Our house has both a deck and screened porch and only one of them gets used. It's not the deck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Screened porches are for people who don’t really like being outside in nature but like to pretend they do. We seriously considered adding one but ultimately realized we didn’t want to give up the deck space. We have young children and the deck is awesome for playing. Screened porch is just for like… sitting.

That’s what I am worried about with a screened porch. It’s nice but it feels too…contained. And bugs can still get trapped in the screen porch. With a deck, they can’t. That’s my one concern!

Do you all live in the DC area?

Mosquitos will plague you outdoors even if you do mosquito squad. It's hot as hell in the direct sun and then you'll get eaten alive so see how often you use your outdoor space in the summer months in the DC area. Just when it's cooling off and you might want to head out, that's the worst time of day for mosquitos. It sucks.

Also, why can't children play on a screened in porch? Mine do all the time. If they'd like to move outside to "nature" they are capable of using the door handle and moving outside.

We love our screened in deck and it expanded the house so much. We use it year round, as we have heaters. We have a tv out there and surround sound speakers. Favorite room in the house.

What’s one going to do with a finished attic? Hot, stuffy and weird ceilings. Only good for storage.

Anonymous wrote:Screened porches are for people who don’t really like being outside in nature but like to pretend they do. We seriously considered adding one but ultimately realized we didn’t want to give up the deck space. We have young children and the deck is awesome for playing. Screened porch is just for like… sitting.

I'm sorry to disagree, but I love nature and being outdoors! Exercise regularly outside and love to work in our yard. We also love our screened porch because we can enjoy sitting out there and not have any bugs/mosquitos at any time. We entertain and often serve meals out there as well.

Anonymous wrote:My screened in porch is my favorite part of my house. I have my morning coffee out there every day of the year regardless of temperature. It’s especially peaceful sitting out there in the rain or snow. If it’s really cold I just wear a coat and use the blankets that I keep on the couch.

+1 Same!

Anonymous wrote:Any porch is going to make the interior of your house darker. I think that’s the only con.

Not true. Ours is on the side of the house with one door leading out. We have large windows along the back of the house so we get a ton of light.

Anonymous wrote:Screened porches are for people who don’t really like being outside in nature but like to pretend they do. We seriously considered adding one but ultimately realized we didn’t want to give up the deck space. We have young children and the deck is awesome for playing. Screened porch is just for like… sitting.

That’s what I am worried about with a screened porch. It’s nice but it feels too…contained. And bugs can still get trapped in the screen porch. With a deck, they can’t. That’s my one concern!

Any porch is going to make the interior of your house darker. I think that’s the only con.

We put a hot tub on ours along with the couches. Ez breeze windows and a heater in the winter. When the kids were little we let them sleep out there on cots. We pretended we were camping.

Screened porch all the way. My sister bought a comparable house with a deck but doesn't use it as much as we use our screen porch.

If you host Thanksgiving in this area, it's incredibly useful. The pollen is bad, but just take a tarp and cover your furniture during that time and you would have to deep clean a deck anyway.

As for mosquitoes: nothing beats a screened in porch. I'm sorry, the sprays aren't 100%. Screened in porch is way better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Screened porches are for people who don’t really like being outside in nature but like to pretend they do. We seriously considered adding one but ultimately realized we didn’t want to give up the deck space. We have young children and the deck is awesome for playing. Screened porch is just for like… sitting.

Not sure where you live but in MD, the mosquitos mean that we play much better on the screened porch. I love being outside but not if I am being eaten alive during dinner.

We are in VA and our deck is perfectly pleasant if we spray for mosquitos

I would miss the sun.

Anonymous wrote:Screened porches are for people who don’t really like being outside in nature but like to pretend they do. We seriously considered adding one but ultimately realized we didn’t want to give up the deck space. We have young children and the deck is awesome for playing. Screened porch is just for like… sitting.

Not sure where you live but in MD, the mosquitos mean that we play much better on the screened porch. I love being outside but not if I am being eaten alive during dinner.

Screened porches are for people who don’t really like being outside in nature but like to pretend they do. We seriously considered adding one but ultimately realized we didn’t want to give up the deck space. We have young children and the deck is awesome for playing. Screened porch is just for like… sitting.

My screened in porch is my favorite part of my house. I have my morning coffee out there every day of the year regardless of temperature. It’s especially peaceful sitting out there in the rain or snow. If it’s really cold I just wear a coat and use the blankets that I keep on the couch.