Use Pallets To Create A Privacy Living Wall
Much like the trellis, this smaller pallet living wall idea features plenty of floral plants to help add some flair into the mix. This would be the ideal setup for an especially small backyard sitting area that needs a little extra privacy.
Better yet, this project can easily be scaled up or down in order to accommodate a larger or smaller backyard space that needs a privacy wall. The flowers are a super cute added touch.
Add Stenciled Wood Planks
What an awesome idea to spice up your basic lattice privacy fence. Apply stenciled designs to wood boards and then attach boards to the fence.
The creator of this cool and original idea decided to cross the design over two boards, to unify the boards. The result is an artsy privacy wall. See how she did it here.
Frame The Walls Accurately For Smooth Assembly
Since the wall framing for this screened in porch is the finished surface, it’s worth taking a little extra time to make the framing material look good. We chose the nicest cedar 2x6s we could find and ripped them into 3-1/2-in. and 1-1/2-in. boards. We did this to create sharp, clean edges .
Cut the studs and crosspieces to length and screw the walls together . We used a power miter saw for clean, square cuts, but a circular saw will work too. Use a crosspiece as a spacer when you’re attaching the studs to the top and bottom plates. Then cut a 10-in. spacer block to position the crosspieces for assembly.
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Install Blinds Or Curtains
People take for granted what affordable options blinds and window shades actually are. The primary source of heat in any living space is always sunlight. Sometimes, the only remedy required is to shut that sunlight out.
Curtains and blinds have been fulfilling that basic function, probably since windows were invented. This option might feel like a step backward, but it is, in fact, very efficient and solves your problem in the long-term.
Tips For Joining The Screened In Porch And House Roofs
If you’re not sure how to neatly join the screened in porch and house roofs:
- We recommend hiring an architect to help work out the details.
- Another option is to build a full-size mockup of a roof truss out of inexpensive and lightweight 1x4s. Figure out where the top of the wall plate would be if you built the porch according to our plans . Then support the mocked-up truss at this height to see how the porch overhang meets the roof.
- If you don’t like the way the overhangs intersect, adjust the level of the deck slightly, alter the wall height or change the width of the overhang.
- Contact your local building inspections department to find out what’s required to obtain a building permit.
- Start this process at least a month before you plan to build. This will allow enough time to work through potential problems.
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Snapping On The Screen Tight Cap
Align the cap with the base strip, then strike it with a plastic or rubber mallet until it snap-locks into place. Use the same method to install horizontal cap trip along the top and bottom of the walls, and along the top and bottom of the walls, and along the handrails. Let these pieces run long, then trim them to length with pruning shears.
Cut the narrow, horizontal cap trip to length with pruning shears after tapping it onto the base strip. Cover the base strips and screen splines on the 4×4porch posts with long pieces of wide cap Screen Tight trim. Use a non-marring mallet to tap the narrow cap trim onto the base strips that are screwed to the 2×4 railing.
Install The Roof Boards
To bevel the first roof board, set your table saw or circular saw to 23 degrees and rip a bevel on the groove edge of the board. Align the board with the ends of the trusses and nail it with 16d galvanized nails. Install the remaining boards, making sure to snug the joints tight before nailing them. Let the boards hang out past the last truss to form the gable end overhang. Cut the last board on each side to fit at the peak.
When you’re done installing the roof boards, snap a chalk line at the gable end and saw them off to leave an 18-in. overhang. Finish the gable end overhang by installing a pair of rafters and the 1×3 trim. Hold the gable end rafters tight to the underside of the cutoff roof boards and screw through the roof boards to hold the rafters in place. Then cut 1×3 trim to cover the end grain of the roof boards. Extend the trim around the corners and return it along the roof edge to the house.
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Attach 2x2s Over The Framing
After you stretch and staple each section, cut off the excess screen with a sharp utility knife. Then cover the edges with 2×2 trim pieces. We screwed these on to allow for easy removal for future screen repairs, and the trim covers the staples along all of the edges. Frame and screen the outer gable end following Figure C.
Screen door details:
If you use a wood door like ours, start by trimming it just enough to fit in the opening. Then set it in place and mark the door for final fitting. Use a sharp plane or belt sander to trim the door. You may have to repeat this process a few times to get a good fit.
Nail 1/2 x 2-in. wood stops to the framing at the door opening. Then hang the door using galvanized or brass screen door hinges. Mount a latch and door closer to complete the job. Plus, check out these other 10 inviting screen porches, rooms and lanais.
Additional Information:
Screen Porch System Summary
Screen Tight is a cleverly designed, all-vinyl system that consists of two main components: a black base strip and a snap-on cap trim, which comes in white, grey, beige and brown.The base strip is screwed in place around the perimeter of each opening that will be screened. It comes in 8- and 12ft. lengths, and in two widths for attachment to 2×4 and 4×4 framing. Molded into the surface of the base strip are two grooves, which accept the rubber spline that secures the screen in place. Once the screens are installed, the cap trim is snapped on to conceal the base strip and screen spines.
You can use either fiberglass or aluminum screening, although fiberglass is a better choice because its easier to handle, stretches tighter, and is less expensive. Fiberglass screening, sold at home centers and hardware stores, starts at 15 cents per square foot aluminum costs 25 cents per square foot.
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Add Flower Pots To A Lattice Privacy Wall
This adorable DIY tutorial shows you all the steps in creating your very own privacy wall with flower pots. The latticed wall will give you an extra layer of security, while the potted plants will add some charm into the backyard area.
This would be an especially cute idea for a patio area that is furnished with some outdoor furniture and barbecue pit.
Screen Porch With Fireplace Estimate
Once you have a screened-in porch, you might want to add a few extra features. For example, building an outdoor fireplace costs $3,000 on average. The price to build an outdoor kitchen averages $13,500. It’s important to ensure that these additions have ventilation and a location away from the screens. Under high heat, certain materials can melt or sustain other damage.
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Create Holes For The Bolts
Have an assistant push one of the screen panels tightly up against the floor and ceiling nailing boards. Using the six-foot step ladder, drill two holes at the top of the panel, all the way through the panel and the nailing board behind it. Back on the ground, do this again for the floor section. Repeat for the second panel.
When To Build A Screened
Pouring concrete footers for an elevated porch entails digging holes that extend below your area’s frost line. During winter months when the ground is frozen, it can be difficult or even impossible to break through the frozen soil. If this is not a factor in your area, you can build a screened-in porch at any time of year.
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Create A Diy Privacy Pergola
This adorable little party tent is a pergola, and its here to help add some temporary privacy into a patio setting. This DIY tutorial shows you exactly how to execute this adorable tent, which would add an extra chic to that next backyard party you could be planning.
This is a Bali inspired decoration that is easy to do and even more easy to take down. Although this is not a permanent fix to your outdoor area privacy, this would be the perfect setup for last minute event.
Screened In Patio Overview
However much you love your patio, there may be just too many days when its not fit to live on. Our enclosure turns a patioor a deckinto a space as comfortable as another room of your house.
Of course, a closed in porch wont keep out the cold, but the roll-down shades will block out most of the rain. And, thanks to the screens and the awning soffit , you can forget about mosquito attacks.
Our 14 x 16-ft. enclosure is a big project, but its the best of any do it yourself screen porch kits around! Although its fairly simple structurally, it requires careful work with a lot of large-dimension lumber. The trickiest part is getting all these components square and plumb, which probably calls for more than a beginners skills. And youll spend a lot of time buildingtwo or three weeks going at it full time, or much of a summer in your spare time.
We built our screen room roof high enough to preserve a pleasant view through the sliding doors. In summer, the awning top shades the bright sun, yet allows plenty of light to pass into the house. And heres the biggest selling point for this project: You can easily remove the awning in winter and let the sunshine in. The structure is designed to look good even without the awning top. Of course, you could leave the awning on all year in many parts of the country, but it wont support a heavy snow load.
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Use Old Shutters For A Privacy Screen
What a great idea turn your old shutters into a patio privacy screen. This is a great way to get total privacy and being able to refurbish or recycle some old wood items, too. As you can see on the image above, you can paint the shutters to create a truly adorable outdoor patio area.
Dont have any old shutters laying around in your backyard? No worries. You could probably purchase inexpensive raw wood shutters from an antique store or even a neighbor to execute this design.
What Is A Kick Plate
A kick plate is a thin, durable strip of aluminum which can be attached to the bottom of the screen. Eight to sixteen inches in height, a kick plate is added to the circumference of the screened-in area at the bottom for protection. A kick plate can be handy for those circumstances in which the bottom of the screen is likely to receive abuse. Here are some of the more common causes of screen damage:
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Porch Screen Costs By Type
- Aluminum screen porch cost: $5-$7 per square foot, including $2 per square foot for labor.
- Fiberglass: $4.50-$5.50 per square foot with installation
- Solar Screens: $5.50-$7 per square foot with labor
- Retractable screens : $2,000-$4,000 per unit. Harder to estimate per square foot.
Its important to remember that the measurement relates to amount of material needed, not the footprint of the flooring. A 20-by-10-foot concrete pad might need around 400 square feet.
Invest In A Patio Cover
The most basic way to close your patio a bit is to add an overhang to block the rain. This could be through the addition of an awning, a pergola, or other more permanent cover options such as a metal roof.
Youll also want to consider whether you want overhead protection at all times or if you would enjoy being able to open up your patio to receive more sunlight. There are retractable options and pergola-style options you could utilize that allow you to let sunlight in whenever you like.
An overhead patio cover gives you significant weather protection but wont keep out insects or most other pests. It will enable you to enjoy your patio in the rain, but the bugs may still drive you indoors as dusk approaches.
If you plan to sit out on the patio during the evening, you may want to consider a screened-porch enclosure instead. Its a more significant investment, but you get more protection for your money.
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Diy Screened In Porch
While this is possible, you will obtain cleaner, more professional results by using individual wood-framed screen panels as the building blocks and attaching those panels to the porch. Build as few or as many screen panels as you need. You can construct the panels off-site and then move them to your porch for installation or use the porch floor as your workshop.
Fasten Sill Plate To Concrete Floor
Cary Wiedman
Install the Plate
Lay pressure-treated 2×4 boards around the perimeter of the porch. Use a framing square to make sure the sill plate is square. Fasten the sill plate to the concrete floor using lag bolts and concrete anchors . Attach a layer of untreated wood on top of the sill plate to provide a base for interior trim work. Use a reciprocating saw or a handsaw to remove the sill plate from door opening.
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Build Your Own Modern Wood Privacy Screens
Want a nice, modern looking privacy screen while still being on a budget? Then this great DIY tutorial it just for you! It offers step by step instructions on how to build your very own back porch wood screens. These easy to construct hanging screens were built from scratch, by hand, using wooden planks, to create a lattice effect. They look great, dont they?
And for an extra layer of privacy, there are curtains. In the case you want to host a private patio party or just relax in a quiet, you can achieve even more privacy. This is one of our favorite ideas.
Create Outdoor Privacy With Curtains
This DIY tutorial features outdoor curtains that act as privacy screens. This is a pretty cheap design concept that will set you back only about $100 to execute correctly. Of course, you may be able to find cheaper curtains where you live.
This is a really elegant idea that the owners came up with to gain privacy from the house that sits high above. The curtains also add an interesting decor facet to the patio.
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How To Build A Screened
- Total Time: 2 – 4 wks
- Skill Level: Advanced
- Estimated Cost: $2,000 to $5,000
Mild weather means more time spent outdoors and on the porch. Porches are nature’s free air conditioning, plus they let you chat with passersby. Unfortunately, mosquitos, flies, and other insects love pleasant weather and porches, too. Building a screened-in porch will help you regain that spacecompletely free of insects and other annoyances.
Installing Vertical Pieces Of Lath To Cover Seams
Attach the Screen
Cut the screening to length and staple one side of the screen to the wall studs . Stretch the material taut and staple it to the other stud. To cover the seams, cut lath to length, prime and paint the pieces and nail into place over the seams in the screening. When attaching the lath, follow this order: attach top horizontal pieces first, followed by the bottom and balusters, then any vertical pieces till all the seams have been covered .
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Item Have Been Added To Cart
Screen framing systems or porch screen kits make it easier to add or replace screen around your porch. The method provides much cleaner results than with stapling.
To calculate how much material youll need, sketch a diagram of your porch with measurements for all vertical and horizontal pieces of the frame that will support screen.
To determine how much screen you will need, multiply the overall width and height of the porch and then add an additional 10 percent for waste.
Tip: Screen frames can be made any size, so screen sizes range from 3-foot widths to 8-foot widths. When screening in a porch, select rolls of screen appropriate for the dimensions of your framework or for any frames that need replacement mesh.
Pieces of base strips with grooves to hold the screen and the cap strips that cover the base come in 8-foot sections. They can be cut to fit using tin snips or a similar cutting tool.
Choosing the screen mesh material is another consideration when figuring out how to screen in a porch.
Fiberglass screen is the common choice for porches because it is less expensive than aluminum screen. It is easier to install because of its flexibility and doesnt crease like metal screen mesh is prone to do.
Metal screen mesh, such as aluminum screen, is more durable than its fiberglass counterpart, which stretches and tears more easily than other types of screen fabric.
Fiberglass screen requires .175-inch diameter spline.
Use .160-inch diameter spine for aluminum screen.