I wanted the breeze, not the bugs
I grew up on porches. Screens mattered. When we redid our back entry, I wanted French doors for the light and charm. That same craving for a French-infused upgrade is exactly what pushed me to test-drive a statement fixture like my French chandelier (pretty light, real life) in the dining room. But I also wanted screens that actually worked. I tried three setups across two homes and one long stay at a rental. Some days were dreamy. Some days were… well, squeaky.
You know what? The breeze on a June night still wins.
If you're after more ideas that capture that same airy, French-country vibe, take a peek at La Petite France for inspiration. And if you plan on dressing those doors, the French return curtain rods I tried curved perfectly around the casings without blocking the view.
Setup 1: Marvin Elevate + Phantom Screens (my current home in Portland)
We put in Marvin Elevate inswing French doors last spring. We added a Phantom Screens double retractable screen in black. The two screens glide from each side and click together in the middle with magnets. The installer leveled the sill so the track sat flat. It took half a day. Cost wasn’t tiny, but it looked clean.
First week, I sat on the rug and watched the mesh bow with the evening wind. Soft, not scary. The click when the magnets met felt neat, like a seatbelt. My lab, Junie, pushed her nose on it once. The mesh held, but it bent a hair. I used a hair dryer on low to relax the crease. It wasn’t perfect, but it helped.
What worked great:
- Airflow. Cross breeze through the hallway felt like free AC.
- The frame matched the door trim, so it looked built-in.
- The track was low. No big toe-stub, which I loved.
What bugged me:
- Pine needles. The bottom track is a magnet for gunk. I vacuum it every Sunday. Takes two minutes, but still.
- Big wind. If the gust hits just right, the screens belly out and the magnets can pop. I added a small door stop on windy days. Problem mostly solved.
- Cats. My neighbor’s cat climbed it once. Tiny hooks in the mesh. Not the screen’s fault, but I felt it.
Little fix that mattered: a tiny shot of silicone spray on the track every month. Smooth glide, no squeak.
Setup 2: Andersen Frenchwood + two Larson full-view screen doors (our old ranch in Kansas City)
At our last house, the French doors swung in. We wanted screens outside, so we did two Larson full-view storm/screen doors with a double-door kit. Each door had a closer, so they shut softly. Mostly.
Daily life test? Kids slammed them anyway. Soccer ball hit the lower panel once. The frame survived, but the screen dented. I replaced that panel in 20 minutes with a spline tool from the garage. Felt like a small win.
What I liked:
- Tough in storms. Those hinged screens stayed shut in Midwest wind. If pooling rainwater is your nemesis, the French drain diagrams I experimented with can save a threshold from turning into a moat.
- Easy to fix. New mesh, new spline, back to normal.
- Full view glass in winter. We swapped mesh for glass, so the porch felt like a sunroom.
What I didn’t:
- Noise. Closers hissed and thumped when kids rushed in and out. Saturday cartoons didn’t help.
- Rust spots after two years, thanks to winter salt. Small, but there.
- The center gap needed a sweep to stop midges. We added it later.
Pro tip: adjust the little screw on the closer. A quarter turn changed slam to soft close.
Setup 3: Budget retractable double screen kit from Lowe’s (a summer rental in Flagstaff)
This one was a simple DIY kit, Brisa-style. Two slim cassettes met in the middle with magnets. The doors looked pretty from far away. Up close, it felt light. Not bad, just… light.
On day two, a storm rolled through. The magnets let go. The screens waved like flags. I held them while I laughed and also frowned. The sill had a bump too, which caught my flip-flop. It was fine once I got used to it.
Good:
- Cheap and fast. I could’ve built it myself with a rubber mallet and coffee.
- Fine mesh. It kept no-see-ums out at night if the latch was set right.
Not so good:
- Wind made it moody. Magnets popped.
- The center latch needed a firm hand, or bugs found a path.
- The bottom rail felt tall. A trip hazard for little feet.
Would I use it on a calm patio? Sure. On a hill with gusts? Not my pick.
So… are French doors with screens worth it?
For me, yes. Light plus air is a mood. It changes the room. My plants perked up. Cooking smells drifted out. The house felt bigger without adding a foot of space. And you know what? That counts.
The good news, the hard truth
What I love:
- Real airflow without ugly add-ons.
- Classic look. The screens can hide, so the doors still feel clean.
- Easy cleaning with a hand vac and a soft brush.
What to watch:
- Wind. Retractable screens need calm-ish days or a door stop.
- Pets. Claws and thin mesh don’t mix. Pet mesh helps, but it’s not magic.
- Tracks. They collect stuff. A quick weekly clean keeps them happy.
Buying tips from my porch to yours
- Measure three times. Width at top, middle, bottom. Height too. Old houses lie.
- Check your swing. Inswing doors usually want screens outside. Outswing often puts the screen inside.
- Ask about mesh. Standard, fine (for tiny bugs), or pet mesh. Pick for your life, not a brochure.
- Look at the sill. Low profile beats stubbed toes. Ask about ADA style if you need it flat.
- If wind is common, hinged screens hold better than light retractables. Or add a center latch upgrade and a door stop.
- Budget for install. My Marvin + Phantom setup, with labor, ran a lot more than a kit. It also looked built-in.
If you're still comparing brands, this detailed Marvin windows review by This Old House gives a solid rundown on performance, price, and warranty—handy before you swipe the card.
Small care that adds years
- Vacuum the track. Leaves and grit are the enemy.
- Wipe with mild soap and water. No harsh stuff on the mesh.
- Spray a little silicone on the track. Not oil. Oil grabs dust.
- Tighten hinge screws in spring. Wood swells, screws loosen.
- Replace spline and mesh when it sags. Cheap fix, big payoff.
My bottom line
If you can swing it, the Marvin with Phantom Screens felt like the sweet spot—looks high-end, works smooth, cleans easy. The Andersen with Larson screens was tougher in storms and simple to repair, just louder. The budget retractable kit? Good for gentle weather and tight wallets, not for gusts or wild pets.
Would I buy French doors with screens again? Yes. I like the breeze too much. And honestly, sitting there with coffee, curled up on my French country sofa, hearing the soft click of those magnets? It still makes me smile.
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