How To Screen Porch
When you see me write how to screen porch, you may wonder if my building skills are as poor as my grammar! Rest assured that I know it should be how to screen a porch, but Im just responding to the habits of all those who have become addicted to instant gratification on the Internet. People are in such a hurry they just dont have time to type in an extra letter and a space. Its crazy but true.
Ive built my fair share of screened porches over the years. They are really fun projects because they go from start to finish so quickly. Once the rough frame is up and the roof is done, you can have a finished structure in just days. This assumes you had a local mill construct the screen panels for you in advance. Even if you decide to go to all the trouble to make the panels, the time frame is short.
If you are in a rush to get your screened porch built, you may have typed how to screened porch to discover this column. No worries as in just a few short minutes Ill share some very important tips with you. What you really were searching for was how to screen in a porch. I understand, as Ive worked for many an impatient homeowner.
Remember that a screened porch is not any different than a regular room addition. This means if you live in an area that experiences cold weather, there must be a proper foundation under each of the bearing posts of the porch, and these must be set below the frost level in your area.
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Install The Front Corners
Install the front corner posts and secure them with temporary diagonal bracing. Then fit the upper horizontal 2x6s into the post notches and secure them with one screw at each joint. Measure diagonally from corner to corner on all four sides, and move the temporary bracing as necessary to ensure that all the sides are square, and all posts plumb.
Costs Of Screening In A Porch
If you have a sturdy porch already, adding the screens and supports to enclose it is relatively simple. Depending on the cost of materials in your area, it should cost between $100 and $150 if you plan to do the work yourself.
Enclosing or screening in an existing porch is much more affordable than building a brand new porch. If you do not have a porch or patio that can be screened in, you will have to build a brand new screened-in porch, which could cost as much as thousands of dollars, depending on what kind of porch you want.
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How To Screen In A Porch
Jon Lovette / Getty Images
- Total Time: 2 hrs, 30 mins
- Yield: Two panels covering 8 linear feet
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- Estimated Cost: $100 to $150
One of the joys of fair weather seasons is relaxing on a porch and talking with friends, swinging, reading, or listening to music. But insects never seem interested in your privacy. It takes only a few mosquitos or flies to drive everyone indoors.
Instead of being an exile from your porch, lay claim to it again by screening it in. A DIY screened-in porch keeps the bugs out and removes annoying hassles while letting you enjoy your porch again. And, fortunately, screening in a porch isn’t as difficult as you may think.
Removing The Old Screens
Start by using a hammer and flat bar to pry off all the wood battens nailed to the porch framing. On our porch, we removed the horizontal 1×2 battens first, then yanked off the vertical 1×4 battens that were nailed to the 4×4 posts.
Once you have removed the battens, cut down the old screens with a utility knife. There will be many old tacks and staples left behind, which you can either pull out with pliers or tap flush with a hammer. We employed both methods to create flat, smooth surfaces.
Pull down all the old screening and pound the staples flat.
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Bolt The Frame Together
Lag-bolt all the framing members securely together with two 3/8-in. x 4-1/2 in. lag bolts at each joint. Predrill 3/16-in. pilot holes into the posts to prevent splitting, then 3/8-in. clearance holes in the horizontal members. Countersink the washers and bolt heads. Begin your screen room framework assembly by notching all the 6×6 and 4×6 vertical posts to receive the horizontal framing members .
To obtain the necessary span strength, we used a pressure-treated 1-3/4 x 12-in. laminated beam at the peak , which youll probably have to special-order at a full-service lumberyard. Mount the laminated beam to the notches in the two rear vertical posts with lag bolts. Use washers, and countersink the washers and the lag bolt heads. Tack sill seal1/2-in. thick foam strips to block bugs and water dripsto the back of the posts and beam. Then raise the assembly in place, dropping the posts onto the drift pins. Hold the posts in place with temporary 2×4 diagonal braces.
Raise the two front corner posts into position, fitting them onto the drift pins. Hold the posts plumb, and secure them in position with temporary diagonal bracing, as shown in Photo 6. Then install the upper horizontal 2×6 framing members, and temporarily fasten them in place with one screw at each joint. Note that the front upper horizontal 2×6 is notched into the posts the upper horizontal 2x6s on the sides are flush-mounted to the posts.
How To Winterize Your Screen Porch: 3 Diy Panel Ideas
No matter where you live, whether it’s in snowy Idaho or sunny Florida, temperatures are dropping and its time to start planning for months of cooler, wetter weather. Preparing for winter includes winter maintenance for your home.
If you have a porch enclosure, its time to winterize and maybe even turn it into a 3 or 4 season sunroom! If you have always wanted to enjoy a screened porch, now could still be the time to create it, depending on the porch screen system you choose. Today on the Metro Screenworks blog, were offering you 3 ways for winterizing your porch using winter porch panels and possibly turning it into a 3 to 4 season sunroom.
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No 16// Create Privacy In Other Ways
Want the best of both worlds? There are so many ways to create privacy, keep critters out, and protect yourself from the heat besides a permanent screen. Check out these patio shades that roll down at the push of a button. Like the idea?
Overall, screened-in or not, these are ideas you wish you thought of. for privacy and style. A beautiful porch space with or without screens has its perks!
If you dont know where to start or just want a partner in design, thats what our virtual design service is all about. The experts on the design team at brick& batten are full of ideas. Stop dreaming of all the changes you want to make, and lets get started!
Install A Nailing Board On The Floor
Use the cordless drill to drill four pilot holes through one of the 4-foot two-by-twos. Switch to a driver bit and drive the 2 1/2-inch screws through the two-by-two and into the face of the floor.
For a finished look, step back the board 1 1/2 inches from the leading edge of the flooring. This will allow the bottom edge of the screen panel to be flush with the outer edge of the flooring.
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Scrub With Soapy Water
Use soapy water to spot-clean any areas that remain dirty or stained after vacuuming and hosing down the screens, or to thoroughly clean the entire surface. Mix a few squirts of mild dish soap into a bucket of warm water. Dip a soft-bristled brush into the solution and gently scrub the inside of the screen.
Installed Cost Of Of Porch Screen
Screening in a porch with an overhang often requires adding a few posts to whats already there, so the screening can be attached every 4-6 feet. Youll want a door too, of course. The total price will vary due to the size of the porch, the quality of the materials used and whether a contractor is hired to do the job. To add posts, screen and a screen door to a typical 300 square foot porch runs $1,200 to $2,700.
The most affordable approach is to attach screening directly to the posts. And upgrade method is to build frames for each screen section that can be fixed to the posts with brackets during milder seasons and taken down and stored so that winter weather doesnt damage them.
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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.
Tips For Screening In A Porch
- For the sake of appearance, if you would like to use wood that is not pressure-treated, you should treat the outside of the wood with a weatherproof coating.
- It is vital to keep the screen material tight on the sides of the panels, as bumps may create holes through which insects can enter the screened-in porch.
- Do not assume that the floor-to-ceiling height is the same throughout the entire porch. Instead, measure separately for each screen panel.
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Install The Ridge And Rafters
Cut the 2×8 roof plates. If you’re not good at calculating roof angles, start by estimating the angles and cutting the plates an extra 6 in. long. Then set them in place, remark the angles and recut them until they fit. Screw the roof plates through the roof boards into the rafters below. Next measure for the ridge, estimate the angle and cut it a little long. Trim the angle to fit and screw the ridge rafter to the first truss and roof plates. Complete the tie-in by installing a pair of rafters. The framing should be exactly 3/4 in. above the top of the trusses.
Get The Most Out Of Your Porch Enclosure
If you use one of the porch screening systems above, you are on the right track to getting the most out of your porch enclosure. However, there are other elements to consider.
- Add an overhead fan – keep cool during warmer temperatures
- Build transoms – to release hot air out of your porch
- Upgrade to a stereo system – for easy, high-quality listening
- Install a heating system – for 3-4 season enclosures
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How To Design A Screen Porch
When determining the size of your screen room, decide whether you want only a sitting area or a place to dine, too. Keep in mind that a long, narrow porch can provide adjacent spaces for seating and dining and lets more light into the house than a square room.
If possible, build a room that is open on three sides. This increases the feeling of sitting outdoors and helps air circulate. A peaked roof will allow you to install high windows, which also help with air circulation, and provides space for a ceiling fan. A gas or wood-burning fireplace will ensure the room is comfortable on chilly spring and fall evenings.
Screen For Screened In Porch
Measure for the screens after the structure is completed. Buy custom-made screens for the enclosure and the doors, or make your own. If you live in the Sun Belt, you might want to consider using a sun-blocking screening material .
As an alternative to custom-made screens, you might want to consider securing the screening directly to the framing. However, this system does not allow the screens to be taken down and put back up easily.
The total cost for our patio enclosure will range from several thousand if you use less expensive materials to two or three times that amount for premium lumber and professionally made screens.
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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.
The Cons Of An Open Porch
Con: Its affected more by the elements.
An open screened porch is going to get the full effects of the weather. You have to plan for your furniture to get wet during rainstorms, for any light items you leave on the porch to blow away on windy days, and for exposure to pollen during the spring. That puts some limitations on what you can do and keep on your porch, and how often you can use it.
Con: You get more of any unpleasant sights and sounds.
While you get more of the view of nature, you also get more of any sights or sounds in your neighborhood that are a nuisance. If theres construction happening nearby, youre faced with a view of the machinery. If youre right next to a busy road, that can mean car noises and the sound of sirens. A screened porch wont keep out all potential noises, but it can dull them more than no screens at all.
Con: Theres no protection from allergens.
Anyone with seasonal allergies knows how much they can take over your life for months out of the year. Much of the joy of going outside is ruined if it leads to itchiness, sinus issues, or exhaustion. A screened porch lets you be outside while providing a barrier between you and the allergens that make you miserable.
Theres not one right answer to the question of screened porch vs open porch. Every person that considers adding a porch to their home will have unique priorities. Weigh what matters most to you.
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Cut Away The Overhang And Siding To Make Way For The Porch
You’ll have to decide whether to cut a slot where the porch walls meet the siding. If your siding is stucco, brick or stone, you may want to butt the walls to the siding.
Make a mark 1-5/8 in. out from the deck on both sides. Then make another mark 5-1/8 in. inside the first mark. Draw plumb lines up from these marks and cut a 5-1/8-in. slot through the siding but not the sheathing. Set the saw blade just deep enough to cut through the siding only. Remove the siding. Waterproof the slot with No. 15 building paper.
Best Location For Your Screen Porch
You should also consider the view from the screen porch and how secluded the area is from neighbors or the street. Take into account the direction the breeze usually comes from, and think about where you might place an outdoor grill. You don’t want smoke to blow into your screen room on barbecue nights.
It’s best to place a screen porch near rooms that you use often, such as the kitchen. This makes eating meals out on the porch convenient. However, if you’ll be blocking the kitchen’s only source of natural light, you might want to place it in front of an adjacent mudroom or laundry area.
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Screen Porch Decorating Ideas
When decorating a screen porch, first determine how the room will typically be used. A screen room dedicated to entertaining will need enough comfortable seating for guests and a coffee table or a few side tables for setting beverages or snacks. Add warmth and personality to a screen porch with a large indoor-outdoor area rug and cozy pillows or throws on furniture. Be sure fabrics are outdoor-safe if the porch has no windows. If you plan to dine out on the screen porch, make space for a table and chairs. When , keep in mind that a circular pedestal table, as opposed to a rectangular one, will be easier to navigate around in a tight space.
When To Call A Pro
If you have to frame a porch for screening or installing the door, or if you need to tear down and rebuild your stairs, it might be more beneficial to hire a contractor. Just adding trim around porch posts can be a pain for a beginner.
And if you want to go all out with your screened-in porch with retractable or motorized screens or a ceiling fan, youll definitely want to call in a professional. Running electric out to your porch requires a licensed electrician to do it right, so you never want to try it yourself. Given the expense of powered screens, its not worth trying to do it yourself if youre not used to it.
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