The dogs pile into the screens on occasion, With a Phantom, there is not frame to it on the bottom or top. It runs in a little screen channel. When the dogs go thru it, the leader disconnects from the magnetic catch, and the screen is free to go at least a foot outside of the door plane. All you need to do to reset it, is retract it fully, and close it, and everything is reset, ready to go again. As far as narrowing the opening, it does not on my sliding patio door, since the screen leader is about the same width as the stile on the slider. On my front door, (hinged), it does restrict the opening about 2 1/2" from 35 3/4 to 33 1/4" Probably about the same as a regular screen door would, with the cylinder bracket extending into the opening.

they are very expensive, if they are worth it is if you feel you really need it. I have heard good and bad mostly good though.

I'm interested in re-opening this thread as we just put a parlor floor deck on the rear of our house last fall, and put a custom OUTSWING door to the deck since the kitchen right inside is small (we're in NYC), knowing we would want a retractable screen this spring. Well, it's nice out and I want to leave the door open but really can't without a screen so it's time to get one ASAP. Our door isn't that wide (31.5") so I'm concerned about a frame making the width too narrow. I don't want something so "framed out" that we lose too much width. Also, we have cats one of whom always wants to go outside and might push against the screen, so I'd want something sturdy once it's closed so he only goes outside when we open the door to let him. (Once the cat learns it won't give way he won't try much more but at the beginning we need sturdy) we also have kids some of whom may push against it without realizing it's there. I've been researching this and have learned that Mirage (based in Canada) and Screenmobile (based in CA) use dealers that won't work in New York City (although the Screenmobile dealer in West Caldwell New Jersey was really nice and helpful and knowledgeable today), and Phantom is a floating mesh system and might not be pet-resistant (and including installation will cost around $500, which sounds high to me). Lowe's carries the Larson 39x81 for $160 or $200 including delivery, but it's either possibly overly framed out or has no bottom frame so my cat could render it relatively useless. And Home Depot has the ODL which is $120 or so but a dealer warned me that it's a relatively cheap product and "you get what you pay for" and suggested I go with the Phantom dealer in Brooklyn. I plan to go to his showroom but also wanted to ask others' opinions. Has anyone heard of Window Fix Inc? Any suggestions generally? Is $500 reasonable?

Get those screens that sit in a holder at the side of the door. They pull out like a shade and retract when not in use. Ron