At the turn of the century our grandfather built the home we later grew up in. In keeping with the style of construction during that era, the rooms were spacious with high ceilings and the doors were solid wood. Decorative wood and plaster trim adorned the walls and ceilings of most rooms and there were hardwood floors throughout.

A real beauty, our home could also be a quite a beast during the dog days of summer. We had all of the comforts of home except air conditioning.

How did we get relief during those hot summer nights? Screens covered our windows and doors allowing the evening breeze in and keeping insects out.

For our home and others like it, window and door screens were standard equipment. And although window screens have always been popular, the use of screen doors today is at an all-time high despite the presence of air conditioning in many homes. Live in a cold climate? Kick it up a notch by adding windows to your screen door and you have the best of both worlds...a screen/storm door.

And window configurations aren't what they used to be. You can now have a door that offers you full-view, high or low-view, self-storing, and triple-track...or a combination thereof.

A full view screen/storm door is, as the name suggests, all glass with no solid panels. One or both of the windows can operate. The high or low-view option includes a solid panel that can be alternated between the top and bottom of the door. In a self-storing door, the glass panels can be moved and hidden inside the solid door section...a nifty option. And for the ultimate, there is the triple-track door. It is the most convenient year-round alternative. Again, as the name suggests, the opening has three tracks...one for each of the two half-height windows and a third for the screen. Each can be independently positioned for real convenience.

Natural light, ventilation, security, weather protection, energy efficiency, comfort and appearance are a few of the many benefits that a screen/storm door can afford.

The average windowless exterior door accounts for about 20 square feet of area. A screen/storm door added to that opening can have a dramatic impact on the amount of natural light in that area.

The same goes for ventilation. More and more people are using screen doors to improve natural ventilation. Over time, windows in homes have dropped in size and quantity, thus making fresh air a precious commodity. A screen door can get back some of that lost air. A high-quality screen/storm door can be a year-round money-saver as it lowers cooling costs in the summer and heating costs in the winter.

Many people have resisted screen or screen/storm doors because of their appearance. There are more materials, styles and combinations to choose from than ever before. The screen door on our old family home consisted of a simple wood frame with galvanized metal mesh screen. While wood is still a popular choice, aluminum, steel, plastic and combinations of these materials also are available. As a bonus, some of the materials are insulated to improve energy efficiency.

Good old-fashioned clear glass still is standard on most screen/storm doors. However, if etched glass, stained glass or real hand-leaded appeals to you, you're in luck, as many manufacturers offer these glass upgrades.

Many people, especially seniors, are opting for a screen/storm door to tighten up security. If such is your aim, don't go for the cheapest. Look for a strong frame such as decorative wrought iron, bank vault-like deadbolt pins, heavy-duty keyed locks and nonremovable-pin hinges. In all cases, look for the best warranty.

There is another benefit that you might not have considered. Installing a screen/storm door will increase the life of your primary door by providing weather protection.

Finally, when it comes to screen fabric, there are several choices. Vinyl is the least expensive and most prevalent. Galvanized, stainless steel and copper are available upgrades. If you have pets or an interest in heightened security, stainless steel is your best choice due to its strength and tear-resistance.