Dreamscreen Double Door
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Congratulations! You have purchased the most advanced, versatile, and easiest to install retractable screen door available anywhere.
Before beginning to mount your new Dreamscreen, the type of installation should be determined. Because of the versatility of the design, several options are available. Please review parts and tools required on page 2 before getting started.
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FACE MOUNT
This is by far the most common installation. The door can be installed directly onto door molding, either on the exterior (weather side) or interior of the existing door. If there is a step up to the door frame, the lower rail can be mounted at the same level as the frame or sill. Detailed instructions begin on page 3.
FLUSH MOUNT
This type puts the Dreamscreen inside the door frame, reducing the profile of the Dreamscreen, but slightly reducing the overall door opening. This installation requires that the existing entry be almost perfectly square or it will require shimming. Instructions begin on page 6
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GETTING READY
TOOL REQUIREMENTS and PARTS DESCRIPTION
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FACE MOUNT Double Dreamscreen
· Safety Glasses
· Philips screwdriver (cordless is best)
· Hacksaw or cutoff saw
· Level (longer is better)
· Tape measure
· File
· Pencil
· Shears or utility knife
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FACE MOUNT Double Dreamscreen
FACE MOUNT
STEP 1: Determine where to mount the door. If the door is in-swinging (pulls into the house), the Dreamscreen should be mounted on the exterior (weather side) molding of the door frame. Mount the Dreamscreen on the interior molding for out-swinging doors.
STEP 2: Mount the first housing. Two options exist (see Figure 1). First (most common and easier), the bottom edge of the housing should sit even with the threshold of the existing door. Second, if there is a step up to the door sill (at least ½ inch), then the housing can be mounted so that the lower guide rail is below the sill. In either case, check to be sure that there is a solid backing where the Type “A” screws will be placed at the top and bottom. Use the longer Type “A” screw if there is drywall or other non-solid material between the Dreamscreen housing and the frame. In either case, check that the existing bottom sill is level (if not, shims will be required).
Figure 1 Bottom edge on sill/casing Bottom below (or flush) with sill
Mount the first housing on a flat area of the molding; for clamshell molding, shims are recommended to create a flat mounting surface. Screw in the top “A” screw, then precisely level the housing (fig 2) by pivoting around the upper screw before mounting the lower “A” screw.
Figure 2 Screw in top housing, level the housing, then screw in lower housing
STEP 3: Temporarily mount the second housing on the same area of the molding on the opposite side of the door frame using Type “A” screws. Be sure that the clips line up between the housings, and that the line between the clips is level.
STEP 4: Cut the guide rails to length. Please be sure to pay close attention here- follow the old saying “measure twice, cut once!” If the guide rails are cut too short, the door will not fit properly, and replacement rails may be required.
Measure the distance between the metal portions of the two housings (NOT the plastic piece) (Figure 3). Watch that the tape measure is not on the “A” screws. Both top and bottom rails must be the same length, so if there is a small difference, use the shorter distance for both pieces. Make sure the cuts are square, and use a file or sandpaper to remove any burrs.
Figure 3 Guide rail measuring. In this example, the guide rails will be 68 5/8 “
STEP 5: Install the guide rails (Figure 4). First, remove the two screws from Step 4 holding the second housing. Slide the pull rail away from the first housing an inch or two to provide play, insert the shallow lower guide rail through the pull rail end cap, then into the clip at the bottom of the housing. Make sure the guide rails are pushed all the way against the metal housing. Repeat the process for the deep top guide rail. Be careful not to twist and break the clips, so hold the upper guide rail while you proceed to the next step where the upper guide rail will be inserted into the second housing clip (again, going through the pull rail end cap).
Figure 4 Attaching guide rails to first housing
STEP 7: Re-mount the second housing (Figure 5). First, insert the free end of the deeper upper guide rail into the top of the second housing, ensuring the rail is pushed in all the way in. Repeat for the shallower lower guide rail. Now, re-mount the second housing to the molding using the Type “A” screws. The screws should go into the holes from step 3.
Figure 5 Re-mounting the second housing with the guide rails
STEP 8: If the lower guide rail is not resting on a solid surface, the lower clips could become damaged. Small sections of molding or metal angle may be used (or run a support the entire width of the door) to give the guide rail support. Also, the lower guide rail should not be resting on carpet or a soft material that will allow flex. A thin piece of metal angle running the width of the door will prevent damage.
OPTIONAL STEP: Install guide rail supports, if desired. Using the small metal clips and “B” screws supplied, extra support can be given to the guide rails to prevent movement. If used, the clip should be mounted at the mid-point of the guide rail (top, bottom or both). Another often better option is to run a bead of caulk under/along the upper and lower guide rails.
Enjoy the door! If the door came with a vinyl top seal and there is a gap between the upper guide rail and the top molding, see the top seal installation instructions on page 9.
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FLUSH MOUNT Double Dreamscreen
FLUSH MOUNT
STEP 1: Determine which side of the existing door frame to mount the housing. If the door is in-swinging (pulls into the house), the Dreamscreen should be mounted on the exterior (weather side) molding of the door frame. If the existing door frame is out of square, then shimming or spacers will be required during installation.
STEP 2: Mount the first housing (Figure 6). The bottom edge of the housing should sit even with the threshold of the existing door. Check to be sure that there is a solid backing where the Type “A” screws will be placed at the top and bottom. Use the longer Type “A” screw if there is drywall or other non-solid material between the Dreamscreen housing and the frame. Also check that the existing door frame bottom sill is level (if not, shims will be required).
Figure 6 Screw in top housing, level the housing both ways, then screw in lower housing
STEP 3: Temporarily mount the second housing on the same area of the molding on the opposite side of the door frame using Type “A” screws. Be sure that the clips line up between the housings, and that the line between the clips is level.
Figure 7 Temporarily install the second housing
STEP 4: Cut the guide rails to length. Please be sure to pay close attention here- follow the old saying “measure twice, cut once!” If the guide rails are cut too short, the door will not fit properly, and replacement rails may be required.
Measure the distance between the metal portions of the two housings (NOT the plastic piece) (Figure 8). Watch that the tape measure is not on the “A” screws. Both top and bottom rails must be the same length, so if there is a small difference, use the shorter distance for both pieces. Make sure the cuts are square, and use a file or sandpaper to remove any burrs.
Figure 8 Guide rail measuring. In this example, the guide rails will be 68 5/8”.
STEP 5: Install the guide rails (Figure 9). First, remove the two screws from Step 3 holding the second housing. Slide the pull rail away from the first housing an inch or two to provide play, insert the shallow lower guide rail through the bottom pull rail end cap, then into the clip at the bottom of the housing. Make sure the guide rails are pushed all the way against the metal housing. Repeat the process for the deep top guide rail. Be careful not to twist and break the clips, so hold the upper guide rail while you proceed to the next step where the upper guide rail will be inserted into the second housing clip (again, going through the pull rail end cap).
Figure 9 Attaching guide rails to first housing
STEP 7: Re-mount the second housing with guide rails (Figure 10). First, insert the free end of the deeper upper guide rail into the top of the second housing, ensuring the rail is pushed in all the way in. Repeat for the shallower lower guide rail. Now, re-mount the second housing to the molding using the Type “A” screws. The screws should go into the holes from step 3.
Figure 10 Re-mount the second housing with guide rails installed
OPTIONAL STEP Guide rail support. The supplied metal bracket guide rail supports are not used for flush mounted Dreamscreens. However, using one of the “B” screws supplied, extra support can be given to the lower guide rail to prevent movement by screwing through the base of the rail and into the door frame at the mid-point. Another (often better) option is to run a bead of caulk under/along the upper and lower guide rails.
Enjoy the door! If the door came with a Ultraviolet PVC (vinyl) top seal and there is a gap between the upper guide rail and the top molding, see the top seal installation instructions on the next page.
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