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Porches & Decks Windows Design Dilemma

Brio or Phantom retractable screen?

4 years ago

Hi all, we are installing a 15 ft sliding door with 3 panels that slide entirely into a pocket. We are trying to make a decision between a single Brio pleated retractable screen or two Phantom retractable screens, one on either side. If you have experience with either it would be so helpful to hear it. TIA!

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Patricia Colwell Consulting

4 years ago

I love my phantoms.

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Comments (10)

blondiegirlkk
3 years ago
Hi, I’m in AZ and have a stacking three panel sliding door going to my patio. Two panels (6’ total for panels) stack on the inside of the third panel which is stationary. I’ve contacted local vendors for both Phantom and Wizard and I can’t find much customer feedback/reviews on Wizard Vistaview. Curious if anyone has any feedback they can share.

My concern with going with Phantom is that I would have two housing units one in left and one on right that I would have to pull to middle creating more visual lines but also since I have two movable panels, if I want to only open one panel (3ft) instead of two panels being open (6ft), I still have to pull both screens to keep the bugs out otherwise there is a gap from only pulling one screen across.

Otherwise I have to get the Phantom XL which would be mounted on the outside of the 3rd stationary panel and then in order to use the screen I would pull it across all three panels.

So at this point believe I’m leaning towards The Wizard Vistaview.

Anyone heard any customer feedback about Wizard Screens?
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Yes, in our case they were. We built & moved to the lake in 2004 & didn't know that the bugs were outrageous out here. We couldn't even sit on our backporch for the wasps, misquitoes, dirt daubers , spider webs, etc. We cleaned( meaning hosed it heavily down) it once a week. It was always dirty. I then discovered the phantom screens in a Southern Living Idea home magazine. We checked into it. The cost is plenty as you say. We have 3 indiviual screens that let up independently or together. You can have 3 remotes. Our housing is hidden under the eaves & is totally invisible from the inside. We do LOVE, LOVE, ours. We have since put a bistro table for two back there & eat on the porch too. Good luck with yours! Bonnie Here is a link that might be useful: Retractable motorized screens
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I contacted a local "screen" company. They rep a company I hadn't heard of, Genius. I think they are relatively new. https://www.geniusscreens.com/products/door-screens/zigzag-screen. Prices were comparable to Phantom. For my 8' tall, 11' wide door, they recommended the accordion type of screen (like Brio) vs the Phantom. It has a full frame, and a nice, locking handle. It also can open from either side. It turns out that while the place I ordered my folding doors (Panoramic) reps Brio, they do not have a display. I was able to see one at my local home store, Friedman's. It didn't look like it has a full frame, and the handle was flimsy and had no lock. I have a call in to the Panoramic rep to confirm.
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blondiegirlkk
3 years ago
I forgot to include in my last post the photos of the slider.
dstunkel
2 years ago
Hi Carii, We too are about to install a 15' three panel sliding door. What did you end up doing for a screen door? I have debated adding one more track and just having one screened panel or doing a XL retractable Phantom for the whole thing. Thanks!
carii
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
We ended up with the Brio (one long track) and are very happy!
Lori R
2 years ago
Hi carii - we are looking to install a Brio in our new construction home and hoping to get it in before the floor is tiled. Can you tell me who in AZ you used for your project? Thank you!
carii
Original Author
2 years ago
Hi Lori, we are in N California so I cant recommend an installer, sorry.
Lori R
2 years ago
Oops, sorry. Someone else in the string is from AZ. My mistake. Thanks!
opaone
last year
We have three 12' wide phantom roll-up screens on our porch and have had consistent problems for the 2 years that we've owned them. One works about 90% of the time, one about 60% and one never goes down without assistance and even then can take 10-15 tries to get it to actually go all of the way down. Not sure if this is Phantom's fault or installer but we're extremely frustrated and unhappy with the poor reliability.

FWIW, if they worked we'd love them but they have proven very unreliable.
johndgilly81
last year
Brio screens are a no go. Horizontal strings snap and Brio denies warranty coverage. Don’t buy Brio.

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