Retractable Screen Doors & Window Screens in San Francisco
San Francisco houses were not built with screens in mind. Most front doors, French doors and balcony sliders in the city have none at all. We measure, build and install custom retractable screens for doors and windows across the city, so you can open up on a warm afternoon and roll the screen out of sight when you don't need it.
What a Screen Has to Handle in San Francisco
A screen that works fine in a sheltered suburb can struggle here. The city's weather, housing stock and building rules all shape which product we recommend and how we mount it.
Steady wind off the ocean
The west side of the city, from the Outer Sunset and Outer Richmond up through the Avenues, gets steady wind off the Pacific most afternoons. Hanging mesh curtains and flimsy pleated screens get pushed open or pulled off their tracks.
Our screens run in a fixed track and close against a magnetic strip, so a gust doesn't peel the mesh away from the frame. A built-in speed reducer slows the screen as it retracts, which keeps the wind from snapping it back into the housing.
Fog and damp air
Summer fog keeps a lot of the city cool and damp, and many people only open their doors on the warm days in September and October. A retractable screen suits that pattern. The mesh stays rolled up inside its housing most of the year instead of sitting out in the damp like a fixed screen door, and it is ready when the warm days arrive.
Victorian and Edwardian doorways
Older homes in Noe Valley, the Haight, the Mission and Pacific Heights tend to have tall, narrow entry doors, decorative trim, and frames that have shifted over a century. Many also have tall French doors opening onto a back deck or garden. Off-the-shelf screens rarely fit these openings, so every frame is measured on site and the screen is built to that size, including openings that are slightly out of square.
Condos with balcony sliders
Newer buildings in SoMa, Mission Bay and along the waterfront usually have sliding glass doors to a balcony. A retractable sliding door screen keeps the view clear when it's open. If your building has an HOA, check whether it needs to approve changes to doors or balconies before you schedule an install. Rules vary from building to building.
Recommended Screens for San Francisco Homes
Most San Francisco projects fall into one of four types. You can look through finished installations in our project gallery before your measurement appointment.
Single door screens
For the front door of a row house or the back door to the yard. These work with in-swing and out-swing doors and suit the tall, narrow entries common in older city homes.
Double door screens
For French doors that open onto a deck or garden. Two panels meet in the middle with a magnetic seal, so you get the full width of the opening with nothing to step over in the center.
Sliding door screens
For condo balconies and patio sliders. The low-profile track and speed reducer make it a good match for windy balconies on upper floors.
Window screens
For bay windows and casement windows in older homes that never had screens. They retract out of the way so the window looks the same as before when the screen isn't in use.
San Francisco Neighborhoods We Serve
We install throughout the city, from the fog belt on the west side to the warmer neighborhoods in the east and south. If your neighborhood isn't listed, call us. We also serve Daly City and the rest of northern San Mateo County.
- Outer Sunset
- Inner Sunset
- Richmond District
- Noe Valley
- Marina
- Bernal Heights
- Glen Park
- Mission District
- Potrero Hill
- Pacific Heights
- Haight-Ashbury
- Castro
- West Portal
- Excelsior
- Bayview
- SoMa
- Mission Bay
- Russian Hill
- Twin Peaks
How a San Francisco Install Works
- Step 01
Measure at your home
We come out, measure each opening, and check the trim depth and whether the frame is square. Older doorways often need this extra look. The measurement is free.
- Step 02
Build to your openings
Each screen is cut and assembled to the measurements taken at your home, in the frame color you choose to match your door or trim.
- Step 03
Install and walk-through
A technician installs the screens, checks that the magnetic closure seals, and shows you how to open and retract them. We clean up before we leave.
San Francisco Screen Questions
Will a retractable screen hold up to the wind in the Sunset or Richmond?
Yes, with the right product. Our screens run in a fixed track and close against a magnetic strip, and a speed reducer controls how fast the mesh retracts. That combination handles everyday afternoon wind much better than hanging mesh curtains or loose pleated screens.
My Victorian's door frame isn't square. Can you still fit a screen?
Usually, yes. We measure each opening at several points during the in-home visit and build the screen to fit. If an opening needs extra work before a screen can be mounted, we'll tell you at the measurement.
Do I need HOA approval for a screen on my condo's balcony slider?
It depends on your building. Some HOAs want to approve any change to doors or balconies, and others don't regulate screens. Check your building's rules before we schedule installation. We can describe exactly what will be mounted so you can share it with your HOA.
Is there a charge to measure my San Francisco home?
No. The in-home measurement and quote are free, with no obligation. Request a quote online or call 415-295-5002 to set a time.
Ready for Screens on Your San Francisco Home?
Book a free measurement and we'll recommend the right screen for each door and window. Want to hear from other homeowners first? Read our customer reviews.