The 1878: A SLEEK New Screen Door

This post is in collaboration with Andersen Windows. Although I received product for this post, all expressed opinions are 100% my own.

When we first visited our new (old) home, one of my favorite features was definitely the side porch just off the kitchen.  I loved the natural light that flowed in through the glass paneled door, and I could just imagine cooking in the fall, and enjoying a cool fall breeze roll in over the harbor. But, much to my dismay, while sitting on the side porch one morning, planning my work schedule for the day, I watched several insects fly in and out of the house—Not cool!  I knew I needed some sort of screen door, but couldn’t fathom the idea of a traditional screen door in this space, because:

1. There wasn’t very much room for a screen door to swing.

2. I didn’t want something that would block the beautiful glass paned door, or obstruct my view looking from the inside out.

3. Witnessing my 3 year old go in and out over the past 2 months, I’m not sure I could handle the “SMAAAACK” of an old fashioned screen door 1 million times a day. 

So one day, while scoping out screen door options at Home Depot, I spotted the Andersen LuminAire Retractable Screen Door, and I knew it was exactly what I needed for our side porch.  This screen addressed all of my concerns:

1.  It has a narrow aluminum frame, with a full screen, that with the push of  a button/latch, easily and relatively quietly retracts into its casing, basically disappearing when opened.

2.  And–Bonus—it installs in about 30 minutes requiring only basic tools.   Yup! Sign me up!

So you may remember from my last post, I was trying to debate on paint colors for the original back door:

Before:  Excuse the filthy siding, this house has been vacant for over 6 years 🙁

But then, my husband showed up with a brand new wooden door, which I decided to just keep natural, and stained with a very light poly.  I don’t know what it is, I’m really digging the natural wood these days.

Unfortunately, this new door, being slightly larger, caused us to have to modify the door frame ever so slightly, to make the LuminAire fit just right.

Let’s check out the installation steps . . .

But first, a disclaimer:  I ordered a 31×80 screen door knowing that my door was actually slightly narrower.  So I had to cut down my frame which added an extra step. But once I was able to cut it down to the appropriate length, the installation was a snap!

The LuminAire Retractable screen door comes with two side frames (Screen and Latch Housing), a top and bottom frame (Screen Tracks) and a sill adapter.

Putting the LuminAire frame together was pretty self explanatory, even with the adjustments that needed to be made.  I needed to cut my top and bottom screen tracks down a little less than an inch to fit in my narrower door way.

Then I fit each end of the screen tracks into the side frames (screen and latch housing):

Once the frame of the screen door was assembled, I placed the frame against my door frame, and rested the lip (Screw Flange) of the door frame snugly inside the frame (mounting surface), by expanding the frame.  Then I screwed the included screws into the frame, making sure it was level and plumb.

Next, I needed to address the gap, that was left from installing the new, larger door:

Gap needed to be filled with trim

To fix this, I easily, cut 2-1×2 boards to the width of my door frame, and stacked the trim pieces to cover the gap, by screwing them to the wooden door frame.

During the installation of the new door, we uncovered an old transom window.  Unfortunately it was cracked, but I’m dying to find a new one to replace it.

Once the frame was attached, I added the sill plate by screwing it into the door sill.

Kyle, thinks its amazing, he calls it a “magic door”

It has a sturdy latch, that allows the door to easily retract with a push of a button!

My happy place!

While the chaos inside continues, I’m able to enjoy some (insect free) fresh air, thanks to Andersen LuminAire Retractable Screen Door!