How much of the year can you use a screened porch? How much do heaters help?eaters help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume no vinyl windows, just heaters. Then how much can you comfortably use it?

In metro DC, our summers generally are too hot & humid for a screened porch, and winters are usually too windy and cold. I would guess it would be usable April-May and September-October.

If one enclosed the porch (not just screens) but did not add HVAC to the space, then an electric space heater might add the winter months to the above.

That does not match my experience at all.

You are guessing from not even using a porch to see how it feels?

We have had a screened-in porch for 25 years and use it from about March or April through June, then September through late October or so. During Covid we used a propane heater but it's not a great solution, and electric heaters do nothing to heat a porch.

It's definitely too hot in July and August to use the porch, except on the occasional, highly-unusual mild summer day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We use ours probably 10 months a year. In hotter months it might be more at night with the fan on or early morning. But it gets used.

We have ceiling mounted heaters.

Best feature of my house. Love the space.

We are debating between an extension and screened porch. Former is definitely more expensive but will be more versatile. What are the best heaters that you’ve found? And is fan the best cooling option? I’d love to use at least 10 months a year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume no vinyl windows, just heaters. Then how much can you comfortably use it?

I would not recommend this. The vinyl panels not just help keep wind out, but they keep the porch furniture clean from dust and pollen. We've had one without vinyl panels and it's unbelievable how much, and how quickly pollen builds up in the spring, and dust accumulate throughout the year. It's a lot of work just to keep the porch usable from the cleaning point. Now we have one with the panels and will never go back.

Can vinyl panels be built or retro fit to existing screen panel size? What local companies do folks suggest?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume no vinyl windows, just heaters. Then how much can you comfortably use it?

I would not recommend this. The vinyl panels not just help keep wind out, but they keep the porch furniture clean from dust and pollen. We've had one without vinyl panels and it's unbelievable how much, and how quickly pollen builds up in the spring, and dust accumulate throughout the year. It's a lot of work just to keep the porch usable from the cleaning point. Now we have one with the panels and will never go back.

Can vinyl panels be built or retro fit to existing screen panel size? What local companies do folks suggest?

Depends on where you live but we used Tom Futch New Look Services for Sunspace. The windows are ordered to your specs. You might need to have someone do a little work on the openings if they aren’t flush on the outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume no vinyl windows, just heaters. Then how much can you comfortably use it?

I would not recommend this. The vinyl panels not just help keep wind out, but they keep the porch furniture clean from dust and pollen. We've had one without vinyl panels and it's unbelievable how much, and how quickly pollen builds up in the spring, and dust accumulate throughout the year. It's a lot of work just to keep the porch usable from the cleaning point. Now we have one with the panels and will never go back.

This. I’m a bit obsessed with screened in porches and FINALLY went for it and got one. We have the vinyl windows and screens and are still using it. You’ll have to do a lot of
maintenance without these screens just to keep it clean.

Our heat source is a gas fireplace.

This is our favorite room in the house.

Imagine waking up on a cool fall morning, grabbing a cup of coffee, and going on your deck with your gas fireplace going while you read/relax/watch the news (we have a TV out there too).

Don’t get me started - it’s just the best and I highly recommend it.

[Anonymous]

We do not have vinyl windows and use it 10 months/year. We have heaters, fan, gas fireplace, tv and speakers for music. Pollen is annoying in spring but we cover the furniture when not in use. The entire family, including the dog and elementary age kids, choose the porch as favorite room in the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assume no vinyl windows, just heaters. Then how much can you comfortably use it?

Tell me why I should assume that. Because we went 10 years without them, then added them. And they’re not very expensive.

PP is absolutely right about pollen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume no vinyl windows, just heaters. Then how much can you comfortably use it?

In metro DC, our summers generally are too hot & humid for a screened porch, and winters are usually too windy and cold. I would guess it would be usable April-May and September-October.

If one enclosed the porch (not just screens) but did not add HVAC to the space, then an electric space heater might add the winter months to the above.

This is too pessimistic about summer heat and humidity. When you’re in the shade, under the fans, with a cold drink, it’s pretty pleasant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume no vinyl windows, just heaters. Then how much can you comfortably use it?

I would not recommend this. The vinyl panels not just help keep wind out, but they keep the porch furniture clean from dust and pollen. We've had one without vinyl panels and it's unbelievable how much, and how quickly pollen builds up in the spring, and dust accumulate throughout the year. It's a lot of work just to keep the porch usable from the cleaning point. Now we have one with the panels and will never go back.

Can vinyl panels be built or retro fit to existing screen panel size? What local companies do folks suggest?

Yes.

A more cost-effective option than custom vinyl windows:

https://www.mosquitocurtains.com/clear-vinyl-plastic-patio-enclosures/

It’s what a lot of restaurants use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume no vinyl windows, just heaters. Then how much can you comfortably use it?

Tell me why I should assume that. Because we went 10 years without them, then added them. And they’re not very expensive.

PP is absolutely right about pollen.

I'm curious-- how much of the year did you use the screened porch before the vinyl windows, and how much more are you using it now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume no vinyl windows, just heaters. Then how much can you comfortably use it?

I would not recommend this. The vinyl panels not just help keep wind out, but they keep the porch furniture clean from dust and pollen. We've had one without vinyl panels and it's unbelievable how much, and how quickly pollen builds up in the spring, and dust accumulate throughout the year. It's a lot of work just to keep the porch usable from the cleaning point. Now we have one with the panels and will never go back.

Yes. Love our porch - use it shoulder seasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume no vinyl windows, just heaters. Then how much can you comfortably use it?

In metro DC, our summers generally are too hot & humid for a screened porch, and winters are usually too windy and cold. I would guess it would be usable April-May and September-October.

If one enclosed the porch (not just screens) but did not add HVAC to the space, then an electric space heater might add the winter months to the above.

That does not match my experience at all.

You are guessing from not even using a porch to see how it feels?

We have had a screened-in porch for 25 years and use it from about March or April through June, then September through late October or so. During Covid we used a propane heater but it's not a great solution, and electric heaters do nothing to heat a porch.

It's definitely too hot in July and August to use the porch, except on the occasional, highly-unusual mild summer day.

We have a deck and a screened in porch that are both south facing (they're on the same side/level), with the screened side being east and the open side west. We use both year round. The screened porch more often during the "bug" months, obviously. Even in winter it gets warm enough that the deck can be heated with the fire pit. During COVID we put up a screen and watched movies on NYE.

During the heat of the summer we tend to use it earlier in the day or later in the day, but there is usually some shade somewhere, either on the screened part or the open deck by a tree.

I dislike warm weather, but I dislike sitting indoors even more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume no vinyl windows, just heaters. Then how much can you comfortably use it?

In metro DC, our summers generally are too hot & humid for a screened porch, and winters are usually too windy and cold. I would guess it would be usable April-May and September-October.

If one enclosed the porch (not just screens) but did not add HVAC to the space, then an electric space heater might add the winter months to the above.

That does not match my experience at all.

You are guessing from not even using a porch to see how it feels?

We have had a screened-in porch for 25 years and use it from about March or April through June, then September through late October or so. During Covid we used a propane heater but it's not a great solution, and electric heaters do nothing to heat a porch.

It's definitely too hot in July and August to use the porch, except on the occasional, highly-unusual mild summer day.

We have a deck and a screened in porch that are both south facing (they're on the same side/level), with the screened side being east and the open side west. We use both year round. The screened porch more often during the "bug" months, obviously. Even in winter it gets warm enough that the deck can be heated with the fire pit. During COVID we put up a screen and watched movies on NYE.

During the heat of the summer we tend to use it earlier in the day or later in the day, but there is usually some shade somewhere, either on the screened part or the open deck by a tree.

I dislike warm weather, but I dislike sitting indoors even more.

Should have mentioned that our screened in porch is all screens from the ceiling all the way to the floor, so basically completely open. No windows/walls other than what is required to support the ceiling. We do have a ceiling fan which helps.

[Anonymous]

We have Bromic radiant heaters on our porch. It's definitely usable during the winter and we're out there often unless it's unbearably cold or windy (wind is the worst; the heaters can't help that). A normal winter day of being in the 30s or 40s is fine for being out there.

As a PP said, I can't recommend a screened porch highly enough. It's amazing.

[Anonymous]

Do people who live screened porches have small houses and need extra living space? We have a 6k sq ft house and can afford to build a screened porch but don’t understand the point. If you are going to add vinyl windows, fan, AC, heater then it is basically another interior room so why not use your living room or basement instead…?