Can you add a sliding screen door to your lanai?
 

I have a sliding glass door from the house to my lanai. However, there is no sliding screen door so when I open the glass door to get a breeze, there is nothing to keep bugs, lizards, frogs, etc., out of the house. Since I don't want these inside the house, I cannot leave the lanai door open. I was thinking of adding a sliding screen door but have not found anyone that can do it. There is no track for a screen door. I talked to Home Depot and they said it can't be done unless I replace the entire doorway - which would involve removing a stationary glass door; a sliding glass door; and all of the framework. I talked to T&D Screen Enclosures and they say that it can be done but that they don't do it (and don't know anyone who can). Has anyone added a sliding screen door to their lanai? If so, do you have any recommendations? Was it complicated? Thanks.

how about one of those Magnetic Screen doors ... Amazon sells everything....

I thought about that. According to an Amazon review, the bottom is not secure so lizards and snakes can get under it and inside.

Is your lanai screened? If so, you still get bugs and lizards inside the lanai?

Yes. The lanai is screened and there is always a lizard in there. Not sure how he gets in but I wanted a sliding screen door as an extra barrier. I have a sliding glass door on the side of the house and that has a sliding screen door. Even with that, lizards get in between the screen and the glass. There is about a one inch gap at the top and bottom of the rubber seal on the screen door and I think that is how they are getting in. I called the warranty department and they sent someone out who said there is nothing they can do to close the gap. It seems to me that there should be a solution-screen doors should not have gaps that allow frogs and lizards into the house.

If you put a sliding screen door in there will be gaps where the rollers are an those little buggers will still be able to get into your house.

Geckos (yea, I know, anoles) come in through the vinyl siding in a screened lanai ( obviously only if if you have siding) as well as under the "sweep" of the screen door. They hide there until you open the door.

I used this sliding screen from Lowes and it works great. 2 small openings on the bottom but I blocked them with white tape. Took me 20 minutes to install once I realized the wheels sat ON the track and not IN the track. There is a video online detailing the install.

LINK TO LOWES SCREEN

Last year "screen companies" wanted $300-$400 to do the same thing for me.

Thanks for the response. Was there an existing track for the screen door? If not, how was that installed? There is no track on my lanai door so I have to add one and am trying to figure out how to add a track on the bottom. As I said, Home Depot told me that I couldn’t add a track but would have to replace the entire door - which would be two glass doors and the frame!

The track is there. It is the track the fixed side of the door sits on (unless you have something totally different). Every one I have seen is the same at least around here. See photo.

I have three sliding glass doors, and only one has a screen slider. But all three tracks have three rails, two for the glass doors and one for a screen door. They look exactly like the photo.

I had a screen installed on my sliders. Romac did it and at the time ( about 5 years ago) it was $ 145.00. there was a rail there for it, and NO critters have gotten inside. I love it in this cool weather

Lla
 

Went to Home Depot here in TV , received the same BS , went to Home Depot in Leesburg, ordered slide screen, installed last week, great job, approx 300. for top of the line, next one down was 175.00 === I have found that after being in TV for 21 years that sales personnel in and around THE VILLAGES tend to treat us seniors like sh-t ===

I just ordered one from White Aluminum. Long lead time but I am willing to wait. Call the main number: 352-787-6783 or the salesperson, 'Cliff' at 352-516-2653.

We had Doc's Restorations come out and install a screen door. He was unable to get it to fit the track.

We just leave the glass door open and enjoy the fresh air.

I haven't seen an anole/lizard in our house. They stay in the lanai. Massey said if they do come inside, they will die due to lack of water & food.

Sliding Screen Door
 

So this works with the lani sliding glass doors that both open away from each other? It is just sitting on the tracks and does not attach to anything? In essence covers the opening? What do you do with the door when you close the doors?