Sliding screen doors
Panels run on a track beside a sliding glass door, needing no swing space. Suit homes, apartments, hotels and balconies. Specify adjustable rollers, reinforced corners and, where useful, self-closing or self-locking hardware.
Insect and security screens
Aluminium Screen Doors Supplier
An aluminium screen door is a light extruded frame filled with insect mesh that sits in front of, or beside, a main door to let air in while keeping insects out. Sliding, hinged, retractable, pet-door and heavy-duty versions cover patios, porches, lanais, pool enclosures and multi-unit projects. Metline supplies screen door frame profiles cut to standard and custom sizes, with matching aluminium mesh, hardware and finish, to screen door makers, distributors and contractors worldwide.
- Frame
- 6063-T5 extrusion
- Types
- Sliding, hinged, retractable, French
- Mesh taken
- Fibreglass, aluminium, stainless, pet
- Sizes
- 30 × 80 in to 72 × 96 in and custom
What an aluminium screen door does, and why the frame matters
A screen door has one job: allow fresh air and light through an open doorway while blocking insects, leaves and, in some designs, pets and intruders. How well it does that job over the years depends far more on the frame and hardware than on the mesh, which is the easiest part to replace.
Cheap screen doors are built from thin roll-formed strip that bends at the corners and twists out of square after a season of slamming. A good aluminium screen door uses extruded 6063 frame sections with proper wall thickness, reinforced corner joints and a spline groove that holds the mesh evenly. The frame stays flat, the rollers or hinges stay aligned, and the door keeps sealing against the opening.
Aluminium is the standard frame material because it does not rust in humid, coastal or poolside air, it is light enough for a sliding screen to glide with a fingertip, and it can be powder coated in any colour to match the main door or window system. Unlike timber screens, it does not swell, rot or need repainting.
Types of aluminium screen doors
Hinged screen doors
Swing in or out, left or right hand, in front of a hinged entry door. Best for porches, back doors and high-traffic entries. Pair with a closer, latch and kick plate.
Patio screen doors
Sized to match large sliding or glass patio doors, often extra tall or wide, keeping airflow to patios, balconies and outdoor living areas.
Screen doors with pet door
A built-in pet flap sized to the animal and fitted at the right height, usually with pet-resistant mesh, a reinforced bottom rail and a kick plate.
Mosquito net and mesh doors
The same product under the names used in different markets: fly screen doors, insect screen doors or mosquito net doors. Popular for kitchens, balconies and lanais in warm climates.
Retractable screen doors
Mesh rolls or pleats into a side housing when not needed, leaving the doorway clear. Single or double for wide openings, with a slim guide track.
Heavy-duty screen doors
Heavier frames, stronger hinges or rollers, tougher mesh and protective bottom panels for rentals, frequent use, pets and light commercial entries.
French screen doors
Two hinged leaves for French doors and double entries, with flush bolts or a removable centre stile so both leaves open for full clear width.
Security screen doors
Rigid frames with stainless steel woven mesh or perforated aluminium sheet and multi-point locks, combining insect screening with intruder resistance.
Standard and custom screen door sizes
Screen doors must fit the actual opening, so final sizes are always confirmed by measurement. The sizes below are the ones most often requested and are a useful starting point for distributors and project schedules.
| Size (W × H) | Approximate metric | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 30 × 80 in | 762 × 2032 mm | Narrow entrances, back doors, small openings |
| 32 × 80 in | 813 × 2032 mm | Standard residential entrances |
| 36 × 80 in | 914 × 2032 mm | Front, back and porch doors; the most common size |
| 36 × 96 in | 914 × 2438 mm | Tall openings and patio doors |
| 42 in wide | 1067 mm | Wider entrances and accessible openings |
| 48 × 80 in | 1219 × 2032 mm | Wide patio openings and special entries |
| 48 × 96 in | 1219 × 2438 mm | Tall, wide patio doors and large openings |
| 32 × 75 in | 813 × 1905 mm | Mobile homes and lower-height openings |
| 72 × 80 in | 1829 × 2032 mm | Double and French screen doors, wide patios |
| Custom | To survey | Lanais, pool enclosures, garages, multi-unit projects |
Measure the opening width at the top, middle and bottom and the height at both sides, and use the smallest figure. Note whether the screen will sit inside the frame, on the face of the frame or on its own track, because each method changes the door size needed. For sliding screens, measure the track length and the height between the upper and lower tracks.
Choosing the screen mesh
Mesh is described by its count, the number of openings per inch in each direction. A higher count blocks smaller insects but lets less air and light through. Wire or strand diameter decides strength.
| Mesh | Typical count / material | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard insect screen | 18 × 16 or 18 × 14, fibreglass | Everyday residential doors | Easily torn by pets and impact |
| No-see-um mesh | 20 × 20 fibreglass | Areas with midges and very small insects | Slightly less airflow |
| Heavy-duty mesh | Thicker vinyl-coated strands | High traffic, rentals, porch entries | Darker, heavier |
| Pet-resistant screen | Vinyl-coated polyester, several times stronger than standard | Homes with cats and dogs | Reduced visibility |
| Aluminium mesh | 18 × 16 or 18 × 14 aluminium alloy wire | Stable mesh with a metallic look | Can dent; may oxidise near the sea |
| Stainless steel security mesh | Woven 304 or 316 stainless wire, tensioned in a rigid frame | Security screen doors | Needs a reinforced frame and locks |
| Perforated sheet | Perforated aluminium sheet | Security, privacy or decorative doors | Lower open area and airflow |
| High-visibility mesh | Fine dark strands | Patios where the view matters | Less durable |
Fibreglass insect screening is commonly specified to ASTM D3656. In North America, the Screen Manufacturers Association publishes SMA 1201 for insect screens on windows, sliding doors and swinging doors; security screen doors in Australia are tested and rated under AS 5039 and AS 5041.
In coastal areas, choose fibreglass, coated polyester or 316 stainless rather than bare aluminium mesh, and pair stainless mesh with an insulating spline or frame isolation to limit galvanic corrosion between the mesh and the aluminium frame.
Frame construction and hardware
Typical frame specification
- Frame alloy
- 6063-T5 extrusion; roll-formed coil-coated strip on light-duty economy doors
- Frame section
- Chosen by door size and use: heavier sections for tall, wide or heavy-duty doors
- Corners
- Keyed, crimped or screwed corner joints, with corner braces on large doors
- Mid rail / push bar
- Stiffens tall doors and protects mesh at hand height
- Mesh fixing
- Rubber or vinyl spline in a groove, so mesh can be replaced
- Finish
- Powder coat, anodising or mill finish
| Accessory | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Sliding track and rollers | Smooth running on sliding doors; adjustable rollers keep the door square |
| Handle and pull | Daily opening and closing |
| Latch or lock | Basic closing, keyed or multi-point security locking |
| Hinges | Hinged doors; heavy-duty or spring hinges for frequent use |
| Door closer | Pneumatic closer brings the door shut without slamming |
| Bug sweep / door sweep | Closes the gap under the door |
| Wool-pile weatherstrip | Seals the sides of sliding screens |
| Kick plate | Protects the bottom of the door from feet and pets |
| Pet door / flap | Pet access sized to the animal |
| Fixings and spares | Installation screws and replacement parts for project support |
Hardware and accessories are supplied with frame profile orders, as project spares or for after-sales support. For multi-unit projects, matching the hardware brand and colour across every door saves maintenance work later.
Where aluminium screen doors are used
- Patios and balconies: sliding or patio screen doors beside sliding glass doors keep airflow without taking up swing space.
- Porches and entries: hinged screen doors with closers, kick plates and latches for front and back doors.
- Lanais and pool enclosures: humid, insect-prone semi-outdoor spaces where aluminium frames and fibreglass or polyester mesh last longest.
- Garages and utility openings: large custom screens for ventilation and insect control in garages, workshops and storerooms.
- Apartments, hotels and rentals: uniform colour, mesh, hardware, packing and labelling across hundreds of openings.
- Mobile homes: light, replaceable doors in standard mobile-home sizes such as 32 × 75 in.
- Kitchens and food areas: fly screen doors that keep insects away from food preparation while allowing ventilation.
A typical apartment block order combines sliding screens for balcony doors with window screens in the same colour and mesh, so residents see one consistent system. A typical lanai uses tall hinged screen doors with heavy-duty mesh, a closer and a kick plate, matched to the screen enclosure framing.
Colours, finishes and styles
Powder coating
Most outdoor and residential projects; black, white, brown and bronze are common, with any RAL colour on request.
Anodising
Metallic appearance with a hard, wear-resistant surface for doors that are handled often.
Mill finish
Bare aluminium for buyers who coat or finish the frames themselves.
Colour matching
Matched to the window and door system colour or a project colour chart for bulk orders.
| Style | Suits |
|---|---|
| Modern | Clean lines and slim frames for contemporary homes, hotels and apartments |
| Decorative | Scrollwork or patterned grilles for front doors, porches and garden entrances |
| Traditional / vintage | Classic panelled look for older homes and retro porches |
| Round-top / arched | Arched or curved openings; feasibility confirmed from drawings |
Sliding, hinged or retractable: how to choose
| Factor | Sliding | Hinged | Retractable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space needed | None beyond the track | Swing clearance | Side housing only |
| Best opening | Beside sliding glass doors | Hinged entry doors | Any opening where the screen should disappear |
| Durability with heavy use | Good with quality rollers | Best with heavy hinges and closer | Lower; mesh and track take wear |
| Pet door option | Yes | Yes | Rarely |
| Security version | Yes | Yes | No |
| Visibility when open | Screen stays in view | Screen stays in view | Clear opening |
Choose sliding screens for patio and balcony doors, hinged screens for front and back entries where they will be used all day, and retractable screens where the screen is only needed in insect season or where the view through an open doorway matters most.
Common mistakes to avoid when specifying screen doors:
- Ordering by nominal size. Openings are rarely square; measure in three places and size to the smallest figure.
- Light frames on busy doors. A thin frame on a back door used fifty times a day will rack out of square; specify extruded sections and a closer.
- Wrong mesh for the site. Standard fibreglass will not survive a large dog, and bare aluminium mesh is a poor choice on the coast.
- No bottom seal. Insects enter through the gap under the door; fit a bug sweep or adjustable bottom rail.
- Ignoring the main door hardware. Check that the screen door handle and closer do not clash with the main door lever or storm door.
Profile supply and export support
| Item | What we confirm |
|---|---|
| Size | Profiles cut to suit opening widths and heights, drawings or a dimension list |
| Frame section | Profile size and wall thickness by door size and frequency of use |
| Mesh | Aluminium insect mesh or perforated aluminium sheet from Metline; frame grooves and reinforcement sized for the fibreglass, pet or stainless security mesh the door maker fits |
| Colour and finish | Black, white, brown, bronze, silver, mill, anodised, powder coat or RAL |
| Hardware | Handles, latches, hinges, closers, rollers, tracks, pet doors, fixings |
| Packaging | Bulk or cut sets labelled by opening, accessories grouped per door |
| Supply model | Distributor stock, screen door makers, contractor projects, repeat orders |
- Send the listDoor types, sizes, quantities, mesh, colours and hardware for each opening.
- Confirm the specificationWe return frame sections, mesh, hardware and a drawing for approval.
- InspectProfile dimensions, cut lengths, finish and hardware checked before packing.
- Pack and shipProfiles, mesh and hardware protected and labelled by unit or zone, shipped on EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP terms with mill certificates for the extrusions on request.
References and standards
- Screen Manufacturers Association – SMA 1201: Specifications for insect screens for windows, sliding doors and swinging doors
- ASTM D3656 – Insect Screening and Louver Cloth Woven from Vinyl-Coated Glass Yarns
- AS 5039 – Security screen doors and security window grilles
- ASTM B221 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes
- FGIA / AAMA 2603 – Pigmented organic coatings on aluminium extrusions and panels
Aluminium (aluminum) screen doors: FAQ
What is the most common screen door size?
36 × 80 in (about 914 × 2032 mm) is the most common residential size, followed by 32 × 80 in. Sliding patio screens and French screen doors are larger, and many projects order custom sizes measured from each opening.
Which mesh is best for a screen door?
Standard 18 × 16 fibreglass suits most homes. Choose 20 × 20 no-see-um mesh for very small insects, pet-resistant polyester for cats and dogs, and woven stainless steel for security screen doors.
Are extruded frames better than roll-formed frames?
For doors used daily, yes. Extruded 6063 sections are stiffer and keep the door square, so rollers, hinges and latches stay aligned. Roll-formed frames are lighter and cheaper but suit light-duty use.
Can a pet door be built into an aluminium screen door?
Yes. The flap is sized to the animal and positioned at the right height, and the door is usually fitted with pet-resistant mesh, a reinforced bottom rail and a kick plate.
Do aluminium screen doors corrode near the sea?
The powder-coated frames perform well. Avoid bare aluminium mesh on the coast; use fibreglass, coated polyester or 316 stainless mesh, and rinse salt off from time to time.
Can screen doors be matched to existing window and door colours?
Yes. Frames can be powder coated to a RAL code or matched to the colour of the main door or window system, which is standard practice on apartment and hotel projects.
Do you supply complete screen doors?
No. Metline supplies frame profiles, aluminium mesh, hardware and accessories, cut to size on request, in mixed-size and repeat orders for screen door makers, distributors, contractors and multi-unit projects, who assemble the doors.
Need screen door profiles for a project?
Send door types, sizes, quantities, mesh, colours and destination. We will reply with a profile and hardware specification and a delivered price.
