No cons.

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like most prefer the porch but we are currently finishing a project to convert a three-season sunroom (windows that open) into a regular room/part of our living area. We didn't use the porch at all. It was dark, kind of dreary/smelly and got very dirty even if windows were often closed. The new space is fully conditioned and has huge windows so it feels like you're outside, but you get the heat/cooling to use it year round.

We did a screened porch over a sun room because a sun room would not feel like outside nearly as much and this used less. We love the screened deck. Feel likey we are having a picnic all the time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Porch all day. We have one similar to what you’ve described and we use it almost 12 months out of the year. My only regret is that it’s not big enough to fit a dining table and chairs. Ours has a love seat, two chairs, a coffee table and a serving console/cabinet.

This is op. How big is it, if you don’t mind me asking? Ours will be 20x14.

You’ll be fine with more furniture. Ours is 14x15.

OP, ours is 20x14 and we have a couch, two comfy chairs, and a dining set with a round table on the porch. In the nice weather we add plants, wall decor, a little fountain, an outdoor rug - it's fabulous. Such a retreat.

Sounds like most prefer the porch but we are currently finishing a project to convert a three-season sunroom (windows that open) into a regular room/part of our living area. We didn't use the porch at all. It was dark, kind of dreary/smelly and got very dirty even if windows were often closed. The new space is fully conditioned and has huge windows so it feels like you're outside, but you get the heat/cooling to use it year round.

We have a covered deck with a ceiling fan. It's essentially just like a screened porch but without the screens. We had a screened porch in a previous house, but I didn't care for the upkeep with keeping the screens clean and how the pollen etc. gets trapped inside. This is much easier to clean. Also, where we live now we have lots of high winds in the late winter/early spring, and it seemed easier not to have to worry about the upkeep of screens in the long run. A final bonus is we're not blocking as much light into the house with just a roof... if we had screens we would block more light. The roof still keeps our porch furniture nice and dry which is great (even from morning dew).
We spray our yard for ticks which helps a lot with the bugs... but also possibly because of our micro-climate of high winds, I think we tend to get fewer mosquitoes overall. So I don't find we need the screens to keep out insects here. In a different house I might feel otherwise though.
We have a small deck and patio area too and use both of those quite a bit too... in the cooler months I like to be out in the sun, not in the shade! If anything in the future I'd like to improve and expand on our patio. I've seen many nice screen porch/covered deck projects that include expansive patio areas adjacent to them.

We have a screened porch that is about 1/3 of a very large deck. The screens are from phantom and can be raised and lowered using a remote control. Ceiling fan and fire place allows for nearly year round use. It is nice to be able to open the space to the rest of the deck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Porch all day. We have one similar to what you’ve described and we use it almost 12 months out of the year. My only regret is that it’s not big enough to fit a dining table and chairs. Ours has a love seat, two chairs, a coffee table and a serving console/cabinet.

This is op. How big is it, if you don’t mind me asking? Ours will be 20x14.

You’ll be fine with more furniture. Ours is 14x15.

Also our furniture is on the big side. It’s that Crate & Barrel outdoor furniture with a big, chunky metal frame. The two chairs take up a lot of space.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Porch all day. We have one similar to what you’ve described and we use it almost 12 months out of the year. My only regret is that it’s not big enough to fit a dining table and chairs. Ours has a love seat, two chairs, a coffee table and a serving console/cabinet.

This is op. How big is it, if you don’t mind me asking? Ours will be 20x14.

You’ll be fine with more furniture. Ours is 14x15.

NP. people who love their screened porches -- do the porches typically have skylights?

Anonymous wrote:Than me all. I think we’re going for the screened porch house. It seems like it’ll be worth it.

Thanks all*

Than me all. I think we’re going for the screened porch house. It seems like it’ll be worth it.

Anonymous wrote:Another perspective that won't really help you decide, OP!

We tended to not use our porch that much because of weather (and we had the heaters and a fan out there) and because of the pollen dump, twice for us--with very bad oak pollen-- just felt so tedious hosing it out, washing all the furniture covers.

On the other hand, if you had the 50K to put in those EZ windows, could save it.

On the other hand, I would want the indoor space too esp if there's an extra bath or powder room

Sunspace/EZE breeze windows are nowhere near 50k. You are off an order of magnitude. Ours was $6k for 3 sided 20’ by 12’ foot with two doors. It is half walls though, so the porch walls cost more, the windows less. Sunspace was 100% a great choice. No more dust or pollen!

We love love love our screened porch. We added Sunspace windows to extend the useful range of it. It’s worth whatever it cost us. We just need to add a stronger heater and could use it nearly 12 months.

Anonymous wrote:Porch all day. We have one similar to what you’ve described and we use it almost 12 months out of the year. My only regret is that it’s not big enough to fit a dining table and chairs. Ours has a love seat, two chairs, a coffee table and a serving console/cabinet.

This is op. How big is it, if you don’t mind me asking? Ours will be 20x14.

Another perspective that won't really help you decide, OP!

We tended to not use our porch that much because of weather (and we had the heaters and a fan out there) and because of the pollen dump, twice for us--with very bad oak pollen-- just felt so tedious hosing it out, washing all the furniture covers.

On the other hand, if you had the 50K to put in those EZ windows, could save it.

On the other hand, I would want the indoor space too esp if there's an extra bath or powder room