform at its best. For this reason, a new screen mesh must be installed in the screen door unit. There is no need to purchase a new screen door.

Here at Lumasso Industries Inc., we are able to remove your existing retractable screen door (almost any brand), dismantle it, clean, inspect, and lubricate internal parts, attach a brand-new retractable screen mesh, reassemble the door, and reinstall it in its original position in the doorway frame. This option to repair rather than replace the whole screen system is much more cost-effective than cheaper, low quality screen door brands that are frequently thrown away for lack of available parts. Any of our retractable screens should be considered as a long term investment - as they will always be serviceable!

Quality and Design

What materials are retractable screen doors made of?

All retractable screen door brands supplied and installed by Lumasso Industries Inc., are made from the highest-grade materials, including high strength aluminum extrusions, industrial grade powder-coated finishes, UV-treated nylon and PVC parts, specially stiffened Phifer fiberglass mesh, and stainless steel or galvanized-screws, depending on the brand. Stowaway retractable screens have the added quality of a stainless steel mesh spline and solid aluminum handles. Other brands including Mirage, Phantom and Wizard use plastic handles and splines for these parts (this does not affect their respective lifetime warranties).

What screen door mesh brand/s do you use?

All of our standard retractable screens for single and double (French) doors use specially formulated Phifer brand screen mesh made in Tuscaloosa, AL, USA. This includes our Canadian screen door brands Phantom, Mirage and Wizard.

Mesh options include regular 18x14 stiffened mesh, No-See-Um mesh, Solar mesh, and Pet mesh.

Black is the standard color of retractable door screen mesh as it provides the best view through the mesh material.

Which retractable screen door color options do you have?

Stowaway brand retractable screens offer 12 standard powder coat frame colors, 2 special anodized finishes (silver and black) and 3 real wood grain veneer options (can be stained and varnished) on their standard retractable screen doors. All components in the standard colors are color matched (handles, magnets, rails, end caps, and optional French door pins)—as per the homeowner’s preference.

Mirage 1750 brand retractable screen doors come in 8 standard color options, plus 18 Diamond series color options. All components in the standard colors are color matched (handles, magnets, rails, end caps, and optional French door pins).

Phantom Legacy (and MeshLock) retractable screens come in 10 standard colors. All components in the standard colors are color matched (handles, magnets, rails, end caps, and optional French door pins)

Wizard's Retractaview brand retractable screens come in 7 standard colors and 15 imitation wood grain veneer options (plastic veneer) on their standard retractable screen doors. All components in standard colors are color matched (handles, magnets, rails, end caps, and optional French door pins)—as per the homeowner’s preference.

For "XL" retractable screen systems, see the particular product listing for more frame color options information under the "Learn More" tabs.

Performance Q&A

Why is a retractable screen door better than a regular (hinged) screen door?

Firstly, it is custom made for your home and EACH individual doorway. You can have a short one in the back, a tall one at the front door, and an even wider one for your patio sliding door.

A retractable screen door has so many more options and features to choose from than a regular aluminum storm screen door or wooden framed screen door.

You can choose between different colors to match your door frame, the color of the door itself, the color of the siding, or for a bold contrast.

It will not interfere with the look of your doorway—especially important on front doors.

It will fit any size, style, or age of door. Completely adaptable to wooden, aluminum, or steel frame doorways.

What is retrofitting?

Can I install a retractable screen door myself?

Recycling Q&A

Do you recycle old screen doors?

Have an old retractable screen door that is laying around? Lumasso recycles! Donate your old retractable screen door and we can make sure it does not end up in the landfill. This involves carefully separating the non-recyclable materials (plastic end caps, plastic handles, rusted fasteners, screen mesh, spring, magnet, spline, etc.) from the recyclable materials (aluminum extrusions and aluminum tracks)

Lumasso donates used screen mesh (in optimum condition) to used building supply companies, and some DIY clients who are looking for extra screen mesh to repair window screen mesh.

Lumasso also recycles all cardboard boxes and aluminum cut off pieces - even the clean aluminum shavings! Let’s keep our environment healthy!

Maintenance Tips Q&A

How do I maintain my screen door?

When you purchase any of our retractable screen doors, we always have our professional installers ask you to try the door out BEFORE the top and bottom tracks are sprayed down with silicone so they can feel the difference and know how it should operate under optimal conditions.

When pulling out the screen, do not force it in any way. It is also very important to realign the screen mesh as soon as a wrinkle or crease appears. If left unattended after an accidental bump, the constant opening and closing of the door will cause the mesh to drag and fray, allowing bugs to enter. We don’t want that to happen!

We recommend cleaning the bottom track once a month and at the first use in spring. To clean the bottom track of dust, sand, dirt, etc., drag a wet, warm cloth carefully across the bottom track. Once the tracks are cleaned out, use a small amount of the provided silicone lubricant to spray both tracks. We recommend doing this once per month during regular warm weather and at the first use in spring.