Anonymous
Post 05/28/2023 11:33     Subject: Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
Does anyone have a breakdown of costs they got from their contractor they can share or summarize? Curious how much of the cost is attributable to foundation vs framing vs roof vs other things.
Anonymous
Post 05/27/2023 13:03     Subject: Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
We had a screen porch put on and it is basically an addition without the drywall or plumbing. Preparation includes permitting, architectural, and engineering. And then materials and labor for construction, electric, painting. Plus a contractor to keep track of the subs. It adds up.
Anonymous
Post 05/27/2023 08:41     Subject: Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A screened porch is a room without drywall and the roof needs to be architected and engineered just like it would if it was an interior addition. Building codes apply like any other addition.


NP not really. There's not drywall, insulation, electrical (other than ceiling lights/fan sometimes), plumbing, painting, baseboards.
/quote]

Our porch has electrical outlets (5 new ones), plus two fans, and the interior wood all needed to be painted a white stain, including posts, beams, and top/bottom of railings. Also we had the house wall siding replaced with a wood surface that needed to be painted.
Anonymous
Post 05/27/2023 05:53     Subject: Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
Everything everyone else said, it's a foundation that has to support walls and a roof, the roof has to make sure water doesn't go I between the porch and the house, etc.

There are things you can do to make it LESS expensive (painted beadboard ceiling v stained wood can save $2k, shed roof v gabled roof can save $6k, plain screened walls v electric screen that opens can save even more).

Adding a fireplace, built in kitchen, electric (fans and recessed lights), not to mention heaters ($1800 each and you might need to heavy up your electric panel for $8k) can help the expenses skyrocket.
Anonymous
Post 05/27/2023 01:16     Subject: Re:Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
Anonymous wrote:Eep! I can't imagine having $100k in cash on hand for that. When will I ever get to that level of savings? It was hard enough getting together a down payment!


That’s how I felt. We bought our house 7 years ago and our HHI has gone up but our PITI has stayed the same. We have now paid cash for renovating kitchen and 2 of 4 bathrooms. It gets better!
Anonymous
Post 05/27/2023 01:08     Subject: Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It has the same code as the house. For slab and roof. It doesn't matter if yourenputting drywall on or screens.


Okay but how exactly does this affect/explain the price? Are there really expensive things that have to be done in order to meet code, and what are they/how much do they cost?


What makes building an enclosed addition expensive? Foundation and structural support for walls and roof, construction of and covering the roof and tying it all into your existing structure. The structure has to meet the same code as building a new enclosed space, and in some areas, the codes are even more strict because an open covered space can be more susceptible to wind damage (the wind comes under the roof and creates “lift”). If it is attached to and become part of your house, it isn’t like building a flimsy shed or gazebo, it has to be built to the same standard as the house.

Just like building a small enclosed room addition is not very cost effective per sq ft, building a screened in porch isn’t either. You may be able to get the cost down a bit if you combine it with another addition — e.g., pouring a slab that is twice as big isn’t twice as much, the electrician can do the work at the same time as the rest of the project, etc.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2023 10:52     Subject: Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
Anonymous wrote:It has the same code as the house. For slab and roof. It doesn't matter if yourenputting drywall on or screens.


Okay but how exactly does this affect/explain the price? Are there really expensive things that have to be done in order to meet code, and what are they/how much do they cost?
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2023 10:36     Subject: Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
It has the same code as the house. For slab and roof. It doesn't matter if yourenputting drywall on or screens.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2023 10:34     Subject: Re:Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
Anonymous wrote:Eep! I can't imagine having $100k in cash on hand for that. When will I ever get to that level of savings? It was hard enough getting together a down payment!


It's easier to save once you have a mortgage. My mortgage is a lot less than rentals cost and the costs stay the same.

Probably the hardest time we had was when we were saving for a downpayment. We lived in a gross tiny place and saved nearly all our income. Our downpayment was a lot more than 100k though.

I think most people get HELOCs for porches or loans.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2023 10:23     Subject: Re:Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
Eep! I can't imagine having $100k in cash on hand for that. When will I ever get to that level of savings? It was hard enough getting together a down payment!
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2023 09:47     Subject: Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
They cost so much because contractors figured they can get away with it.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2023 09:45     Subject: Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
Anonymous wrote:A screened porch is a room without drywall and the roof needs to be architected and engineered just like it would if it was an interior addition. Building codes apply like any other addition.


NP not really. There's not drywall, insulation, electrical (other than ceiling lights/fan sometimes), plumbing, painting, baseboards.

I will say that I priced out just the trex for our porch, which is medium sized, and it was 13k. The railings are very expensive too, as was the stairs. We were quoted 50k+
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2023 09:40     Subject: Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
A screened porch is a room without drywall and the roof needs to be architected and engineered just like it would if it was an interior addition. Building codes apply like any other addition.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2023 09:22     Subject: Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
(Meaning that the screened porch would be an extra 100-150 *square* feet, of course.)
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2023 09:19     Subject: Why do screened porches cost so much? (& can they be cheaper if done with an addition?)
Can folks help me understand the cost breakdown for screened porches and why they're so expensive? Ie. Is the biggest factor the cost of the slab/foundation, the roof, the screens? How much of it is extras (flooring, fancy screens/windows, fireplaces, electrical wiring) vs what the bare bones price would be for just a concrete floor with a roof and basic screens on it?

And does anyone have any guesses what the price would be for a bare-bones screened porch as an add-on to a larger addition, where we're basically just saying "Please extend the slab an extra 100-150 feet, the roof an extra 100-150 feet, and put some screens on it?" Would that save us much/anything, or are we still looking at $30K+?