Magnetic screen doors for your home

How to choose a magnetic screen door

Start with the opening you want to cover. A magnetic screen door works on a door frame, a sliding door or a wide patio opening. The screen attaches to the frame with a hook-and-loop strip or a magnetic fastener, and magnets run down the middle so the panels close behind you.

Check the frame width at the installation point. Some screens need a flat surface to hold the hook-and-loop strip. The Flux Magnetic Screen for Sliding Doors needs 0.8 in (2 cm) of width at the installation position. The Halo Magnetic Side Opening Screen Door needs 2 in (5 cm) on each side and the top. If your frame is narrow or uneven, measure before you buy.

Think about how you use the door. For a busy back door, a center-opening screen that closes with magnets is simple. For a sliding door, you want a wider panel that covers the full opening. The Magnetic Mesh Screen Door Curtain comes in 35 x 83 in (90 x 210 cm) and 39 x 83 in (100 x 210 cm), which suits wider doorways and sliding doors.

Sizes and measuring

Measure the door opening, not the door itself. Use a tape measure and write down the width and height in inches. Add a little room for the hook-and-loop border. The Fiberglass Magnetic Screen Door comes in 80 x 210 cm (31.5 x 82.7 in), a common size for a single back door. The Magnetic Mesh Screen Door Curtain gives you two wider choices: 35 x 83 in (90 x 210 cm) and 39 x 83 in (100 x 210 cm).

If you have a sliding door, measure the full width of the frame and the height from the floor to the top of the frame. A screen that is too small will leave gaps. A screen that is too large can bunch at the floor. The Flux Magnetic Screen for Sliding Doors and the Halo Magnetic Side Opening Screen Door both use a hook-and-loop strip around the frame, so the screen stays flat once it is set.

For a standard door, the Flux Magnetic Mesh Door Screen is a direct fit. It comes with 1 screen, 1 roll of hook-and-loop tape and push pins, so you can mount it on a wood or metal frame. The push pins help hold the tape while the adhesive sets.

Materials and what they do

Most screens here use polyester fiber mesh. It is a soft, flexible mesh that lets air through and keeps bugs out. The Fiberglass Magnetic Screen Door uses fiberglass mesh, which is a sturdy option for a door you use often. Both materials stand up to daily use when you care for them.

Color matters for how the screen looks on your door. The Flux Magnetic Screen for Sliding Doors has black mesh with a black hook-and-loop border, so it blends with dark frames. The Magnetic Mesh Screen Door Curtain comes in black and white, which gives you a choice for light or dark trim. The Fiberglass Magnetic Screen Door comes in black.

The closure is the same across the category: magnets close it behind you. That means you can walk through with your hands full and the panels meet again on their own. The Halo Magnetic Side Opening Screen Door also closes with magnets, and it opens from the side, which some people prefer for a patio door.

Fitting and installation

Each screen uses a hook-and-loop strip around the frame or a magnetic fastener. The Flux Magnetic Mesh Door Screen includes the screen, a roll of hook-and-loop tape and push pins. Clean the frame first so the tape holds. Press the tape along the top and sides, then press the screen onto the tape.

For the Flux Magnetic Screen for Sliding Doors that needs 0.8 in (2 cm) of frame width, check that the installation spot is flat and wide enough. For the Halo Magnetic Side Opening Screen Door, leave 2 in (5 cm) on each side and the top. That space lets the hook-and-loop strip sit flat and keeps the screen tight.

A helper makes the job easier. Hold the screen up, check the center line, and press from the top down. If you have a sliding door, center the screen on the opening and work outward. The magnets should meet in the middle without a gap.

Care and storage

Keep your screen clean and it will last longer. The Halo Magnetic Side Opening Screen Door can be rinsed with water and dried before storing. You can do the same for the polyester mesh screens: wipe with a damp cloth, rinse if needed, and let them air dry fully before you fold them away.

Check the hook-and-loop strip now and then. Dust and lint can build up on the tape and weaken the hold. Wipe the tape with a damp cloth and let it dry. If the screen pulls loose at a corner, press it back onto the tape.

When the season changes, take the screen down, clean it, and store it flat or rolled. Do not fold it tightly for a long time, because creases can stay in the mesh. A dry, dark spot keeps the mesh in good shape for the next season.