“I cannot believe we still get the same view with these screens installed. They blend in seamlessly and work perfectly.”
Lisa Elliot
How long do Phantom screens last?
Phantom screens are built to last for decades, and to be serviced rather than thrown away when they do wear. Here is what that looks like in practice.
The honest answer is decades. Because Phantom has been screening New Zealand homes the longest, we get to see how our screens hold up after twenty years and more - and we still service them ourselves.
A real example: 22 years on
On a recent job in Whangarei Heads, every screen in the house had been installed 22 years earlier. Of the ten screens, only four needed any repair after two decades, and none of it was major. The door screens had a few small tears at the bottom of the mesh. The window screens - which sit right by the sea - were worn only slightly and were still retracting properly.
The fix in each case was simple: pull the screen apart, replace the mesh, and fit any other parts needed. All of it is still fully supportable.
Why they last
- Made to be serviced, not replaced. The mesh is a replaceable cartridge, so a worn screen is re-meshed rather than written off.
- Parts stay available long-term. Even a screen installed two decades ago can still be repaired with genuine parts.
- A finish built for the conditions. The powder-coated hardware is made for New Zealand weather, including coastal salt air.
Helping yours last
Most of a screen’s life comes down to a little seasonal care - keeping the tracks clean, a fresh-water rinse near the coast, and not forcing a screen that sticks. See caring for your screens for the few minutes a season it takes, and fixing a jammed screen if one ever won’t retract.
Backed by our warranty
Phantom-made screens carry a limited lifetime warranty, plus a workmanship cover on the install. A screen is a long-term fixture in your home, not a throwaway - and if something ever needs attention, get in touch and we’ll service it.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long do retractable fly screens last? +
Decades, when they are looked after. We regularly service Phantom screens still working more than 20 years after they were installed, including homes by the sea. The mesh is the part that eventually wears, and it is replaceable, so a screen is not written off when it does.
Can an old Phantom screen be repaired or re-meshed? +
Yes. The mesh is a replaceable cartridge, so we re-mesh a screen rather than replace the whole thing. On a 22-year-old install we serviced recently, the worst of the wear was a few tears at the bottom of the mesh - a straightforward repair.
Are parts still available for older screens? +
Yes. As the longest-established retractable screen company in New Zealand, we keep older systems serviceable - the parts for long-installed screens are still supportable.
Does living near the coast shorten a screen's life? +
Salt is the main factor near the sea, but the powder-coat finish is built for it. A seasonal fresh-water rinse of the hardware and tracks keeps things running. Coastal screens 22 years old are still retracting properly.