Screen Door Installation in the Capital Region
Screen doors are a small job with an outsized effect on how a house feels in June. The window for comfortable open-air weather in upstate New York is short enough that it is worth having the screens actually work when it arrives.
Screen door installation runs $150 to $700 depending on type. A hinged or sliding screen is the least expensive, a patio door screen with new rollers runs $120 to $260, and a retractable screen that hides in a cassette runs $350 to $700 installed.
There are three common situations. A patio door screen that has gone off its rollers or torn. A hinged screen door on a porch or back entry. And a retractable screen for an entry door where you want the screen to disappear the rest of the year.
Retractable screens are the option most people do not know exists. The screen rides in a cassette mounted to the door casing, pulls across when you want it, and rolls away when you do not. On a front entry where a traditional screen door would look wrong, it solves the problem without changing the appearance of the house.
Screen door work we handle
- Patio door screen off its track or with worn rollers
- Torn or pet-damaged screen mesh on any door
- Hinged screen door that sags and drags on the threshold
- Screen frame bent or corner keys broken
- Missing screen door on a porch or back entry
- Wanting a screen on a front entry without a full storm door
- Sliding screen that jumps the track in wind
Screen door options and cost
Screen work is priced per unit and is usually the least expensive item on this site.
| Type | Installed cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rescreen an existing frame | $45 to $90 | Frame must be straight and sound |
| Patio door screen, new | $120 to $260 | Includes rollers and track cleanup |
| Hinged screen door | $150 to $400 | Includes closer and latch |
| Retractable screen, single | $350 to $700 | Cassette mounted to the casing |
| Retractable screen, French pair | $650 to $1,200 | Two cassettes meeting in the middle |
| Patio door track repair | $100 to $300 | Track cap or full track replacement |
Why patio door screens fail and how to stop it
Three things kill patio door screens. The rollers wear out, which is normal after several years and is a cheap fix. The track fills with grit and the rollers grind through it, which is preventable by vacuuming the track a couple of times a year. And the track itself gets bent, usually by someone forcing the screen when it was already binding, and once the track is bent no set of rollers will run smoothly in it. The good news is that a damaged aluminum track can often be repaired with a track cap, a metal insert that fits over the damaged section and gives the rollers a clean surface to run on, for far less than replacing the whole patio door frame.
Ranges reflect typical Capital Region projects and are for planning only. Every Sundog quote is written, itemized, and free.
How the project runs
- 1
Identify the type and measure
Patio door screens, hinged screens and retractable systems all measure differently. We measure to the correct reference for each.
- 2
Assess the track
On patio door screens, a worn or bent track will destroy new rollers quickly. We check and repair the track before fitting new rollers.
- 3
Select mesh
Standard fiberglass, pet resistant, solar, or fine no-see-um mesh.
- 4
Fit and install
Screen fitted to the opening, rollers adjusted for smooth travel, latch and closer installed on hinged units.
- 5
Test operation
Every screen is operated through its full travel and adjusted so it does not bind or jump the track.
Screen door types
- Retractable screen doors that hide in a cassette
- Sliding patio door screens with heavy-duty tandem rollers
- Hinged screen doors for porches and back entries
- Double retractable screens for French door pairs
- Rescreening existing screen door frames
- Screen door closers and latches
- Pet-resistant mesh on any door screen
- Track repair and replacement on patio doors
- Custom sizes for non-standard historic openings
Where we do this work
We handle screen door installation across Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Saratoga counties from our Troy office. These are the markets we are in most often.
Frequently asked questions
What is a retractable screen door?
A screen that rolls into a slim cassette mounted alongside your door casing. You pull it across when you want it and it retracts out of sight when you do not. It is the right solution for a front entry where a conventional screen door or storm door would look out of place, and for openings where a swinging screen door has nowhere to go.
How much does a retractable screen door cost?
Typically $350 to $700 installed for a single door and $650 to $1,200 for a French door pair, which needs two cassettes that meet in the middle. The cost varies with opening width and whether the cassette needs a custom color to match your trim.
Can you fix my sliding patio door screen instead of replacing it?
Usually yes. Most patio door screen problems are worn rollers or a dirty or slightly bent track, both of which are repairable. We replace the rollers, clean and true the track, and rescreen if the mesh is damaged. That is far cheaper than a new screen and much cheaper than assuming the patio door itself needs work.
What mesh should I choose if I have a dog?
Pet-resistant mesh, which is a vinyl-coated polyester weave roughly seven times stronger than standard fiberglass. It costs a bit more per screen and it holds up to claws and pushing. On a door that a dog uses to look out, it is the difference between rescreening once and rescreening every season.
Do screen doors work on French doors?
Yes, with either a double retractable system where two cassettes meet in the middle, or with a single retractable covering the active panel only. Traditional hinged screen doors do not work well on French pairs because there is nowhere for two swinging screens to go.
Why does my sliding screen keep coming off the track?
Either the rollers are worn down so the screen sits too low in the track, the rollers are out of adjustment, or the top track has spread or been bent so the screen has room to jump out. All three are fixable. Adjusting the rollers up is usually the first thing to try and it is often the whole fix.
Related services
Worth reading before you decide
Get a written quote for screen door installation
Free measure, itemized pricing, and an honest recommendation on whether this is the right scope for your house.