And the Golden Hammer award goes to…The Screened Porch

We’ve just returned from the Columbia Home Building and Remodeling Expo and WOW what a turnout! Homeowners from all over the area attended this event to meet and speak with leading industry professionals regarding the newest design trends, building, and remodeling innovations. Events like these fuel creative inspiration and the desire to renew or increase the beauty and functionality of all aspects of your home. Throughout the weekend, the Archadeck of Central South Carolina booth was bustling with activity as we spoke with hundreds of homeowners looking for information about adding a new or enhancing their existing outdoor living space. What was the most requested outdoor living structure at this event? (Drumroll please…) The screened porch!

Columbia screened porch and deck combination.

And for good reason; the versatility of the screened porch is what makes this outdoor living structure so popular. The screened porch is perfect for outdoor dining, relaxation, and entertaining without interruption during inclement weather, the hassle of pesky insects or the dangers associated with the sun. It is also what we consider a pivotal element of the evolving outdoor living environment. What do we mean by evolving outdoor living environment? Please allow us to explain:

Screened porch with deck and stone patio.

The average starter home often includes either a patio or deck as the outdoor living area. When you’re first starting out as a homeowner, this type of recreational area in your back yard serves your initial needs well. But, as your lifestyle and outdoor living needs evolve, so should your structure. You’ve enjoyed hotdogs and hamburgers on the patio set with the umbrella and the lounge chairs to stretch out in the sun. Now, you need something more conducive to entertaining, like a dining area that’s protected from irritating bugs, or a comfortable seating area for after-dinner conversation or maybe watching the wall-mounted big screen TV. Typically, the next step from a simple patio or wooden deck is a conversion to a screened porch to provide you with a versatile outdoor room that can be enjoyed several months longer than a patio or deck.

A screened porch addition will enhance every season.

The next stage of this evolution in your outdoor living environment is updating an existing screened porch so it opens up to a deck or patio with an outdoor kitchen, now that you and your family are more established. You enjoy hosting each of the big family events; your home is the “go-to” place for all of the neighborhood kids to hang out, and with your upgraded surround sound system, you’ve got the best seats for all your friends to come over and enjoy the big game on TV each weekend. Of course, all of these events require copious amounts of food, so the addition of an outdoor kitchen with your grilling station, wet bar, and mini-fridge is just right. This combination of a screened porch with a deck or patio gives you the best of both worlds with double the enjoyment.

Screened porch over the new composite deck.

The final step of the evolving outdoor living environment often comes about during the “empty nest” stage of homeownership. Your family’s size is reduced because the kids are grown up and out on their own. Converting that screened porch into a sunroom makes a cozier light-filled living that continues to be the most used space in your home while allowing you to bring the outside in without the limitations of season or weather. The year-round enjoyment and extra heated space of a sunroom make it one of the most valuable investments you can make to your home. Not all screened porches go through this final step of the final steps of the outdoor living evolution, but should you ever decide to take this last step, you’ll be happy to know that you’re already about halfway there when converting from a screened porch.

Deck and screened porch combination in Columbia, SC.

Understanding the outdoor living environment makes it pretty clear why the screened porch is considered the pivotal piece of your outdoor living space and why it’s still the most popular outdoor living structure. Archadeck of Central South Carolina specializes in providing quality outdoor spaces for homeowners with evolving needs. We also offer a low-maintenance, budget-friendly alternative to traditional wood-framed screened porches that still provides the lifestyle enhancement and quality you have come to rely on from Archadeck of Central South Carolina.

Interior of gable roof aluminum screened porch in Lexington, SC.

When considering an outdoor room addition such as a screened porch, choosing the best fit for your home’s architecture, your desired function, and your budget are important. Archadeck of Central South Carolina is the premier outdoor structure builder serving Columbia, SC, and the surrounding area. We can help you choose the perfect custom outdoor living space addition for you with our expert design team and experience in building. Contact us to learn more by calling  (803) 784-1566 or via email at centralsc@archadeck.net.

The Archadeck of Central SC team – Mike Reu, Marshall Reu and Tucker Reu

For inspiration in creating your custom screened porch or to see more of our stunning and versatile outdoor living environments visit our screened porch gallery and our sunroom gallery located on our website.