When you're looking to install a retractable screen door, you have to measure the door area first. There are a couple of considerations to take into account that can make the whole process seem a bit daunting, but it's easier than you think! We're going to go through it step by step to make sure you get the correct measurements in the most convenient way possible. This will ensure that your screen will be the perfect fit for your door. Let's get started on how to measure for a retractable screen door.
Step 1: Measure the Width
To start, we're going to measure the width of your door. Go from the inside of the exterior trim - in other words, don't include the trim in the measurement! The thing to watch out for with width measurement is that you need to measure the door three times - at the top, the middle, and the bottom of the door. Whichever comes out to be the narrowest measurement is going to be the most important to know before installing your retractable screen door.
Step 2: Measure the Height
Now, we're going to measure the height of the door. Make sure to find the middle of the door on the top and the bottom, and make your measurement from there. Once again, you're going to leave the exterior trim out of the measurement - make sure you measure from the inside of the trim.
Step 3: Measuring Trim Surface
Now, we're going to focus on the trim of your door. First, we'll measure the mounting surface. This is to make sure that a retractable screen door can be successfully mounted onto your door frame. The surface is the part of the door trim that's on the exterior of your building - what you can tell is on the outside of your property. Measure the width of the surface rather than the height.
Step 4: Measuring Trim Depth
Now we're going to look at the inside of your door and measure the trim. When you open your door, you'll notice that you're able to see the depth of the door. Flush with that, your trim should be an extension of that depth that leads slightly outside the home. That's the measurement you're going to make. Once again, measure for width rather than height.
Step 5: Determining Support Blocking
The last thing to look at is whether or not you'll need to add support blocking. We'll do this by making a simple observation about your door sill - which is the bottom part of your door. The door sill either extends beyond the mounting surface, or it doesn't. Now, the mounting surface is the outer part of your door that aligns with its height. If your door sill extends outward, towards where you would step through the door, then you won't require support blocking to be added for your retractable screen door. If your door sill is flush with the mounting surface, meaning it doesn't have any material that doesn't meet up with the surface exactly, you will need to add support blocking before installing your retractable screen door.
There you have it! That's how to measure for a retractable screen door. If you get caught up on one of these steps or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us here at Quality Window Screen by calling us at (972) 438-9100.
