Pleated Door Screen
Made-to-measure
pleated door screens
that fold away clean
Roller screens snap back when you let go. A fly curtain flaps in any draught worth mentioning. Pleated door screens do neither. The accordion mesh pulls across your opening and stays put, then collapses into its housing when you don't need it. No springs, no noise.
Pleated door screen: mechanism cross-section
Compact aluminium housing (approx. 50mm wide)
Pleated mesh panel, extends and retracts on top/bottom track
Aluminium top and bottom track, low-profile at floor level
Pull handle, holds mesh in position when extended
How it works
An accordion that folds flat when you're done with it
The mesh folds like a concertina into a compact aluminium housing on the hinge side of your door. It takes up around 50mm in width when stowed. Pull the handle across the full opening and a magnetic or hook catch at the far side holds the screen in place.
There's no spring mechanism to fight and nothing to wind back. The top and bottom tracks keep the mesh flat even with a draught blowing through. That's something a fly curtain or a loose-hanging roller simply can't manage on a wider opening.
Housing mounts to the door surround, not the door leaf
The housing and track fix to the frame around your door. The door itself is left untouched and opens as it always has. There are no fixings into the door structure.
Top and bottom track keeps the mesh stable
The mesh runs on aluminium tracks fixed to the top and bottom of the opening. The bottom track is designed to sit as low-profile as possible at the threshold to cut the trip risk.
No maintenance required day to day
No springs to wear out, no motor to service. An occasional wipe of the tracks is all it needs. The mesh panel itself can be removed for cleaning if you want to give it a proper wash.
What makes it different
Six things worth knowing before you decide
Pleated door screens suit certain situations well and others less so. These are the details that tend to come up most at survey.
Compact when stowed
The housing sits against the door frame and takes up around 50mm of depth. When the screen is retracted, nothing obstructs the opening and nothing protrudes into the room. Most people stop noticing it's there.
Stays flat in a draught
The top and bottom tracks hold the mesh under tension across the full opening. There's no flapping or billowing. Fly curtains and spring rollers on wider doors can't reliably say the same.
Double door configuration available
For French doors and wider openings, two panels fit from a housing on each outer frame. They pull toward the centre and the leading edges seal together with a magnetic strip. Each panel works independently.
Your choice of mesh weight
Standard fibre mesh works for most households. If you have a cat or a dog that pushes at things, the heavier vinyl-coated pet-resistant mesh is available in the same frame and housing. The mechanism is identical.
Measured and cut to your aperture
Every frame is made to the exact measurement of your opening. We measure at the free home survey, so there's no guesswork on your part. Nothing arrives from stock needing adjustment.
No work done to the door itself
The housing and track fix to the frame surround only. The door leaf is untouched. It can still open inward or outward as it always has. The only fixings go into the surround, not the door structure.
Three ways to configure a pleated screen
The mechanism is the same across all three setups. What changes is the number of panels and which side the housing sits on relative to your opening.
- Single panel
Pull-across
One screen in a housing on the hinge side. Pull it across and clip it to the far frame. Handles standard single doors up to around 1,200mm wide. The most common install.
- Twin panel
French door / double leaf
Two housings, one on each outer frame. Each panel pulls toward the centre and the leading edges seal together with a magnetic strip. The standard setup for French doors and wider openings.
- When not in use
Fully stowed
The screen folds back into the housing and the full door opening clears. No spring tension, nothing flapping about. The housing sits flush against the frame and takes up around 50mm.
Mesh options
Choose the mesh that fits your situation
Most customers go for standard mesh. There are specific reasons to consider an upgrade, and we'll talk through them at survey if they're relevant.
- Standard
Standard fly mesh
Light grey fibre mesh with a grid tight enough to keep out flies, mosquitoes and midges. Good airflow and reasonable outward visibility. What most households need.
- Charcoal
Charcoal mesh
Near-black fibre mesh that reduces visual contrast against bright outdoor light. Easier to see through from inside, less visible from the garden. Popular on south-facing doors.
- Pet-resistant
Pet-resistant mesh
Vinyl-coated polyester mesh around three times thicker than standard fibre. Handles sustained pawing from cats and most dogs. The same material used in our dedicated pet-resistant screen range.
- Anti-pollen
Anti-pollen mesh
A finer mesh that blocks pollen as well as insects. Worth considering if anyone in the house has hay fever. There's a slight reduction in airflow compared to standard mesh, which is worth knowing.
Frame finishes
Five powder-coated aluminium colours
All frames are powder-coated aluminium. We'd typically match the door frame colour at survey, but you can request a specific colour. No extra charge for colour choice.
- White
- Cream
- Brown
- Grey
- Anthracite
Where it works best
Six door types we fit these to regularly
Pleated screens handle wider openings and windier locations better than most alternatives. These are the situations where they do their best work.
- 01
French doors
The most common fit. Two panels, each with its own housing behind a door leaf when it's open. Pull both screens across and they meet in the middle. The magnetic seal keeps the join tight.
- 02
Patio sliding doors
A single pull-across screen covers the full aperture when the door panel is slid open. We measure the whole opening width, not just the door panel, so the screen covers the gap properly.
- 03
Back doors
A kitchen or utility back door sees a lot of summer use. A pleated screen lets you keep it open on warm days. The low-profile bottom track keeps the threshold trip risk to a minimum.
- 04
Bi-fold doors
Wider openings need extended tracks and larger housings. We fit these for bi-fold configurations. The housing sits flush against the outer frame when all the bi-fold panels are folded back.
- 05
Garden rooms and extensions
Large glass doors that are too wide for a simple roller screen are where pleated screens come into their own. The accordion fold handles spans up to around three metres with the right track support.
- 06
Stable doors
If you keep the lower half closed, we can fit a screen to the upper half only. Useful in households with young children or smaller dogs. It gives ventilation without opening the full door.
Fly screen range
Other screens in the range
Pleated Door Screens
Accordion-fold mesh in a compact housing. No spring tension. Single and double door options available.
Current pagePet-Resistant Screens
Vinyl-coated polyester mesh built to handle daily pawing and scratching from cats and dogs.
View screens ›Window screenWindow Fly Screens
Fixed and hinged fly screens for windows. Measured to the frame, fitted inside the opening.
View screens ›Quick-accessMagnetic Fly Screens
Two-panel magnetic closure screens. Walk through without using your hands; the panels close behind you.
View screens ›Customer reviews
What customers say after installation
"We had the double panel setup on French doors. The fitting took under two hours and the finish is really clean. Both sides pull together exactly right and the magnetic seal is better than I expected. We've had them open most evenings this summer without a single midge getting in."
"The charcoal mesh was a good suggestion. I was doubtful about it when it came up, but you can barely see it when the screen is drawn across. The view through to the garden is much clearer than I thought it would be. Very pleased with how it's turned out."
"Got the pet-resistant mesh after our cat destroyed a standard screen at a previous house. Two months on and there's no damage whatsoever. The bottom track doesn't catch on feet when you walk through and the whole thing just works quietly. Very glad we went for the heavier option."
Common questions
Things people ask before booking a survey
If you don't see what you're looking for here, give us a call or book a survey and we can work through your specific door and opening with you.
What's the difference between a pleated screen and a retractable roller screen?
A roller screen uses a spring mechanism to retract the mesh into a tube, much like a roller blind works. A pleated screen folds accordion-style into a flat housing with no spring involved. This means it stays where you put it and doesn't snap back if you let go mid-draw. Roller screens work well on smaller openings. Pleated screens handle wider spans more reliably and are less prone to mesh tension issues over time.
Will a pleated screen fit bi-fold doors?
Yes. We fit extended tracks and larger housings for bi-fold configurations. The process is more involved than a standard door fit, so we always survey bi-fold installations before quoting. If your opening spans more than about three metres, we'll advise at survey whether a single track or a split system suits it better.
Do the screens move around in the wind?
Not significantly. The top and bottom tracks hold the mesh under control in normal conditions. In a strong cross-draught the mesh may bow slightly, but it won't flap the way a fly curtain does. In particularly exposed locations we'd talk through this at survey before committing to a fit.
Can I open my door with the screen in place?
No. The screen and door operate independently. You pull the screen across when the door is open, and retract it before closing the door. The screen isn't fitted to the door leaf, so the door can't open with the screen extended. Most customers find this becomes habitual fairly quickly.
How do you measure for a pleated door screen?
We measure at the free home survey. You don't need to take any measurements yourself. We measure the full aperture, check the surround has enough depth for the housing and track, and confirm the door swings clear of where the housing will sit. The survey is free and there's no obligation to go ahead afterwards.
Are pleated door screens suitable for pets?
Standard mesh isn't built for regular contact from cats or dogs. If your pet pushes at or scratches the screen, we'd suggest upgrading to the vinyl-coated pet-resistant mesh. It's a heavier material that handles daily contact much better. We have a dedicated page on pet-resistant screens if you want the full detail on the mesh specification.
What frame colours are available?
White, cream, brown, grey and anthracite. All frames are powder-coated aluminium. We'd typically match the door frame colour at survey, but you can request a specific colour if you have a preference. There's no extra charge for colour choice.
Do you fit to timber door frames as well as uPVC?
Yes. Timber frames work fine as long as the surround is wide enough for the housing and track. We use the right fixings for timber rather than self-tapping screws that suit uPVC. If the frame is particularly narrow or in poor condition, we'll flag it at survey before committing to anything.
Get a price for your door
We measure up, give you a fixed price and fit everything ourselves. No third parties, no surprises on the day. Book a free home survey at a time that works for you.
Covering the North East and North West of England. No obligation.