French doors are meant to open a room up. Turning them into french doors with screens shouldn't cost you that. Apollo retractable screens let you get the airflow without the bugs, and without a screen door that looks like it belongs on a rental property. Custom measured, custom built, professionally installed nationwide.
French doors create a problem that traditional screen doors can't solve. A hinged screen door clashes with outswing doors and looks wrong on inswing doors. A sliding screen won't cover a double-door opening. Most magnetic or snap-in screens are, frankly, ugly. The right screen door for french doors has to retract out of the way entirely, which is why we build custom screen doors for french doors instead of forcing a standard size to fit.
Apollo retractable french door screens mount to the door frame and retract into a slim aluminum housing when not in use. There when you need them, out of sight when you don't. When the screens are put away, your french doors look exactly as they did before.
The housing cassette is about 2 inches wide, powder-coated in your choice of 7 colors to match your door trim. Most homeowners who get a quote from us remark that the installed screen looks nothing like they expected: cleaner, more finished, more permanent.
Every Apollo retractable screen, whether it's on a front door, a slider, or the french doors shown here, uses the same core system: a slim aluminum housing cassette mounted to the door frame, a spring-loaded track, and a mesh panel that pulls out when you want a screen and retracts completely out of sight when you don't.
The housing holds the entire mechanism (spring, track, and rolled-up mesh) in a cassette about 2 inches wide. Pull the handle and the screen extends along the track. Let go, and Apollo's Speed Reducer brings it back in at a controlled, even speed instead of snapping shut.
Apollo retractable french door screens extending and retracting on a real double-door installation.
Most retractable screen manufacturers offer one solution for french doors. Apollo offers two, because the right choice depends on how you use the doors, and we don't believe in forcing every installation into the same box.
Two screens, one per door panel, that meet in the middle when deployed. One panel is typically pinned (the less-used side), and the other is active so you can walk in and out easily. Our all-metal ergonomic handle makes single-handed operation natural. This is the right choice for backyard entries, patio doors, or any french door you use frequently throughout the day.
One screen that spans both door panels from a single housing on one side. Our slow-close mechanism and precision tracking technology make this possible. Almost no other manufacturer can pull a screen this wide without it fighting you or slamming. Maximum width is 65 inches. When deployed, the near-invisible mesh barely interrupts your view. When retracted, there's only one slim cassette on one side of the frame.
A guide to screen options for french doors, and how to choose between them.
Part of our process is a consultation in your home. Your dealer will walk through both options with you: door width, traffic pattern, how the doors open, and give you an exact price for each. No obligation, no pressure. For more on choosing between screen types, see our complete guide to choosing the right screen door for french doors.
A lot of "screens for french doors" are really a standard screen door product with a different bracket bolted on. Ours isn't. Here's what's actually different when the door in question is a french door.
French doors rarely match perfectly panel to panel after years of settling. We measure each side to 1/16" tolerance separately, so the screen doesn't rely on your doors being identical to hang right.
French doors are chosen for the glass. A bulky housing defeats the point. Our 6063 T6 aluminum cassette holds the whole mechanism in about 2 inches, so the doors still read as glass doors, not screen doors with glass in them.
The Speed Reducer is what makes the long-pull single screen possible in the first place. A screen that wide would slam or bind on a standard spring; ours retracts at a controlled speed across the full opening.
Covers defects in materials and workmanship, on both the double and long-pull systems.
Not every dealer sells french door screens; every Apollo dealer does, and knows when to recommend the double system over the long-pull. Most french door installs are complete in under two hours.
This is one of the most common questions we get. The short answer: Apollo screens work on both. Here's what changes between the two.
The standard configuration: doors open inward. Apollo screens mount to the interior side of the frame, slightly in front of your doors. Both the double and long-pull single system work here. When retracted, the slim housing sits flush against your interior trim and blends right in.
Both screen systems available • Most common installation
Less common, but not a problem. The screen housing mounts on the exterior side of the frame. The screens don't need clearance behind the door because they sit outside the door's swing path entirely. Outswing doors with screens work exactly the same way. The only difference is where the housing mounts.
Both screen systems available • Read more about outswing french doors
Not all french door screen options are created equal. Here's how Apollo retractable screens compare to the alternatives most homeowners consider.
| Feature | Apollo Retractable | Fixed Screen Door | Magnetic Screen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility when open | Disappears into housing | Always visible | Hangs in opening |
| Works with outswing doors | Yes | No, door clashes | Partial |
| Custom sizing | Built to 1/16" tolerance | Standard sizes only | Approximate fit |
| Covers both panels cleanly | Yes, double or long-pull | One panel only | Requires center split |
| Durability | 6063 T6 aluminum, 15+ years | Moderate | Low, magnets weaken |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime | 1-3 years | None / minimal |
| Professional installation | Factory-trained installer | Yes | DIY |
French doors get more attention than any other door in the house, so the housing shouldn't be the thing that gives it away. Apollo screens come in 7 stock powder-coat colors that cover most home trim colors, and the cassette and tracks are finished to match, not just painted close. Need something specific? Custom color matching to any RAL or paint code is available.
That finish is baked powder-coat over 6063 T6 aluminum, not a sprayed-on paint job, so it won't chip or peel at the edges where a french door frame takes the most wear from opening and closing.
Find your local Apollo dealer. We have authorized installers nationwide. Use the dealer finder to locate the one nearest you.
Your dealer comes to you, measures your doors to 1/16" precision, walks through both screen options, and gives you an exact price on the spot.
Your screens are manufactured to your exact specs in the USA. Built to your door, not pulled off a shelf.
Your Apollo dealer installs and adjusts everything. Most french door installations are done in under two hours. Walk-through included.
A 60-pound dog hitting a screen door at full speed is not a gentle event. Most screens snap taut and either hurt the dog or blow apart. Apollo screens use 55 inches of mesh fabric in each screen, deliberately. That extra width means the screen gives on impact rather than fighting back. The dog's okay. The screen usually is too.
The Speed Reducer also matters here. When the screen retracts, it pulls in at a controlled speed. It doesn't snap back and catch a paw. If your dog does eventually chew through the mesh or barrel through it one too many times, a rescreen is a quick, flat-fee visit. One call and we come out, no diagnostic charge.
Cats are a different problem. They tend to climb rather than charge. The aluminum housing and track hold up fine. The mesh, eventually, may not. Same answer: an affordable rescreen when it's time.
4.9 stars across 1,671 reviews nationwide. Here's what real customers say about their Apollo retractable screens.
"AKI was outstanding in recommending the right screen door for our home. Great job by Nate Hall installing our door. Definitely recommend Apollo."
"Just had Apollo Screen and Shade install a single door retractable screen on our patio door. It is so great. Takes us less space and easy to close and open."
"Thank you to this entire team for getting our balcony fitted with the most amazing screens I ever thought possible. From the initial no-pressure estimate through color and material selection, the process was so easy. Everything installed in record time, and we could not be happier!"
Find a dealer near you. Free measurement, free consultation on which system fits your doors, custom build, professional install. Most screens are in within the week.
