Maximizing Your Long-term Investment in Retractable Door Screens

While high-quality retractable door screens are manufactured with durability in mind, these can also be damaged through inappropriate installation and maintenance (i.e., cleaning, repairs and replacement of parts). Here are a few appropriate maintenance tips that you can adopt to ensure that you will get the best value for your money in these door treatments, which means minimum repair and replacement expenses and maximum number of years in use.

Keep the Door Visible

A sliding screen door will likely not be visible, so to speak, when it is first installed especially when the main door previously did not have it. Your family including your pets may take time to get used to its presence perhaps with a few accidently bumping into it during the first few days of its installation.

You can reduce the risks for these accidents by:

• Informing your family members about the new screen door before, during and after installation so that they are aware of its presence
• Placing a decal at eye level on the screen door so that it becomes more visible to others (i.e., prevent people from walking into it when it is in use)
• Train your pets to respect the screen door just as with any household furniture

Regular Cleaning

Dirt, dust and debris will adversely affect the performance of door screens in the long-term period, thus, regular cleaning is a must for these installations. Keep these useful tips in mind.

• Regularly clean the bottom track of the screen door especially of small stones, pet hair and other debris. This should be done at least once a month for best results.
• Annually clean the entire installation including its housing, tracks, and screen mesh with a combination of lukewarm water and mild detergent soap. Dry using a clean, soft cloth.
• Lubricate the tracks with a silicone spray lubricant after the annual cleaning session.

Of course, the frequency of cleaning will vary depending on the amount of traffic in the area where the screen doors are installed. In high-traffic areas where dust, dirt and debris are more likely to accumulate, a more frequent cleaning schedule will be necessary.

When to Retract

Screen doors are designed to be stored in their protective housing when these are not in use, which will minimize damage to the installation. The damage can be from the natural elements, such as the wind and rain, as well as from the dirt, dust and debris.

Think of screen doors as patio sun umbrellas that should be stored away when the wind picks up in strength (i.e., gust). Keep in mind that screen doors are not designed specifically for blocking wind gusts and keeping out intruders.

For more information please visit our website: www.bravoscreens.com

For more information please visit our website