Screen doors do an excellent job of keeping insects out of your home and keeping your home cool when you want to save on your electricity bill. However, not everyone wants to have them installed, as one of the largest misconceptions about screen doors is that their installation process may cause damage to your home. When measured accurately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. So whether you plan on installing your own screen door or you’re working with a professional, here’s how to measure your door for a screen installation.
Measure the Height
You want to use your tape measure and measure from the underside of the top of the frame to the bottom of the sill to accurately measure the height of your door. To get an accurate measurement, you want to pull back about six inches from the door jamb just in case the frame isn’t exact. Place the bottom of the tape near the sill and pull up until you hit the underside of the door jam, and write down this number as the door’s height.
Measure the Width
You’ll have to take three separate measurements to ensure accuracy when measuring the width. Hold your tape measure so that it’s parallel to the ground, and measure the top, bottom, and middle of the door frame. Make sure your tape measure hits the sides of the door jam. If the measurements vary, use the largest number to be safe but make sure to write down each one just in case.
Account for Clearance and Repeat
Because doors have a gap, you’ll want to account for clearance. To do this, subtract a quarter of an inch from each of your measurements. You need at least an eighth of an inch between the screen and the frame, so subtracting a quarter of an inch from the height and width will give you better accuracy.
Lastly, you may want to repeat all of your measurements to be sure that they’re accurate. While this isn’t a required step, it’s a smart one as humans are prone to error.
Because screen doors have such an important function in the everyday workings of your home, knowing how to measure your door before a screen installation gives you the assurance that you’re getting the best fit possible.
