Well as promised here is my second blog post about everything you ever wanted to know about decks. I love this idea of turning your deck into an enclosed porch. This outside living space can be used even if the weather changes to rain as it sometimes does here in the Midwest. And what a relaxing way to enjoy a cup of morning coffee then sitting outside listening to the sounds of nature. Ahhhh. Life is good! Enjoy! Linda
By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon
Published: April 11, 2014
You can make the most of your backyard by converting your deck (http://www.houselogic.com/outdoors/decks/) to a screened-in porch, which turns mosquitoes, heat waves, and downpours into non-events. Plus, the thwack of a screen door is still the soundtrack for summer.
You can make the most of your backyard by converting your deck (http://www.houselogic.com/outdoors/decks/) to a screened-in porch, which turns mosquitoes, heat waves, and downpours into non-events. Plus, the thwack of a screen door is still the soundtrack for summer.
Converting won't be easy -- unless you've got top-notch handyman skills, you'll have to hire a pro. And it won't be cheap -- converting a 14-foot-by-14-foot deck into a porch will cost $10,000-$12,000.
But it's worth the time and money. Screened-in porches add value to your home. Reginald Carter, a Jacksonville, Fla., appraiser, says the return on investment is about 70% if you stay in your home for at least five years after installing the porch.
Screened-in porches also can help you sell your home faster. In Virginia, for instance, about 70% of buyers can't live without screened-in porches, says Elaine VonCannon, a REALTOR® from Williamsburg, Va.
"It works for everybody who likes to sit outside," says VonCannon.
Related: Pictures of Screened-In Porches
(http://www.houselogic.com/photos/other-rooms/screen-porch-pictures/slide/
Maybe.
The biggest structural difference between a deck and porch is the weight of the load that rests on its foundation, joists, and beams, says David Berryhill, owner of Archadeck of Chicagoland.
Most decks are relatively lightweight: A 14-foot-by-14-foot deck can rest safely if it's attached to the house and supported by three concrete piers. A porch, however, is much heavier because it has a roof.
To prepare your current deck for the additional load, you'll have to:
•Possibly add more posts and foundation piers ($500-$5,000). Check with your local building code authority. In some municipalities, building codes require a solid concrete foundation, which could cost up to $10,000 (and would eliminate most decks from consideration as porches).
•Beef up joists and beams to support the additional roof load.
•Remove railings if you want a floor-to-ceiling screened porch, which gives you an unobstructed view.
•Bug-proof deck floors. To keep tiny critters from climbing into your new porch from below, attach a fine mesh screen or landscape paper to the underside of the floor. Or, replace the current floor with tongue-and-groove boards that fit so tightly bugs can't climb through.
Pick the Right Roof
The right roof makes the difference between a porch that looks like it was always part of your house, and one that looks like an afterthought with no architectural rhyme or reason. Some tips:
•Select a roof shape that's compatible with your house's roofline. A hip roof is strongest, a shed roof the most economical, and a gable roof lets in the most light.
•In some cases, the new roof can be built over the existing one, but you'll still have to flash the valley and rearrange the gutters and downspouts.
•Use the same roofing material (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/roofing-gutters-siding/roofing-guide-options/) as your main roof.
The Skinny on Screens
Know thyself before you select screening for your porch. Do you have rambunctious pets that make strength a top priority? Is there a beautiful view you don't want blocked by an obtrusive screen?
Here are some options:
Fiberglass (17 cent/sq. ft.): An inexpensive, lightweight screening in black or charcoal. It's easy to install but tears easily, too, and has a tendency to stretch and look floppy.
Aluminum (26 cents/sq. ft.): Stronger and more durable than fiberglass, and the least visible. On the downside, aluminum dents easily and can oxidize.
Vinyl-Coated Polyester (60 cents-$1.53 /sq. ft.): Used to make pet screens that are super strong -- down, Rex, down -- and ones that dissipate heat in hot climates.
Bronze ($1.10/sq. ft.): Strong, doesn't easily oxidize in salt air along coasts, and develops a patina with age.
Monel (alloy of copper and nickel) and stainless steel ($2.25-$5/sq. ft.): Strong, and tear-, rust-, and corrosion-resistant.
Related: Repair a Torn Screen (http://www.houselogic.com/blog/repair-tips/99-cent-store-solution-2-torn-window-screen/)
Screened-In Porch Tips
•Pre-made screen panels are easier to install and repair than rolls of screening, but you pay the price of $50-$75/running ft.
•When planning your porch project, check local building codes for setback regulations and building specifications.
•Don't forget to add electrical outlets to your porch for lamps, ceiling fans, and phone chargers.
•Porches block light and can make the inside of your house seem dark. You can cure that by installing a skylight (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/windows-doors/skylight-installation-costs-tips/) in the room adjacent to the porch.
•Building codes may require that you have a 3-foot-by-3-foot concrete landing outside the egress door to your porch.
Related: What I Learned Building a Screened-In Porch (http://www.houselogic.com/blog/other-rooms/building-screened-in-porch/)
Reprinted from House Logic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
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