You open the bifold doors on a warm afternoon, the breeze comes straight through the house, and so do the mosquitoes. A fixed flyscreen would solve the bugs, but it can't cover a door that folds away, and on a big opening it blocks the view you paid for.
That's the job retractable screens do. They pull across when you want insects kept out and slide back into a slim housing when you don't. This guide covers the three systems we install for homes across the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, and how to match them to bifold doors, stacker and cavity stacker doors, and French doors.
Why fixed screens don't suit large openings
A fixed screen is built for one door panel in one position. Bifold doors fold back into a stack, stacker doors slide behind each other, cavity stacker doors slide into the wall, and French doors swing open. None of them leave a place for a fixed screen to sit without getting in the way.
A retractable screen works across the whole opening instead. When it's pulled across, the full width is screened. When it's pushed back, the screen tucks away beside the opening and the doors can be used as normal.
The three retractable screen systems we install
Centor retractable screens
We install the Centor S4 and Centor S2 systems. Both use load-balancing technology instead of a spring, so the screen glides smoothly across the opening and doesn’t snap back. On a new build, the housing can be recessed so it’s barely visible.
- Smooth one-hand operation that stops at any position
- Surface-mounted for existing homes, or recessed when it's planned before the walls are finished
- Suits stacker doors, cavity stacker doors, bifold doors and French doors, including centre-opening screens for very wide openings
- Some Centor systems pair the insect screen with a shade, including light-filtering, blackout and sun-filtering options
Zipslide retractable screens
Zipslide screens are made by Ossie O in Coffs Harbour, NSW. They're designed for wide openings on stacker doors, cavity stacker doors, bifold doors and French doors.
- A single screen can span more than 5 metres, with double units for wider openings
- Mesh held in the tracks by an adjustable retention system to help prevent blowout
- Simple locking system and quiet dual-wheel top track
- Removable cassette for easy cleaning
- Mesh options including standard weave mesh, micro mesh and paw mesh
Pleated retractable screens
Pleated retractable screens use a mesh that folds concertina-style as it retracts, so the screen stacks neatly into a slim profile beside the opening.
- Suits bifold, cavity stacker and French doors
- A clean, understated look that doesn't compete with your doors
Matching the screen to your opening
Bifold doors
Bifold doors open up an entire wall, so the screen needs to span the full width without a post in the middle. Centor, Zipslide and pleated screens can all be used on bifolds. The right one depends on the width, how exposed the opening is to wind, and whether you'd also like shade.
Stacker and cavity stacker doors
Stacker doors slide back behind each other, and cavity stacker doors disappear into the wall, leaving a wide, clear opening that a fixed screen can't cover. Centor and Zipslide retractable screens suit stacker doors, and Centor, Zipslide and pleated screens all suit cavity stacker doors. Centre-opening screens can meet in the middle of a very wide opening. Every opening is different, so we check the opening and the wall at the measure before recommending a system.
French doors
French doors swing open, so a screen has to work around them. Centor, Zipslide and pleated retractable screens can all be fitted to French doors. The screen pulls across when the doors are open and slides away when they're closed, leaving the doors free to use.
Common questions
Are retractable screens security screens?
No. Retractable screens are insect screens only. They keep insects out while keeping your view and airflow, but they aren't built to resist forced entry. If you need security on an opening, a security door is the right choice.
What mesh can I get in a retractable screen?
You can choose from different mesh types, including standard weave mesh, micro mesh to keep out sandflies, and paw mesh for stronger applications. Retractable screens can't be fitted with BAL-rated (bushfire attack level) mesh, so they aren't suitable where a bushfire-rated screen is required.
Can a retractable screen cover a whole bifold door?
Yes. Retractable screens are made to span the full opening. For very wide bifolds, a double system can meet in the middle, so there's no fixed post blocking the view.
Do retractable screens work on stacker and cavity stacker doors?
Yes. They suit stacker and cavity stacker doors well because the opening stays clear when the screen isn't needed. We confirm the right system for your opening at the measure.
Which is best for a windy or exposed spot?
It depends on how exposed the opening is. Zipslide screens hold the mesh in the tracks to help prevent blowout, which suits many coastal and elevated homes. We look at the opening's exposure before recommending a system.
Can I get a retractable screen that's pet-friendly?
Yes. Paw mesh is a stronger option than standard weave mesh. Let us know about your pets at the measure and we'll talk through the options.
Should I plan retractable screens before my new build is finished?
If you'd like a Centor screen recessed so the housing is barely visible, yes. It needs to be planned before the walls and frames are finished. For existing homes, all three systems can be fitted to the openings you already have.
Retractable screens across the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast
Our local team measures and installs Centor, Zipslide and pleated retractable screens in homes from Noosa to the Gold Coast, including Pelican Waters and the surrounding coastal suburbs. We look at every opening in your home and recommend the screen that suits each one, so you get one measure and one install.
To see what would suit your doors, book a free measure and quote. Prefer to talk it through? Call our Sunshine Coast team on 07 5621 0059 or our Gold Coast team on 07 5606 0203.
