Our covered porches are almost always an extension of our home. Whether it has our favourite rocking chair for relaxing and watching backyard wildlife, or it is a front-of-the-house neighbourhood hangout, our porches often provide a reprieve from the elements. Screening in this area would provide the next step toward making it even more enjoyable by offering early-morning or late-day sun protection and insect protection and even allowing your pets to roam the space freely.

Have a Plan

As with any home improvement project, before purchasing your materials, make sure you have a clear idea of what you hope to accomplish (sun protection, bug protection, etc.). Also, make sure the changes you are making to your property don’t require permits or inspections by your local building department. When we provide a quotation for your project, we include a materials take-off and a top-down line drawing of the finished area. This may come in handy if you need prior approval for your project.

Understand Your Foundation

If your deck is the foundation for your new screen walls, perhaps a sanding and a fresh coat of stain would be in order. When planning the screen wall placement, be aware of where your bottom U-channels will be attached, making sure you are in the middle of your deck boards on the long runs. If a cement slab is your foundation, this may be the time to clean it up (vinegar, water, dish soap!) and repair any cracks (Quikrete products). We never suggest attaching the bottom u-channels near the slab edge. Three to four inches away is recommended.

Next Step: Screen Walls

Home Porch & Patio Kits provides 3 extruded aluminum profiles to create long-lasting, rustproof sections for screening all open areas of your porch. With a measure twice, cut once DIY mentality, you will cut all horizontal and vertical sections to fit your application specifically. All internal hardware for the kit is provided. You will provide the hardware to attach vertical, bottom, and top u-channels to your existing surfaces.

Final Step: Screening

The final consideration for your new screened-in porch will be your screening selection. This will, of course, reflect what you hope to accomplish with this area. Home Porch & Patio Kits works with Phifer, a global screen wire company, to provide pet screening, solar screening, privacy screening, or just plain old bug screening. You will usually want to have more than is necessary to complete the project! Screening is a fickle job, and you may need to start over on one or two sections.

Ta Da! You will have created a new, clean, and protected space to enjoy your backyard viewing or neighbourhood hangout. As a DIY project, you not only save $$$ but also have bragging rights with all who come to share the space with you! Check out our website, HomePorchandPatioKits.com for all the details on our porch screening materials.