Retractable screen assemblies and methods

A retractable screen assembly comprising:

• a screen housing configured for attachment to a first side of a building opening;
• a core retained in the screen housing, the core comprising a core length extending along a winding axis from a first end to a second end;
• screen material wound on the core in the screen housing, the screen material comprising a first edge proximate the first end of the core, a second edge proximate the second end of the core, a leading edge extending from the first edge to the second edge, and a trailing edge extending from the first edge to the second edge, wherein the trailing edge is attached to the core and remains in the screen housing during use of the retractable screen assembly and wherein the screen material comprises a length measured between the leading edge and the trailing edge;
• and
• a pull bar attached to the leading edge of the screen material, the pull bar configured to unwind the screen material from the core when moved away from the screen housing;
• wherein the core comprises a tension section occupying only a portion of the core length between the first edge of the screen material and the second edge of the screen material, wherein the tension section comprises a tension section effective diameter that is greater than an effective core diameter outside of the portion of the core length occupied by the tension section, such that the screen material is in tension along a tension zone aligned with the tension section along the length of the screen material, the tension zone also aligned with but spaced apart from the first edge of the screen material.