Archadeck of Charlotte has over 40 years of experience designing & building custom porches all around the Charlotte area. Archadeck focuses on understanding your expectations to design & expertly build your dream porch. Archadeck is a full-service company, meaning they take care of the busywork, such as permitting, so you can focus on sharing your vision and enjoying your new space!
What do I need to know when thinking of designing a screened porch?
Screen porches are a great solution if you’re looking to spend time outside without the disturbance of bugs or weather elements. Besides the aesthetics of designing a porch project, you need to ask yourself a few questions regarding function.
1. Do I want screens or windows?
2. How much seating do I want to have?
3. Do I want electrical fixtures?
4. Can I put a fireplace inside the porch?
5. Should I use composite decking inside my porch?
6. How long out of the year can I use my porch?
There are many questions to consider while designing your porch and your design consultant would be happy to discuss and answer anything you can think of.
Let’s get into answering some common questions when building a screened porch.
1. Do I want screens or windows?
While the answer is up to you, one thing you need to consider when building a porch is that there is a difference between a home addition, a sunroom, and a porch. Archadeck of Charlotte builds outdoor living spaces. They don’t build sunrooms or 4-season rooms which would be more of a home addition. To classify a screened porch, Archadeck considers the fact that there is no wall in your new space, the wall would be a screen. You have the option of using screens or vertical 4-track windows. Also known as EZE-breeze windows. EZE-breeze is a brand of vertical 4-track windows. Charlotte builds with the brand porch conversions which are hand-built custom 4-track windows.
2. How much seating do I want to have?
This question is very important when considering the size & shape of your porch. By understanding how many people you want to seat inside your porch, your design consultant can plan the size needed to accommodate your desired seating. This is a great way to set expectations of how you want your room to be used but it also helps the design consultant in understanding the price range your porch will start around. Ask yourself, do I want a table for 4, 6, or more? Do I want to fit an outdoor sectional with additional seating? OR, do I want a couple of chairs and a small bistro table? These are all great questions to discuss with your consultant.
3. Do I want electrical fixtures?
Deciding whether or not you want electrical fixtures such as lights, outlets, or television is helpful at the start of the process. Understanding your electrical needs upfront helps your design consultant map out exactly what you need and where it needs to go. Most city codes require some type of coach light outside of your porch for safety reasons. It’s important to consider what types of activities you’d like to do in your porch.
4. Can I put a fireplace inside the porch?
One great way to conserve the heat inside your porch is to add a fireplace. The vertical 4 track windows may hold more heat than a typical screen, making a fire feature more valuable. Either way, a fireplace is a personal choice that adds a cozy & warm feel to your space. Always ask your design consultant to check with your village on their specific code guidelines.
This question is completely up to you but realistically composite decking is not needed inside your porch. Because the decking is covered by a roof structure it’s not experiencing the weather elements of a standalone deck. Typically, the maintenance of wood decking inside your porch vs. with no roof is minimal. Composite decking would be an aesthetic choice if you’re looking for very low-maintenance, but it will drive the cost of your project.
6. How long out of the year can I use my porch?
Because Archadeck of Charlotte builds outdoor structures, they are not temperature controlled. Archadeck would not consider their porches to be year-round but at the end of the day, that choice is up to you. By adding a fireplace or even heaters inside your porch you can extend the living space for longer during those cooler months.
With these questions in mind, consider all of the functional needs you have before considering the aesthetic. Understanding what you want to use your porch for & for how long out of the year are great starts to planning your porch design.
If you’re ready to speak with a design consultant & start building your Charlotte porch give our office a call today! 704-944-1350
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