Adding a screen porch-- what are must-haves vs smart ways to save $$?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a screen-less/windowless porch (and that's our preference), but some days I would love some hurricane roll-down shutters.

We also have painted concrete as our flooring with an outdoor rug covering 80% of our porch.

Why no screens? Do you not have bugs in your yard?

[Anonymous]

We went with 1 ceiling fan (I debated getting two, but 1 is plenty) and 2 infrared heaters. The heaters are absolutely necessary and well worth it. I made sure to get a ceiling fan with a dimmable light, but it's still too bright at night and I prefer to use a lamp with a smart bulb set to low brightness if we're out there at night watching a movie. We did at least 2 outlets on each wall and that was also well worth it.

We didn't do a fireplace because of the cost and I'm okay with that. Having a TV has been better than expected. It's a good gathering place for teens. You probably don't need an expensive weather proof TV. For the cost of one of those you could replace a normal TV five times. Our's hasn't had any issues and it's been 3 years.

We did skylights because I was concerned the neighboring room would be too dark. That's the one thing I wouldn't do again. It's not worth it and it wouldn't have been dark.

[Anonymous]

I love the heaters on our porch! If they're out of budget now though, think about getting the wiring done when you're building and adding the heaters in a year or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went with 1 ceiling fan (I debated getting two, but 1 is plenty) and 2 infrared heaters. The heaters are absolutely necessary and well worth it. I made sure to get a ceiling fan with a dimmable light, but it's still too bright at night and I prefer to use a lamp with a smart bulb set to low brightness if we're out there at night watching a movie. We did at least 2 outlets on each wall and that was also well worth it.

We didn't do a fireplace because of the cost and I'm okay with that. Having a TV has been better than expected. It's a good gathering place for teens. You probably don't need an expensive weather proof TV. For the cost of one of those you could replace a normal TV five times. Our's hasn't had any issues and it's been 3 years.

We did skylights because I was concerned the neighboring room would be too dark. That's the one thing I wouldn't do again. It's not worth it and it wouldn't have been dark.

Are you in the suburbs? We're on a smallish lot in the city with a semi-attached house. Given that light is already an issue, I'm leaning towards getting the skylights. I also figure a TV won't work because we'd be disturbing the neighbors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We went with 1 ceiling fan (I debated getting two, but 1 is plenty) and 2 infrared heaters. The heaters are absolutely necessary and well worth it. I made sure to get a ceiling fan with a dimmable light, but it's still too bright at night and I prefer to use a lamp with a smart bulb set to low brightness if we're out there at night watching a movie. We did at least 2 outlets on each wall and that was also well worth it.

We didn't do a fireplace because of the cost and I'm okay with that. Having a TV has been better than expected. It's a good gathering place for teens. You probably don't need an expensive weather proof TV. For the cost of one of those you could replace a normal TV five times. Our's hasn't had any issues and it's been 3 years.

We did skylights because I was concerned the neighboring room would be too dark. That's the one thing I wouldn't do again. It's not worth it and it wouldn't have been dark.

Are you in the suburbs? We're on a smallish lot in the city with a semi-attached house. Given that light is already an issue, I'm leaning towards getting the skylights. I also figure a TV won't work because we'd be disturbing the neighbors.

I am in the suburbs on a small lot. You should definitely make sure you get blinds for the skylights so you can close them during parts of the day. When the sun is in certain positions it blinds you.

I tend to watch TV at a low volume with closed captioning on even when I'm inside, so that's not an issue for me. My kids will blare an action movie and I have to remind them that 'screens aren't walls' and to turn the volume down. As long as the volume is reasonable and you're not watching anything offensive, I don't think the TV is any more disturbing than having people out there talking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the heaters on our porch! If they're out of budget now though, think about getting the wiring done when you're building and adding the heaters in a year or two.

How much does the wiring cost?

[Anonymous]

In this are for projects like this, you need to accept the fact that you aren't just paying for materials and labor to get a screened porch. You are paying for labor to come to your house and install materials instead of going to someone else's houses and doing the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone received a quote in DC recently? We got one as part of a larger project and are trying to figure out whether we should separate it out and hire a deck/ porch company directly.

If you have a bigger project already in place, do it at same time. You are going to pay project staging and all of the other fees all over again if you bring in someone just for that small scope. Decks through a deck/porch/patio company in this area are stupidly over priced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t do it. If you do, make it an addition with screened windows you can open and close.
Our hose had a screened porch for about 30 years. Most of the year it was too hot or cold to enjoy. It also got dirty with stuff that was blown through the screens and difficult to clean away. Pollen season in the
Spring was the worst in every way. We closed it in with a fireplace,large glass windows with screens, and a large TV. Now it’s our favorite room in the house.

We love our screened porch. No desire for another room with big windows. We are out just tonight for dinner. It so relaxing to be out there. No TV...we enjoy the bird's chirping.