Screened Porch Designs: Five Regrets to Avoid

The best screened porch designs incorporate the following five design elements into the overall structure. most people; however, they often don’t realize the importance of each element that affects the overall comfort and enjoyment of their covered porch. Before you begin planning your screen porch addition, make sure you understand how each of these will affect your overall design. Doing so will ensure years of enjoyment.

Size – Avoid saying, “I should have built it bigger.” Most people love their porch, but many wish they hadn’t made it bigger. A few extra square feet can make a world of difference. You’ll use your screened porch a lot and quickly realize that a few extra feet would accommodate built-ins, extra entertaining space, or an intimate dining nook. The extra space can make room for an outdoor fireplace or even a wet bar.

Your goal should be to build the largest porch you can afford based on how you will use it over the years. If your children are young, consider how much space they will need as they get older. If they are about to leave home, a smaller porch might be ideal.

To lease – Avoid saying: “It’s too hot to use it in the afternoon” or “we can’t get privacy from our neighbors”. Before you build, consider the location of the sun during the day to determine how it will affect your new addition. If you want to use it during the hottest part of the day, consider locating it on the shady side of your home or under shade trees if possible. If that’s not feasible, include shutters, blinds, or blinds in your design to block out the sun.

If you have noisy neighbors or unsightly outbuildings, screen your porch to keep them out as much as possible. What bothers you now will surely bother you more when you’re trying to enjoy the outdoors.

traffic patterns – Avoid saying, “I wish I had located the porch outside the dining room instead of the kitchen.” Before you build, consider how you will access the porch from the inside of your home. Do you want guests to walk through your kitchen to the screened-in living room, or would you prefer them to enter through a family room or dining room? Consider how often and by whom the room addition will be used.

If entertaining is your goal, perhaps access through a family room is ideal. Include a step (or additional access) to the kitchen so drinks and snacks can be easily purchased.

Mod cons – Avoid saying, “I wish I had included an outdoor fireplace.” Today’s enclosed porch designs incorporate amenities for all kinds of entertaining. Many have flat screens, fireplaces, wet bars, built-ins, outside fans, specialty lighting and more. All of these are much easier to install during the construction phase. Determine what services you would like to have in the planning process to avoid additional costs later.

Maintenance – Avoid saying, “I never realized how much maintenance my porch requires.” It incorporates products and materials that require little or no maintenance. Also, be sure to build properly to avoid water damage, the enemy of a screen porch. Things like airing out the trim, sloping the floor slightly, covering the stringers, and protecting the posts are extremely important and will help your screened porch addition last a long time.

The extra time you spend properly designing your covered porch investment will pay big dividends in years of enjoyment and added value to your home. Carefully consider all aspects of screened porch designs before building or talking to a contractor. Contractors who specialize in screened-in porches can also help you determine the best value for your money. Take the time to explore all of your options, then build knowing you’ll have the best screened porch design.