Bi-fold doors can open up a room and are used in place of large and heavy doors. Bi-fold doors have become increasingly popular in Australian homes (for options see bi fold doors product brochures). When bi-fold doors are fully opened, they provide you with a wider view of the outdoors, allow plenty of natural light to enter your room, give easy access in and out of the room while enabling maximum ventilation.

Open bi-fold doors, however, may also be an invitation for flies, mosquitoes and other insects to enter your room. The best way to keep your room free from annoying insects while leaving your bi-fold doors open is by installing a retractable fly screen (also see flyscreens).

How a retractable fly screen works

A retractable fly screen is also known as “cassette”, “roller” or “disappearing” fly screen. The mesh of the retractable fly screen is stored into a housing at the jamb when it is not in use, making it seem to disappear. The housing contains a round coil around which the mesh is rolled when it is retracted. An internal spring, electric motor or gearbox inside the housing is responsible for recoiling the mesh. The retractable fly screen is equipped with side guides, bottom bars and a brush pile to completely seal your room’s doorway. A magnetic sealing closure also holds the mesh in place. Some manufacturers add a disappearing track guide that does not leave unsightly or dangerous channels on the floor reducing risks of falling or tripping over. This feature makes the retractable fly screen not only useful but safe. A bottom bar is used to pull out the mesh while the mesh is held in place by the side guards and is sealed at the base by the brush strip.

Retractable fly screens are an inexpensive option for covering large doors. These screens may be custom-made to fit your bi-fold doors. They are also sold in DIY kits that require simple installation skills and the use of ordinary tools. Maintaining the retractable fly screen for your bi-fold doors is easy. All you need to do is to keep the tracks clean and free from dirt and debris by vacuuming them. Use a silicon spray on the tracks to make gliding smooth and easy.