Services
Custom sliding screen doors
A-Affordable Screen builds custom sliding screen doors for Reno-Sparks homes in 80-inch and 96-inch heights and any width, measured on site to fit your patio door. We use a heavy-duty material, bring samples so you can feel the quality before you order, and give you a free quote.
Updated · A-Affordable Screen, Sparks
Why a custom door instead of a store-bought one
Big-box sliding screen doors come in a few stock sizes and a light frame that is meant to be trimmed or stretched to fit. Patio openings are rarely that cooperative. Houses settle, tracks wear, and many newer homes have taller doors than the stock sizes cover. A door that is even slightly off size rubs, gaps at the edges or jumps the track.
Our doors are built to the measurements of your opening. We complete on-site measurements and an in-person consultation, so you can ask questions and see the options before anything is made.
80-inch and 96-inch doors, any width
Most sliding patio doors are about 80 inches tall, and many newer homes around Reno and Sparks have taller 96-inch doors that are harder to find screens for. We specialize in both heights, and the width is built to your opening rather than rounded to a stock size. Our guide to sliding screen door sizes shows how to tell which one you have.
If your opening is unusual, such as an older door, a door that has been replaced with a different brand, or a track that is no longer straight, the measurement visit is where we sort that out.
Width is checked the same careful way. We measure across the top, middle and bottom of the opening and between the tracks, since a frame that has shifted over the years can be wider at one end. The door is built to those numbers so it sits evenly from the top track to the bottom one.
| Feature | Common options | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 80 inches (about 6 feet 8 inches) | The most common patio door height. Stock doors exist but may not suit a worn or out-of-square track |
| Height | 96 inches (about 8 feet) | Found on many newer homes. Few stock options, so these are usually built to order |
| Width | Built to the opening | Measured at more than one point, not rounded to a stock size |
| Frame | Light roll-formed frame, or a heavier, stiffer frame | A stiffer frame typically resists bending from wind, kids and pets better |
| Mesh | Standard insect mesh or pet-resistant mesh | Pet mesh is thicker and tougher, see pet screens |
| Latch side | Left or right | Set to meet your patio door so the latch catches cleanly |
These are typical industry options. We show you the actual frame, colors and mesh at the measuring visit.
What goes into the door
We use a heavy-duty material and bring samples to your home so you can feel the grade of the frame and see the difference from a light stock door. There is a variety of colors for the metal frame, so the door can match your patio door and trim.
- A rigid metal frame sized to your opening
- Wheels, handle and latch that line up with your patio door and track
- Your choice of mesh, standard insect mesh or pet-resistant mesh
Stock door or custom? A quick check
- Your opening measures close to a stock size and the track is straight: a stock door may work
- The opening is 96 inches tall, or an odd width: a custom door is the practical choice
- The track is taller at one end than the other: a door built to the opening rides better
- The old door keeps jumping the track: size or a bent frame is the usual cause
Built for afternoon wind
Reno's afternoon wind is hard on sliding screen doors. NOAA's hourly climate normals for Reno-Tahoe International Airport show average afternoon winds near 13 miles per hour from spring through summer, mostly from the west, and gusty days are common. A light door that fits loosely gets pushed off its track, bent at the corners, or blown out of the opening altogether.
A door built to the measured opening stays seated when the wind picks up. Getting the fit right is part of every job. Our Washoe Zephyr guide explains why west-facing patios take the brunt of it.
Why a screen door matters on summer evenings
The patio slider is the biggest opening most homes have, and in Reno-Sparks it earns its keep after sunset. NOAA's normals show summer highs and lows about 33 degrees apart, so a July day near 94 cools to about 60 overnight. Opening the slider in the evening lets that cool air in, but only if there is a screen that fits.
Evening is also when mosquitoes are most active, according to Northern Nevada Public Health, which advises screens on doors and windows during its May to September mosquito season. A screen door that closes fully, with no gap at the latch side, keeps the evening breeze and leaves the bugs outside.
Pet screen upgrade
If you have a dog or cat that paws at the door, we can work a pet-resistant screen into the design. It is a heavier, coated mesh that stands up to claws much better than standard insect mesh.
Already have a sliding screen door?
A custom new door needs a patio slider with a screen track. If you already have a sliding screen door with a straight frame and sound corners, rescreening puts new mesh in it: the mesh is rolled into the frame with new spline, or with the same spline reused when it is still good. If the frame is bent or the door is the wrong size, a custom new door is the answer. Describe your door when you call and we will tell you which fits.
Signs it is time for a new door
- The door is bent, twisted or cracked at a corner
- It jumps the track on windy afternoons
- A stock door never quite fit and leaves a gap at the top or side
- Your patio door is 96 inches tall and the old screen was a workaround
- The patio slider never had a screen door at all
- The frame no longer matches after the patio door was replaced
Before you call
- Measure the height roughly. Floor to the top of the opening: near 6 feet 8 inches is a standard door, near 8 feet is a tall one.
- Look for a screen track. Check whether the patio door frame has a top and bottom track for a screen.
- Note the latch side. Decide which side the screen door should close against.
- Take a photo. A picture of the door and track, texted to (775) 240-0418, helps us plan the visit.
How a custom door gets built
At the visit we measure the opening at several points, because patio door tracks are often a little taller at one end than the other. We check the condition of the top and bottom tracks, note which side the door should latch on, and show you frame colors and mesh samples. You get a quote before anything is built.
- Call or text. Tell us the rough door height and whether there is a screen track.
- On-site measure and samples. We measure, check the tracks and show frame colors and mesh.
- Quote. You get a price with any senior, military, referral or multi-window discount applied. Installation carries a lifetime warranty and solar screen material a 20-year warranty, see our warranty page.
- Build. The door is made to the measured height and width, with handle and latch set for your opening.
- Install. We set the door in the track and check that it slides and latches cleanly.
Price
What affects the price
- Height. A 96-inch door takes more frame and mesh than an 80-inch door.
- Width. Wider openings need a longer frame and more mesh.
- Mesh. Pet-resistant mesh costs more than standard insect mesh.
- Hardware. Handles and latches vary.
- Track condition. A bent or worn track may need attention from the patio door's maker before a new door will ride well.
- More than one door. Several doors, or doors plus window screens, can qualify for the multi-window discount.
Every price is quoted after the free on-site measure. Our cost guide covers published ranges and what drives them.
Reno-Sparks
Wind, sun and patio doors in Reno-Sparks
NOAA's hourly normals for Reno-Tahoe International Airport show April through July afternoons averaging about 13 miles per hour, mostly from the west, while early mornings average only 2 to 4. From 2016 to 2025, about two of every three July days at the airport had a gust of 30 miles per hour or more.
Housing adds to it. In ZIP 89436, which takes in Spanish Springs, Wingfield Springs and Pioneer Meadows, Census figures show 68 percent of homes built since 2000 and 80 percent single-family detached. That adds up to a lot of patio sliders, each one open to whatever the afternoon brings.
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (hourly) and GHCN-Daily 2016-2025, Reno-Tahoe International Airport; U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year.
Keeping a sliding screen door running well
- Vacuum the bottom track every few weeks in dusty months
- Wipe the track with a damp cloth instead of oiling it, since oil holds grit
- Close or latch the screen door on gusty afternoons
- Slide the door by its handle, not by pushing on the mesh
- If a dog paws at the door, upgrade that door to pet mesh
- When it starts to drag, vacuum the track first and look at the frame
Reviews
What customers say
“Of course our slider is not standard, so we needed a custom screen to be made. I reached out to A-Affordable Screen and they installed the new screen today. From measurement to install was quick - about a week or so. Larry and Mitch are friendly and easy to work with. Communication was great. Pricing was reasonable for a custom, durable screen with metal wheels.”
“I needed a new sliding screen door for my kitchen. I contacted this company and dealt with Larry who is very knowledgeable! I liked how he gave me all the different options and gave me the choice to decide what to do. He was so thorough which really impressed me. He did an excellent job that I would recommend him for all your screen replacements!”
“Larry is pretty cool. He gave us a reasonable bid, said he would be back for the work in 2 weeks, showed up in 2 weeks and performed the screen work prefectly. If you want a no hassle, efficient process, Larry is the guy to call.”
Questions
Straight answers
Can you make a screen door for a patio door that never had one?
If the patio door has a screen track, usually yes. If there is no track, we look at the opening during the measurement visit and talk through the options.
How do I know if I have a 96-inch door?
Measure from the floor to the top of the door opening. If it is close to 8 feet rather than 6 feet 8 inches, it is a tall door, and we build those.
Can I choose the frame color?
Yes. There is a variety of frame colors, and we bring samples so you can match your patio door.
Do you replace just the screen in my old door?
Yes, if the door frame is sound. We rescreen it with new mesh in the existing frame.
Are 96-inch sliding screen doors hard to find?
Stock options are limited, which is why many tall patio doors go without a screen. We build 96-inch doors to the width of your opening.
Will a new door work if my track is worn?
We check the track at the measuring visit. A new door is built to ride your track, and if the track itself needs attention we tell you before quoting.
Why does a custom door stay on the track better?
Because it is sized to your opening, it sits with less play top and bottom. A loose stock door has more room to lift out when the wind or a pet pushes on it.
Related
Related services
Custom Sliding Screen Doors across Reno-Sparks
Sources: NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Reno-Tahoe International Airport) (opens in a new tab) · U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (opens in a new tab) · Efficient Windows Collaborative, Window Glossary (opens in a new tab)
Since 1997 · Sparks, Nevada
Ready for a free quote?
Call or text us. Or leave your details and we call or text you back.
Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm
We come to you anywhere in the Reno-Sparks area to measure and quote, at no charge.
