Many homeowners just use their garages as places to park their cars or to keep items like tools and yard supplies. However, some homeowners are beginning to think about the advantages of adding a garage screen, which would enable them to add a completely new usable room to their house.
The “lifestyle screens” that come with garage doors are made of a layer of mesh screening that keeps out undesirable factors like pests while letting in beneficial elements like fresh air and a pleasant breeze. By simply placing it, a garage screen transforms your garage into a practical outdoor living area for your home.
Budget or do-it-yourself garage door screens can cost a few hundred dollars, while custom-fitted and installed screens can cost up to a few thousand dollars. You may manually install certain garage door screen kits for as cheap as $25–$50. Nevertheless, compared to properly fitted garage screen doors, these kits are typically a major step down.
Types of Garage Door Screens
1. Lifestyle Garage Door Screens
In a matter of seconds, these lifestyle screens turn your garage from a plain parking area into an extra cool room free of pests. The focus of lifestyle garage door screens is comfort and convenience. Because of this, these screens include a door inside a door that allows you to enter and depart your screened-in garage without having to fully retract the screen every time.
2. Side Sliding Garage Screens
Side sliding garage door screens function horizontally rather than vertically, as their name would imply. The side sliding kind of garage screen is typically the most cost-effective approach for homeowners to convert their garage into a usable outdoor living space. The best part is that there are a variety of designs and super-durable side sliding garage doors to pick from.
3. Roll Down Garage Door Screens
Roll-down screens, also known as “motorized retractable garage door screens” or “power garage screens,” are ideal for homeowners who want a garage door screen but do not want to deal with the trouble of constantly manually rolling it up or down. The motorized screen takes care of everything for you when you simply click the button. Due to its substantial weatherstripping at the bottom, retractable garage door screens are also renowned for being very energy efficient.
4. Retractable Garage Door Screens
These screens are incorporated into a housing system that is fastened to the header of your garage door. A remote control may then be used to open and close the screen. This type is quite popular since the screen is attached to the track and bottom rail, totally sealing off your garage from pests, not to mention how simple it is to operate thanks to the remote-control feature.
Uses of Garage Door Screen
The options for that added space are practically limitless since garage door screens may transform your garage from an unfinished parking and storage area to a full-blown residential room. Here are some suggestions:
- Music Area
- Gym
- Game room
- Screened-in patio alternative
- Mancave
- Movie Theater
- Additional bedroom
- Outdoor dining area
- Second living room
- Workshop
- Office
Garage Door Screen Benefits
You will gain several great advantages from installing a garage door screen in addition to all those new applications for your new screen-in area. These consist of:
- Protection from inclement weather, dirt, dust, and pollutants
- More usable square footage
- Improved energy efficiency
- Pest control
- Reduce wear-and-tear on garage door
- Increased airflow
- Adds value to your home
Selecting The Appropriate Screen Door for Your Current Garage
It is essential to consider a few variables when choosing a garage door screen for your house, including your budget, the function of the screen, and how you want to have it put.
In the great majority of situations, we advise leaving the installation of your garage screen in the hands of experts. By doing this, you can be confident that your garage door screen is expertly fitted and will work flawlessly for many years to come.
Additionally, you should not skimp on the quality of the screen if you want to use your new screened-in garage frequently and want it to be cozy and enjoyable. Better ventilation, security, and protection are provided by high-quality garage screens than by their less expensive equivalents.
What are the costs of garage door screens?
You will be relieved to learn that you can get a screen door for your garage at a price that will not break the bank. Depending on whether it has a motor, the price of a screen door for your garage can range from $400 to $1500. Motorized garage door screens are more expensive and require more elaborate installation.
The labor and installation expenses for garage door screens typically range from $100 to $200, although they may be more if your garage has a bigger entrance than most standard garages.
Cons of Installing a Screen on your Garage Door
Some type of screen door should be manually opened and closed.
Your garage door’s outside is covered by a screen door. Most roll up to close, although some are retractable. Screens have the drawback of requiring manual opening and closing. This cannot be done using a remote control. This implies that if you have the screens set up and open and your spouse arrives to park in the garage, they will need to get out of the car and raise or lower the screen before they can do so. It is not always practical to do this.
They provide no security and let anybody see into your garage.
A screen on your garage door has the additional drawback of providing no security and allowing strangers to investigate your garage. If you keep expensive objects in your garage, you might not want to display them. Similarly, you should not leave your garage unattended when the screen is open since it may be simple for someone to break in.
Pros of Installing a Screen on your Garage Door
Your garage is Open to the Air
The ability to circulate air within the garage is one of the major advantages of installing a garage door screen. It may get warm if you work on wood projects, fix your automobile, or just hang around in the garage. Like how a screen on a window or your front or back door would allow air to pass, a screen door permits it.
Bugs Stay Out of your Garage
An additional advantage of a garage door screen is that it keeps insects out. You can always open the garage door if your garage gets too warm. However, this has the drawback of allowing insects like flies, bees, and mosquitoes to access your area. A screen allows the air to circulate while keeping pests outside the room.
Conclusion
There are a few types of garage screens that you can choose from for your garages. It is quite costly but there are several advantages.