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August 6, 2008
screen doors to garden??
we have beautiful steel french doors that look out from our kitchen to the garden (on the garden level). but if we leave the doors open while we're in the kitchen, we are swamped with mosquitos. anyone know of someone who could build us a set of screen doors? it's somewhat complicated, because there are no door hinges there now. thank you!
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The idea of needing screen doors in Brooklyn is startling. When we moved to PS 15 years ago, a mosquito was something you only saw in the country. Now they're so fierce we hardly ever use our backyard in the summer. Recently, they've started coming in the house, like what this poor woman is experiencing.
Is it the climate, or gentrification -- all those koi pools being used as breeding grounds? At least you're safe on the stoop...for now.
Posted by: likes2lurk at August 6, 2008 11:13 PM
Try these screens. They allow one to move inside and out without the hassle of a door. Won't get in the way, visually, with your beautiful French
doors.http://www.improvementscatalog.com/product/id/100232.do
Posted by: IMBY at August 7, 2008 1:54 AM
11:13... I have lived in Brooklyn my whole life and there have always been mosquitos in the Summer.
Posted by: pwhite at August 7, 2008 9:56 AM
We had the same problem with our french doors. I ordered a made-to-measure mosquito net in black from mosquitocurtains.com. We bought the tracking, too, which ended up being a waste of money. I rigged it up so we can hang it to one side when not in use, or hook it across when we want the french doors open. The breeze has made a HUGE difference in our house. It came with a cool magnet which keeps it from flapping around. Our dog and cats can open it without messing things up and it tends to snap back into place. Without the silly tracking it would have been well under $100, so it's a good budget option.
Posted by: mshook at August 7, 2008 10:17 AM
I've lived in NYC since I was 18, most of it in Manhattan. I can't remember mosquitoes not being a problem. I had temporary screens for my loft windows at Broadway & Bleecker because I was getting chewed up in the summer.
Here are some cool "period" screen doors:
www.vintagewoodworks.com/screenstordo.html
Posted by: Steve at August 7, 2008 11:35 AM
Not to doubt you old timers, but according to this blog "the problem has gotten worse every summer."
http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2008/06/to-battle-brooklyn-mosquitoes-bring-on.html
Check out the link. The proposed solution? Bat condos!
Posted by: likes2lurk at August 7, 2008 11:57 AM
Don't expect the Improvements screens to fix everything -- we bought two, they're a pain to go through, and it's basically impossible to get a true seal.
Posted by: BklynJace at August 7, 2008 1:55 PM
I believe Pella makes screens that mount on the side of the door frame and roll across the doorway, hooking on the other side. I don't know if they're only designed to work with Pella doors or not.
Posted by: tinarina at August 7, 2008 2:05 PM
They work very well.
http://www.retractablescreen.com/
Lowes sells a $150 model but like anything else you get what you pay for. The more expensive ones are pet-proof.
Posted by: southslope at August 7, 2008 3:50 PM
If you Google for hanging screens there are a lot of them at different prices that attach with adhesive strips or hanging hardware (Solutions.com has some.) As to koi ponds, fish eat mosquito larvae: the big problem is standing water in flower pot bottoms, tires, & other small puddles. Lowe's & Home Depot sell tablets & powders that you can leave in likely catch places or birdbaths to kill larvae before they mature - they're safe around children & pets.
Posted by: Arkady at August 7, 2008 3:56 PM
thanks to all! i will check out these suggestions.
Posted by: chelseagirl at August 8, 2008 8:56 AM
also, southslope: from previous posts,you seem to know a lot about these things. have you used this company? thank you.
Posted by: chelseagirl at August 8, 2008 8:57 AM
Likes2Lurk: Ohhhh, it was on the INTERNET. Nevermind. Must be true then.
I've tried two different types of retractable screens, and both lasted for just a couple of months before the heavy use by both pets and humans broke them.
I too would be interested in someone who could build customer screen doors (with frames) for my apartment, which was the original question. Anyone have any recommendations for that?
Posted by: cb_photography at August 8, 2008 3:09 PM
Hey,
I just finished building a screen door for a restaurant bar called LOX on Fulton and Putnam
Please feel free to give me a call if you would like one made.
cheers Pete
Posted by: PeterMaycock at August 14, 2008 4:59 PM
Hey,
I just finished building a screen door for a restaurant bar called LOX on Fulton and Putnam
Please feel free to give me a call if you would like one made.
cheers Pete
Posted by: PeterMaycock at August 14, 2008 4:59 PM
Hey Peter here again my number is 1718 930 7499
Posted by: PeterMaycock at August 14, 2008 5:05 PM
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