Homeowners looking to expand their living space don’t always need to build an addition to their home. A screened porch can give you the extra room you’re looking for while providing privacy and protection against the elements, neighbors, and insects. Below, we’ll cover ways to screen in your porch and offer some decor ideas.
The Basics of Screening In Your Porch
You can screen in just about any open porch by installing a frame around it and then attaching mesh to the frame. You’ll first measure the porch height by width and add 10% for material needs, then put up the enclosure using basic tools. For those less inclined to DIY, you can purchase kits and framing systems at home improvement stores to simplify the process. Professional installation is also an option, with costs varying based on size and complexity.
The average cost to screen in an existing porch is roughly $2,800*, but prices vary according to porch size. Expect to pay $5–$20 per square foot when you want to enclose your porch and between $100 and $2,500 for a screen door depending on size, quality, and materials.
Pro Tip: Steve Premack, screen door installation expert, explains why homeowners love modern screen solutions: “People love these doors for three reasons. Number one, the doors will keep bugs out what you’re intended to do. The screens roll up completely out of the way when you’re not using them, taking up very little space. And they also are not visible from the inside with the door shut.”
*Cost data in this article is sourced from contractor estimates collected by Angi.
Choosing the Right Wood
Choosing the appropriate lumber makes a difference in your screened-in porch’s durability and lifespan. We recommend redwood, cedar, or alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) treated lumber.
For pressure-treated lumber, the high copper content of the new, arsenic-free deck boards quickly corrodes fasteners made of mild steel, even those with galvanized coatings. Stainless steel deck screws are the way to go. (Stainless fasteners are also recommended for redwood and western red cedar.)
These woods naturally resist insects and weather-related damage. Remember to use compatible fasteners to maintain your porch’s structural integrity. Use galvanized screws for redwood or cedar, and ACQ-compatible screws for treated lumber.
Pro Tip: Tom Silva, TOH general contractor, notes important changes in treated lumber: “Back in 2003 is when they started to change the chemical makeup of the pressure-treated wood because they wanted to take all the arsenic out of it because of all the sawdust and everything when you’re using it. And because of the chemical change, you would actually get a galvanic reaction from the fasteners.”
Selecting Your Screen Type
The right screen material can enhance your porch’s weather resistance and appearance. We suggest these options:
- Extra-fine fiberglass: Offers more visibility if you don’t want to obstruct your view
- Fiberglass: Soft, easy to work with, and rust- and corrosion-resistant
- Metal: Sturdy but can rust or corrode in humid climates—aluminum will perform best
- Motorized and retractable: Lifts and lowers with button-touch control
- Synthetic solar screen fabric: Limits the amount of sunlight entering the porch, reducing heat and protecting furniture upholstery from fading
- Vinyl-coated polyester: Can withstand scratching—making it ideal for a pet-proof porch—but this thicker material may obscure the view
Determining Flooring
Your screened porch flooring should be durable enough to support the people and pets who use it. Popular options include the following:
- Composite decking: Low-maintenance with a wood-like appearance
- Concrete, brick, or stone: Hard-wearing but may chip over time
- Pine: A soft yet resilient natural wood
- Redwood or cedar: Longer-lasting natural options
- Rubber: An unconventional choice that’s great for kids’ play areas
Think about maintenance requirements, climate suitability, and your overall porch design when selecting flooring materials.
Picking a Ceiling
Your screened porch’s ceiling should complement your chosen decor style and can significantly impact the space’s ambience and sense of spaciousness. Consider these options:
- Beadboard for a traditional look
- Shiplap for a casual rustic feel
- Skylights for natural lighting
- Vaulted or angled designs for visual interest
When installing a v-groove board ceiling, This Old House contractor Tom Silva recommends covering the insulation with tar paper first. “The reason I want to cover it with tar paper is so that if the boards shrink, we won’t see the insulation through the cracks,” he explains. This professional technique ensures a finished look that lasts.
Pro Tip: According to This Old House’s Tom Silva, “Those are fir boards and fir rafters there. And that beam up there for the ridge, we repurposed that from one of the boards we took out of the house.” When selecting ceiling materials, consider repurposing existing lumber from your home renovation for an authentic, cost-effective solution.
Selecting a Design Scheme
Your screened porch’s design should reflect your taste and complement your home’s architecture. Popular themes include the following:
- Hawaiian lanai featuring tropical woods and rattan furniture
- Southern charm with rocking chairs and vintage accents
- Southwestern style with desert colors
- Sports-themed with an outdoor TV for the big game
Choose a cohesive design that creates a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor spaces, helping your porch to feel like a natural extension of your house.
Furniture Arrangement
Think about how you plan to use your porch when arranging furniture. If you want to use the space for socializing, create conversation areas with plenty of seating facing inward. To enjoy nature, position seating along the house wall facing outward. Ensure adequate clearance for traffic flow, especially near entry points.
Outdoor Dining
Transform your screened porch into an alfresco dining space by incorporating a sturdy table and set of chairs. Consider installing a vented grill for convenient cooking and adding a hutch or sideboard for storing outdoor dining essentials. This setup allows you to enjoy meals in a bug-free, weather-protected environment while feeling connected to nature.
Temperature Control
A ceiling fan can provide controlled air circulation and comfort on warm days. Choose an appropriately sized fan for your space that is made of weather-resistant materials and UL-listed for damp locations. Ensure at least 8 feet of clearance beneath the fan for safety.
Color Scheme
Embrace your screened porch’s outdoor feel by incorporating natural elements. Use earth tones in your color palette or choose furniture made from natural fibers and rustic wood. Add plenty of potted plants to blur the line between indoors and outdoors.
Privacy
Enhance your screened porch’s intimacy with sheer, flowing curtain panels, wooden shutters or blinds, or decorative screens and room dividers. These elements add softness to the space while allowing you to control light and visibility as desired. Privacy features can transform your porch into a more secluded and personalized retreat.
Lighting
Proper lighting lets you enjoy your screened porch at any time of day or night. We recommend UL-rated outdoor lamps and ceiling fixtures. You can also incorporate solar-powered string lights for a whimsical touch or LED candles for a cozy, flickering glow. A combination of ambient and task lighting ensures your porch is functional and inviting at any time.
Design Tip: Jean Rehkamp Larson, architect from Rehkamp Larson Architects in Minneapolis, emphasizes the importance of material choices: “The materials you choose will determine whether your porch feels like a part of the house or an extension of the garden.” She notes that exterior siding and flagstone floors create an outdoor feel, while exterior-grade cove molding and base trim with refined floor finishes give the space an interior feeling.
Our Conclusion
A screened-in porch has many benefits, such as providing weather protection and increasing your home’s resale value. You can screen in an existing porch by framing it and adding mesh at a low cost. You can hire a contractor to screen it in, but it’s a straightforward project for homeowners with some DIY experience. By adding features that suit your lifestyle, such as a porch swing or an outdoor dining set, you can enjoy your screened porch year-round.
