DIY Screened In Porch | Build A Screen Porch

Everyone loves spending time with their friends and family in the porch area, and a lot of people host small parties too. Although it is quite good to sit in the open porch area to get some natural light and fresh air, it all goes in vain when there are insects around your house.

Flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and whatnot, everything can ruin the fun of having a porch, and you will be forced to go inside the house. The only solution to this problem is building a screened front porch seating area with a roof extension. There are many ways available in which you can build your own budget friendly screened porches.

This post tells everything about customizing your outdoor living space and existing porch decor designs. You will also get to know about some of the best DIY screen porch designs that can be applied to almost any porch available out there.

Building a screened porch, yourself can be easy and hard at the same time, depending on the design and makeover you want to give to your space. If you are new and don’t know anything about it, then we will recommend you read this post till the end as we have mentioned some great tips and well as complete small porch plans along with large porch makeovers too.

Why Should You Install A Porch Screen?

There are various advantages to building DIY screened in porches, and that is why a lot of people are searching for them. While giving your porch a good look, you can add other things like a porch ceiling fan, sitting chairs, hot tub, a mini-refrigerator, etc., to make your outdoor space a good living area too.

If you want your porch to be pet resistant, then you will have to look at the covered porch decor ideas that we have shared in this post. Below we have mentioned a few advantages of having a screened-in porch and why you must take DIY projects like these for your homes.

• Adding things like curtains gives more privacy.
• Protects yourself from insects by creating bug-free oasis.
• Increases the overall resale value of your home.
• Gives a nice look to your entire house.
• Add a stereo system and furnishing to make it a party area.
• It keeps outdoor furniture protected from natural elements.

Different Types of DIY Screened In Porch Ideas

Depending on your needs and ideas, you can give a complete makeover to an existing porch. Though if you are constructing it from scratch, then give it some time and think about it more. There are some designs that can’t be applied to the area after construction, and rebuilding will definitely cost you a lot. For example, if you want to add an aluminum screen in porch, then do a review and decide on the design beforehand.

Similarly, if you want to give a new look to your porch on a budget, then you will have to plan accordingly. Here are some of the best porch design tips that you can consider while building or renovating a porch deck.

Add A Daybed Swing – If you want to get a feel of the living room on your porch, then consider adding a daybed swing or foldable couch in the porch area. Not only will it make your porch look better, but you and your guests will have a good place to sit.

Don’t Forget A Fireplace – Those who have a sleeping porch screening design in mind can consider adding a fireplace to their porch. It will definitely come in handy many times in winter. Grab a coffee, start the fire, and sit on your couch admiring the beauty of nature.

Use Plants As A Wall Art – Plants and trees definitely give a new look wherever they are added, and that is why you must use them to enjoy your porch project differently. There are many good porch DIY potted plants ideas available on the internet to take inspiration from.

Consider Opened-up Porch – While DIY screened in porch plans will keep the bugs outside, they will not give fresh air vibes. Instead of using complete screen panels, we will recommend you go with open porch decorating ideas.

Play With The Lighting – You might have seen classic screened in back porch lights, and you can add them too to entertain guests. Use string lights on the shelf and top part while adding base strips to the bottom. You can also buy decorative lights to place on the porch.

Equipment/Tools You’ll Need To Screen In A Porch

If you want to build a porch on a budget, then have a look at some of the best porch decorating ideas available out there. Once the idea is finalized, you can begin preparing for your screened-in porch. Remember to get all the things you might need to build a screened porch so it can be easier to make everything. Although the tools and equipment required to build a screened porch depend on your design and size, we have listed a few common things that everyone will need at some point in time.

1. Staple gun, saw, and drill.
2. Carpenter’s pencil.
3. Screws, bolts, and nuts of different sizes.
4. Fiberglass screens.
5. Porch panels.

How To Build A Screened In Porch Yourself – Step-by-Step Guide

1. Measure The Porch Area

So, the first step is to measure the width, length, and height of the porch area so you can cut the screen frames easily. To be on the safe side, add a few feets of measurement to the area that you’ve calculated, and it will help you in getting a perfect size. You can always cut the extra part once done. It can either be done using a measuring tape or by using mobile applications too.

2. Cut The Panel Boards

Once you’ve got the details about your porch’s screen size, start cutting the board panels for it. It depends on your needs and which screen material you want to use. Fiberglass screen is the most common, while the aluminum screen is more durable than others. You can also go with some steel frames at the bottom, so they don’t get damaged easily.

3. Attach The Screen Fabric

Start adding the base strips to the porch so you can install the screen on it. To do this, you can use screen spline as it allows you to fit the screen perfectly in the base strips. Once added, use a utility knife to cut the extra screen. If you want, then you can also add different types of screen doors to your porch for easy access to the area.

4. Seal The Outer Attachments

After attaching the screen panels, start sealing the base strips, so they don’t get damaged. Use a rubber mallet to add caps to the bottom part, and you might have to hit it with soft hands. If needed, then use a screwdriver to pull out the cap strips and add them again using the rubber mallet. Do it with the complete outer part.

5. Add Decorative Items

Get some decor ideas for your porch and add different things like string lights, planters, bulbs, couches, tables/chairs, etc., to give a whole new look to your porch. You can keep adding new items to the area to see if it looks good on the area or not. If you’ve got any other porch design tips, then do share them with us.

FAQs Related To Screen In A Porch

What Are Some Affordable Materials For Screen Porch?

Fibreglass is the most common and cheapest material to make porch screening, but you can use vinyl-coated polyester or stainless steel too. There are some people out there who are searching for aluminium screen porch ideas, and they are generally priced higher. You can cut down the cost of materials and include other fancy things.

How Much Additional Costs Will You Get To Make A Screened Porch?

The average cost to build a porch is around $600-$3500, and it completely depends on the type of screen material you are using. Also, the cost depends on other porch decorating ideas that you might want to execute. If you want to add solar screen fabrics, then your overall cost can go somewhere around $10-$25 per square foot.

Things To Remember Which Screening A Porch?

If you just want to build a fence and add some screening and other things to your porch, then it is better to do it yourself. Though if there’s some installation or rebuilding work needed, then you might have to hire a contractor. Also, if required, take the approval of the board or municipality of your area before modifying your porch.

What Can I Use Instead of A Screen Porch?

Well, if you don’t want to modify your porch permanently, then you can follow some temporary design ideas to give it a new look. Adding some curtains will block the sunlight and insects from coming into your porch and will give it a new look. You can also add couches, convertible beds, string lights, etc., to your porch.

Advantages and Disadvantages of A Screened-in Porch?

Every coin has two sides, and just like that, having a screened-in porch has its own pros and cons. While a screened porch keeps insects away and gives you privacy, it does block the fresh air and entire view outside. You can use an open porch for firing activities, while a screened porch is not suitable for barbeque, firing space, etc.

Final Words

So, this is all about easy DIY screening porch and how you can give your porch a whole new look yourself. If you have got both time and money, then you can also hire a professional for enclosed porch flooring and get an outdoor kitchen right on the porch. This will definitely create a good outdoor living space right on the porch.

There are many great space ideas available by which you can give your porch a new look, but the ones we have mentioned here are the best and won’t require a special building permit. You can also add other things like a coffee table, hot tub, and vertical garden in the porch’s sitting area to customize it further.