The slam of a screen door might be a classic sound of summer life, but it also happens to be a rather jarring part of it. No one likes to hear the loud bang of a door being slammed, and at times, it can even damage the door in question. Screen doors have a certain notoriety for being prone to slamming. However, that's not something you have to live with. A little research reveals that you have several options to consider.
Screen doors don't have to slam. Several fixes are available, including:
- Fixing/replacing hinges
- Adding weatherstripping
- Adding felt
- Installing a pneumatic closer
The loud bang of a screen door slamming can be enough to frighten the daylights out of skittish people and pets alike. Are you ready to get a lot more peace and quiet? Keep reading to discover the details on how to keep your screen door from slamming.
Quick Fixes For A Slamming Screen Door
A screen door with a penchant for slamming can have a rough impact on life, but that doesn't mean you have to tolerate it. There are several ways to make sure that you get your door to stay quiet, most of which can improve the lifespan of your door.
Fixing/Replacing Hinges
The first thing that you should do is take a look at the hinges. Loose and broken hinges are more likely to slam than ones that are held together fast. The first thing you should do is determine if the hinges are installed properly and are plumb to the side of the door. If they are, take a look for signs of wear and tear. Replace hinges that are worn out one at a time to prevent having to remove the entire door.
In most cases, replacing your door's hinges or reinstalling them properly will be enough to end the slamming.
Adding Weatherstripping
Weatherstripping isn't just for adding insulation when you close off a porch in the winter. It also happens to be a great way to help muffle the crash of a slammed door. To use this solution, apply weatherstripping (ideally a rubbery one) to the edges near the screen door. Should the door slam, the rubber will work to muffle the noise and hopefully prevent any damage incurred by the slam.
Click here to get weatherstripping on Amazon.
Adding Felt
With weatherstripping, there's a chance you might still hear a slam when you close the door. It's also worth noting that weatherstripping can get pricey and may not always work if your slams are caused by crosswinds. Thankfully, there's another way to make your slamming situation grind to a halt.
To get the slamming under control, add felt pads near the top and bottom of your frame. Then, to ensure that you don't have the wind pulling on your door, put two small felt strips above and below the strike plate. This will help muffle the sound of a slam and slow things down.
Click here to get foam with adhesive backing on Amazon.
Installing A Pneumatic Closer
If you want a foolproof way to prevent most slamming, get a pneumatic closer. Pneumatic closers use air pressure to slowly close a screen door after it's open. With these closers, it can actually take more effort to close the door quickly than it would to just let it do its thing. With that said, this will not prevent slamming from an opening screen door.
Out of all the different options presented, this is the most labor-intensive if you aren't used to doing handy projects. However, the gear itself is fairly cheap and the fix is known for being effective. Before you decide to replace your screen door, give this a try.
Click here to get a pneumatic closer kit for screen doors on Amazon.
How To Keep A Screen Door From Blowing Open?
We've talked a lot about keeping a screen door from blowing closed, but that's not the only way that they can end up with a slam. Blowing open your doors can easily cause bad slams that can damage your door. So, how do we fix this? It could be as simple as changing the way your door opens.
Are Screen Doors Universal?
When people say that a "door is universal," they mean that it can be installed in a way that opens from either side. When it comes to preventing your door from blowing open, this can be pretty helpful. If you have a side of your house that is more prone to high winds, then you can switch the direction of your door so that it's less prone to slamming.
Reinstalling your screen door is a cheap and effective way to control slamming open your door. Screen doors cost a bit, so it's a good idea to try reinstalling them before you replace them.
Is Your Latch Working Well?
The big reason why most screen doors slam deals with the latch. A poorly functioning latch is enough to cause doors to slam open in high winds. The best thing that you can do is fix the latch if you can, and replace it if you can't.
If your latch is fully functional but not quite enough to cease the slamming, there is another way to bolster your latch's functionality. You can do this by adding a door catch. Door catches help reduce the chances of having your door bang against the wall, even if it swings open.
Click here to see this door catch on Amazon.
When Should You Replace Your Screen Door?
Screen doors, much like all other types of home hardware, have a tendency of running their course. If your screen door can't stay closed, regularly slams despite all the work you did, or no longer is able to properly open and close, then you should replace it. Depending on your situation, you might want to look at some alternatives.
Should You Remove Your Screen Door For Good?
Sometimes, a screen door is more of a hazard than a help. If you don't like to leave your door open for a morning breeze and regularly find yourself fixing it, you may want to get rid of the screen door altogether. Most HOAs will not penalize you for not having a screen door. Moreover, if the screen door looks really ragged, getting rid of the door altogether might boost property value.
With that said, some home exteriors may need to be spruced up if you want to remove a screen door and not replace it. If you aren't sure what you should do, it may make sense to talk about the matter with a handyman.
Is A Storm Door More Secure Than A Screen Door?
If you are okay to part with the ventilation that comes with a screen door, a storm door might be a better option. Storm doors have glass panels instead of screens, which bars wind from blowing the door open. If you invest in a security storm door, then you also might get benefits like better locks, more efficient weatherproofing, and a better shot at security.
Generally speaking, storm doors make a lot of sense if you live in an area prone to heavy rain or high winds. While they can still slam, they have more safeguards that prevent serious damage and tend to look better, too. If you want to know more about storm doors, check out this post: How Much Does A Storm Door Cost?
In Closing
Screen doors are excellent for keeping pests away from your home, adding a little security to your home, and also giving you the chance to get some ventilation during hot summer months. It's easy to see why this retro-chic addition to your home could be a treasured part of your exterior. However, the slamming issue with screen doors is known for being pervasive at best.
There are so many different ways to reduce slamming from screen doors, even when you don't take into account the way you close the door. From fixing a latch to adding a catch, there always seems to be a new way to quiet down a slamming screen door. Of course, you can also just switch to a storm door. They are pretty good about being quieter and more secure.