My patio screen keeps falling off the track. Is it fixable?

Usually. It's most often worn or loose rollers, sometimes a bowed frame. New rollers set to the right height keep it in the track, and a bent frame can be straightened or rebuilt to size. It's worth doing before you buy a whole new screen door.

Are retractable screens a good fit for older doorways?

Often, as long as the frame is flat and close enough to square for the housing and track to mount straight. Older houses aren't always square, so the pro checks with a level and may shim or build out the frame. Mention the door's age when you ask.

Can you replace the screen on a retractable screen door?

In many cases, yes. The mesh can often be replaced without taking the whole unit down, if parts are available for that system. Send a photo of the housing and the torn mesh so the pro can check first. If parts aren't available, a new unit is the fallback.

Do I need approval for a new storm door on a heritage house?

Yes, if the house is designated or in a heritage conservation district. The City's Heritage Permit list names removable storm doors specifically. Repairs to the one you have usually don't need a permit. Our heritage guide shows how to check your address.

Can a storm door handle installed upside down be fixed?

Yes. Many storm door handle sets can be taken off and remounted the right way up, or swapped for a new set that covers the old holes. If the latch no longer lines up, the catch on the frame gets moved too. It's a small job, and worth asking about.

Screen doors

Patio screens, retractable screens and storm-screen doors

A patio screen that falls off its track, a retractable screen that won't roll back, a storm door that slams. Most are parts, not a new door, and on an older Hamilton house, fixing the storm door you have is often simpler than getting approval for a new one. We connect you with an independent local pro who repairs screen and storm doors.

Patio screens back on track
Retractable and magnetic screens
Storm door closers, hinges and panels

Get a free quote 905-540-1432

Old wood screen doors can usually be rescreened and rehung.

Patio screens

Sliding patio screens that jump the track or won't latch

A patio screen is a light frame on small rollers, and it has a rough life. If the glass door drags instead, see sliding door repair.

Falls off the track

Worn or loose rollers, or a bowed frame. New rollers and a straightened frame usually fix it.

Drags or won't latch

Clean the track first. If it still drags or misses the catch, the rollers need adjusting.

Torn mesh

New mesh goes into the old frame, pet-resistant if the dog uses it as a door.

Other options

Retractable and magnetic screens

For doorways that never had a screen, or where a sliding one gets in the way.

Retractable screens roll into a slim housing beside the frame. They suit garden doors, French doors and many older doorways, if the frame is flat and square enough to mount the track straight; the pro checks first.

Magnetic screens are fabric panels that close on magnets. Simple to hang, but light-duty: fine for a back door, less so for wind or pets.

Hinged doors

Swinging screen and storm doors: closers, hinges, panels

Most storm and screen door problems are parts.

Closer and wind chain

A door that slams or won't close has a worn closer, usually a quick swap.

Hinges and sag

A door that rubs or won't latch has sagged; tightening, shims or new hinges bring it back.

Glass and screen panels

Broken storm door glass is replaced with safety glass; see door glass. Torn screen panels are rescreened.

Old wood screen doors

Usually squared up, rescreened and rehung rather than replaced.

Heritage

Heritage homes: storm and screen doors need approval

Hamilton's heritage rules reach further than most people expect. On a designated property or in a heritage conservation district, installing or replacing a door, including a removable storm door, needs a Heritage Permit first. It's free, but it goes to review, so allow time.

Like-for-like repairs usually don't: a new closer, fresh mesh, new glass in the same door. Check your address on the City's heritage map, and see our heritage districts guide.

Before you ask

What drives the price of a screen door job

Doing window screens too? Mention it. These move the quote:

A part or two versus a whole new door
Sliding, hinged, retractable or magnetic
Width, especially wide garden or double doors
Mesh choice, including pet-resistant
Out-of-square frames, or a heritage-style door

Measure the doorway inside the frame and photograph the screen in place.

Price a screen door fix

Free to ask. Quotes come from independent local pros.

Questions

Screen and storm door questions

Explore your options

Local pros fix screen and storm doors on porches, patios and back doors across the city, including Durand, Westdale, Dundas, Waterdown and Hamilton Mountain.

Show us the screen door

A photo, the door's width and what it's doing wrong is plenty. We'll pass it to a local pro who fixes screen and storm doors, and they'll tell you if a part will do.