Tips For Installing a Screened-in Porch

Construction & Contractors Blog

If you are looking to add a house extension, it can be as simple as a screened-in porch. This provides a nice porch in front of your home for enjoying the outdoors, but by covering the porch you can control how much privacy you get and whether or not you are exposed to the elements. Here are some tips for designing and installing a screened-in porch.

Get the Right Permits

Before any building project, you should always find out about permits. Some home remodeling projects don't require permits, such as if you are just replacing a lighting fixture or finishing your basement. However, when you are doing any type of home addition or extension, which a porch falls under, you really need to make sure it is allowed in your area. This will be based on a lot of factors, such as the location of your home, its size, and the type of porch you plan to install in front of your home. It is better to find out about permits now and not have to pay for it later.

Consider Electrical Connections

While you might assume your porch would get all of its light from the sun, there are going to be times when you want to brighten it up during the day or when you want to sit on the porch early mornings or in the evening when the sun has gone down. Make sure you plan ahead by including electrical wiring as part of the building process. You want to have outlets, lighting fixtures, and of course light switches in the porch itself. This saves you from having to access lighting inside your home each time.

Make Sure It Is Weather-Resistant

When you start selecting the overall design of the covered porch and the material you will use to screen it in, you need to make sure it is resistant to weather conditions. Otherwise, you might not spend much time on the porch when the heather is too hot or cold. It should be able to withstand hot temperatures while providing plenty of shade to still enjoy the outdoors, as well as being insulated so that you can use it when it is raining or even snowing. This might require help from a contractor instead of turning it into a DIY project. As you select materials, don't forget you not only need the walls, but a ceiling and flooring for the screened-in porch.

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17 November 2016