Screened in Porch Austin

For many Austin homeowners, their porch remains an underutilized resource. They ignore the potential it has, or they think they don’t have the resources to develop that potential.

In fact, though, porches can be invaluable. They can be extended into sunrooms or enhanced by different enclosures. One way you can do this is by turning your ordinary porch into a screened in porch, but it’s important to know how to do this.

At Nu-View we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners make this kind of transition, and in this blog post we’ll tell you some of what’s involved so you can get a good idea if it’s the right move for you.

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Adding a Screen to Your Porch

While the definition of a screened-in porch might seem obvious, there are some particulars involved. To put it simply, a screened in porch is a porch that’s been walled off.

Because this type of porch is usually created by adding a mesh, it doesn’t offer much in the way of protection from the elements, but there are certain benefits they can give you.

Why You Need a Screened-In Porch in Austin

Given the weather patterns in Austin, a screened in porch can be an ideal addition. This kind of porch can give you a shaded outdoor space in an area with mild winters, and screened in porches can be especially enjoyable in the fall and spring.

For families or homeowners on a budget, a screened in budget can be an excellent way to get this kind of outdoorsy feeling in your porch.

How Homes Benefit from Screened in Porches

If you’re looking to spend time outdoors with friends or hold family events, a screened in porch is an ideal way to do that.

It can add square footage to your home without the extra tax expense you have to take on if you add a sunroom. And they’re less expensive to build, so they can help you keep money in your pocket.

There’s also a lot you can do to enhance the temperature control in your screened in porch. If your porch is on the small side, a simple addition like a space heater can effectively convert your porch into a four-season room, and this kind of heating is far less expensive than adding an outdoor patio heater.

Another basic addition like a ceiling fan will help disperse and distribute the heat, and it will provide cooling in the summer when you’re able to catch a breeze.

Finally, the building process is much simpler and faster for a screened in porch. Building or adding a sunroom can take months, but converting to a screened in porch can be done in weeks, sometimes even in just a few days.

Quality Issues with a Screened in Porch

It’s important to have the screens added properly if you do decide to add a screened in porch. That means quality screens, taking into account the view you want, how much of the room you want screened in, getting the measurements right, and so on.

Quality screens will help protect both you and whatever furnishings you add to your screened in porch. They’ll also last longer without ripping, so it’s usually worth the extra money that goes into purchasing them.

These screens will also protect you from bugs. You’ll basically be adding an outdoor space that can almost double as a room when you screen in your porch, and they also help protect your electronics, high value furniture, and so on.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a screened in porch is a lifestyle choice to some extent. Some people enjoy the laid-back feel a screened in porch can provide, while others prefer the more formal setting and views that come with adding a sunroom.

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Using Screened in Porches and Patio Coverings

One of the best ways to use screened in porches in your home is to combine them with patio coverings. It’s a clever way to use whatever outdoor space you have, and with the products that are available, the only limits when it comes to the design are your budget and your imagination.

Basically, you can get any kind of feel you want—something modern and contemporary, a farmhouse look a feel, using a screened in porch in combination with a roof extension, and so on.

Return on Investment (ROI) for Your Screened in Porch

While a screened in porch is a solid addition if you’re on a budget, you still need to account for the return on your investment.

This involves asking some simple questions, starting with how often you need this kind of space. There’s often little or no need to add a sunroom if your usage is just going to be occasional, so you should factor that into your ROI.

Also, how long are you going to be living in your home? If you’re looking to move and upgrade to a larger home, a screened-in porch can give you the versatility you need to entertain and hold outdoor events without spending a lot of money.

Finally, there’s the basic cost and how that factors into your ROI. You can do a screened in porch for as little as $2,000, but the typical price range is usually between $3,500 and $7,500.

Add to the Number of Rooms in Your Austin Home with a Screened in Porch

Another factor in the decision to add a screened in porch is the number of rooms you have in your house.

If you’re feeling squeeze with your existing number of rooms, having a screened in porch can give you the feeling that you’ve added an extra room without actually having to go through the hassle of the building process, permits and so on.

Moreover, if you decide to treat your screened in porch as a genuine room, there are all kinds of design additions you can make to have it feel especially homey or comfortable.

A screened in porch can function as a relaxation space, a de facto home office, a playroom, or anything else you want it to be. The decision is yours, and there are literally dozens of design options.