It wasn’t so long ago that screened porches were built with utilitarian purposes in mind. Their job was to keep the bugs, and the rain, off of you. Historically, in rural areas and before air conditioning became commonplace, many people used a screened porch as a bunk room (sometimes referred to as a sleeping porch) on particularly sweltering summer nights.
Digging a little deeper into the archives, you will learn that the use of window screens started as soon as people began framing windows. References to window screens can be traced back to 1823. The earliest screens were made of wood, ceramic and stone. Their purpose was to provide protection from animal and human intruders but still allow some light and ventilation into a building. Cloth screens came along and provided protection from dust and insects and allowed some light to enter. During the 1840s, Gilbert and Bennett Manufacturing Co. of Redding, Connecticut, invented affordable wire mesh window screens.
I myself can remember fishing trips I enjoyed in my youth and the way the fishing camp I frequented utilized a screened room as their bait station. The structure consisted of a wooden floor with simple framed posts with screened openings. The sole purpose of the porch was to keep bait safe from flies. Definitely not a place you would want to spend the night!
Another Columbus outdoor fireplace and screened porch combination.
Fast forward to the modern screened porches homeowners crave today. Yes, they keep out bugs, allergens, debris and rain. However, they have become an extension of our homes and an oasis for outdoor living. Modern screened porches are now designed to include many comforting and convenient amenities like fireplaces and televisions, much like you would find in any other room of your home. The screened porch is essentially a more relaxed, casual room addition to the rest of your home.
Anyone who has experienced one has to admit that a screened porch is a wonderful addition to any house. A screened porch offers the breezes, scents, sounds and sights of being outdoors – but without the bugs and the blazing sun. Rough and tumble has its own charm, but these days most homeowners enjoy relaxing under the ceiling fan while listening to their surround sound audio system.
Contact Archadeck of Columbus today to discuss our stunning porch and screened porch designs. Our consultation is completely free. You can reach us at (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net. We look forward to your call.
There are many decisions to be made when designing your new screened porch. One that is often not considered strongly enough is size. An extra 2 feet of length, width or both can make a big difference. The last thing you want to do is fill your new screened porch with your new furniture only to realize it doesn’t really fit. Or, you don’t want to try to push your chair back after dinner only to find out you are locking horns with the porch’s chair rail. Below are some general considerations to begin considering the best size. Utilizing your considerations along with our expert recommendations, we will determine the best size to fit your outdoor living needs.
This Zen inspired screen porch in Upper Arlington, OH is a great example of good space allocation in regards to furnishings and spatial harmony.
Based on our decade+ of experience with outdoor living spaces, here are my Top 7 details to consider for creating a porch that looks and feels great and is spacious enough to fit your outdoor living needs.
#1: Give yourself space to stretch out. Your dining room is the place where you go to sit formally around the table and sit up straight with your feet in front of you and your napkin on your lap. When you want to relax with friends or family after a long day, you head to the porch. That means you need to leave a little extra room to extend your legs or even prop them up on the coffee table.
#2 Include comfortable cushions. Again, you don’t need your kitchen or dining chairs to have the kind of softness that you can melt into. Those are utilitarian chairs. You eat, you stand, you go. When you want to spend an hour with a book or entice your friends to stay out past their bedtimes, you want a chair that doesn’t want to let you leave.
#3 Plan for the number of guests you will usually have. You can always borrow or rent extra chairs or tables for a large event like a graduation party, but you don’t want to be constantly moving or walking around chairs that almost never get used. Would you buy a pickup truck because you want to haul a big load twice a year?
#4 Don’t forget your pets. Most Columbus screened porch owners find that their pets are huge fans of their new space. If your pets are going to spend time out on the porch with you or on their own, make allowances for that. Talk to us about screening options that are pet resistant. And, even if they won’t have their own furniture, leave them a little space to enjoy the porch too.
#5 Measure furniture twice. I don’t mean measure it twice because you might have made a mistake the first time. Measure it once by itself and once with a person using it. That Adirondak chair is very hip and attractive, but it takes up much more space while it is being used. Think about your dining room table. You need 2-4 extra feet around the perimeter when it’s being occupied.
#6 Use outdoor furniture. I know that the two most popular places to put your old indoor furniture are on the porch and in your adult child’s first apartment, but indoor furniture should really stay indoors (or just send it to its next home). You are already tired of it, it doesn’t have much life left anyway, and it will be terrible to try and clean. Let us show you some of our Casuwel outdoor furniture. It is without peer in its combination of comfort, style, durability, and value.
#7-ish OK, while this one is not about size, it was important enough that we wanted to make sure to include it here. Don’t fear the mess, prepare for it. Outdoor living will always be a little messier than indoor living. Bugs, dirt, rain, pollen, muddy feet. You can’t change that. You can, however, use materials and fabrics that will make a huge difference in how your porch and furniture will stand up to abuse and how easily it will clean. Sunbrella fabrics from the Outdoor Living Brands Casuwel line of furniture and umbrellas are the industry standard for beauty and durability. Ask to see swatches from our line: Carnegie Celeste and Astoria Lagoon are just two of the dozens of stylish options available.
Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus
If you’re thinking about adding an outdoor living space to your Columbus backyard, give us a call to see how we can make creating your dream backyard an enjoyable experience, start to finish. The consultation is completely free. Call (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net. We look forward to your call.
Archadeck of Columbus discusses screening considerations for porches.
Archadeck of Columbus interior views of this stunning screened porch
Autumn is a time when many homeowners begin to think more about having a protected outdoor space to enjoy the beauty of the season and the milder temperatures. One of the most popular outdoor spaces to utilize the fresh fall air and still have protection from inclement weather is a screened porch. Screened porches have always been a beloved addition to the home and backyard. But there are many things to consider when thinking of building a screen porch. One of the most important of these considerations is the screen itself.
The screen of the screened porch is the lifeblood of the structure, it is the element that enables you to remain protected from insects, rain, and the dangers of the sun. Nowadays, screening options have evolved from the old-fashioned screened porch of yesteryear. There are more choices with higher quality benefits that not only aid in getting the most enjoyment out of your porch, but they also promote longevity of your space.
The view and the design of this screen wall, are breathtaking. Can you imagine having your morning coffee looking into this each morning?
The old-fashioned way of screening which you can purchase at your local hardware store, involves aluminum screen that is approximately 4 foot wide. This screen is stapled to the posts all around the perimeter of the openings on the porch; once the entire screen is stapled a piece of trim is then placed on top. Archadeck of Columbus doesn’t like, or use, this type of screen since aluminum creases easily and using it can lead to a wavy looking screen if it is not installed properly. More importantly, this type of screen can be affected by birds, branches, falling object and other screen hazards because of its flimsy nature.
All screens are not created equal
We offer our customers more options when it comes to screening their porch. One of these options is using aluminum framed screen inserts. These inserts consist of aluminum with fiberglass screen which we have made locally so we are able to ensure they are made to custom sizes which ensures a custom fit. Once we finish the shell of the screen porch, we get exact measurements for the screens and then custom order them. We also use a product called Tiger Screen which is made from really strong fiberglass screening. With Tiger Screen we custom build the screen on site.
Full View Screen Porch
When the perimeters of your screened porch openings require a span of larger areas, we also use Screen-Eze. This product allows us to screen in much larger areas such as 6-10 feet. Screen-Eze comes in wider spans, and is very strong which minimizes the need for additional posts. You get a cleaner, less interrupted view with this product.
It is important to have a professional builder with background and knowledge of screening options to help you make the right decision for your porch needs. Archadeck of Columbus factors in many details to make sure you get not only the look you want, but also a solid screen installation. Just for example, many homeowners have pets and these customer would benefit from using a knee-wall across the bottom of the screened porch to prevent animals from walking into or damaging the screen with their claws. Pet owners can also benefit from using Screen-Eze because with this product you can throw a baseball into the screen and it will revert back to its original shape within minutes.
This screen porch in Powell, OH by Archadeck of Columbus is picture perfect in every way.
If your porch is low to the ground, you may consider screening from floor to ceiling. This method of screen installation opens up the porch to deliver panoramic views and plenty of fresh air. If your porch is located in an area that receives a great deal of sun, we can install charcoal tinted screen that helps deflect the UV rays of the sun. These screens also help provide additional shade when the sun is setting low in the sky.
Last but certainly not least, always make sure there is screening under your porch to keep the bugs out. It is better to do this while the porch is under construction rather than an afterthought when the first mosquito finds its way into your safe haven! Archadeck of Columbus always installs screen on top of the framing and underneath the decking. We do not install it underneath the framing because debris will accumulate between the deck and floor boards. In order to keep your deck tidy and clean, our way ensures you can blow all the dirt out. If you place the screen under the joists, it makes blowing dirt away nearly impossible.
Notice the kneewall present in this screened porch.
If you already have an existing screened porch that has screen installed the old-fashioned way, Archadeck of Columbus can retro-fit your porch with one of our more advantageous screening options. If you are ready to begin a screened porch from scratch we would love to meet with you to discuss your needs and choose a screen porch design that best suits your lifestyle and budget.
Contact Archadeck of Columbus today to schedule a free design consultation and be on your way to living the good life on your very own screened porch! Call us today at (740) 879 – 3730 westcolumbus@archadeck.net
Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus
You can see more examples of our versatile screening styles and techniques by visiting our screened porch photo gallery and our 3 and 4 season room photo gallery located on our website.
Archadeck of Columbus urges homeowners to schedule their outdoor structure endeavor now to ensure a spring ready completion.
Imagine this beauty ready and waiting for you to enjoy with the first blooms of spring.
Usually our phones start to ring off the hook around Groundhog day each year. Whether it’s only six more weeks to spring, or six more weeks of cold weather, that’s when many people start thinking about getting started on their new deck or porch or patio. No matter how you look at it the answer comes out to the same conclusion. Spring is just around the corner. With that sudden realization, whether it comes from a groundhog, or the first traces of dandelions sprouting under the snow, many homeowners are getting ready to get started on their spring projects.
A new deck or outdoor structure can be ready for you to enjoy this spring.
On average a typical deck project takes about a week to construct. But what takes time if you’re working with a reputable builder is getting your project scheduled. Reputable builders will have projects on the docket and may be 6 or 8 weeks out before they can start your project. Unfortunately, many homeowners wait until they are within the warmer months to begin planning their outdoor project, and this often means a longer wait time to start enjoying the benefits and living outdoors. Right now in early February when people sign, we are scheduling start dates in March for the structures to be ready in April. We serve our customers on a first come, first serves basis and if you wait too long, you won’t be able to enjoy your project this year in the prime months of the year.
Here in Columbus we build year-round and cold weather does not keep us from constructing your deck , screen porch or other structure. It’s so important to call early to avoid long wait times and to ensure you get to enjoy your structure this spring.
Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus
Being the early bird is vital in getting the outdoor structure you have dreamed about all winter ready in time for for those warm, sunny days. Contact Archadeck of Columbus to get started. Give us a call for a free consultation and come see us at the Central Ohio Home & Garden Show Sat Feb. 25 – Sun Mar. 4 located in the Celeste building booth #2306 & 2308. See you there!
Do you know all the factors that affect where you can build a deck or porch or other structure on the back of your home? Read this article to learn about these factors.
Oh, the challenges we face.
Many of my customers decide they want a new structure whether it be a deck or porch or sunroom. They go to the back of their house and decide exactly where they want it to be. Then I show up and often feel like the bad guy because I have to present a list of reasons why that won’t work. I don’t want to be a downer but my job as a professional builder is not to jimmy rig something to fit where it doesn’t fit but to tell the client why that will or won’t work. When deciding where to place an outdoor addition, we need to consider existing windows and roof lines so the new structure will work aesthetically and functionally.
Windowsas challenges in attaching new roofed structures.
When attaching a new structure, we cannot attach the roof where windows sit. Often the placement of the second story windows makes this a huge challenge especially as it relates to attaching a roof. Depending on the style of roof (Gable, Hip or Shed) we have to accommodate this by either keeping roof line below the window(s) or building the new roof to cover them. Another aspect homeowners should consider is how much light will be obstructed with a new roof.
Consider the sun
Another big consideration is the direction of the back of your home. Will your new structure get lots of sun or very little? How will that sun affect the light that enters the back of your house? You may love the way the light pours through the windows on the back of your house – at the very spot where you want your new sunroom or porch to go. The porch will then enjoy that streaming sunlight but your light inside the home will be affected. But I want you to be happy year after year in your new porch or sunroom. I don’t want you to feel like you made a mistake because of how it changes the amount of light in your favorite room. I don’t want to build it in such a way that the sunlight is so overwhelming on one side of your porch that you only want to use it at certain times of day. I treat you like I would my brother or family member. I want to use my experience to guide you in making the best decision.
This one was REALLY a challenge
Take a look at the picture below showing the back of this home. The family wanted to convert their deck into a screen porch. Looking at the back of the home, it’s pretty much of a no brainer right? The obvious choice would be to put the screen porch where the deck was. And, also obvious was to use a gable roof. We always want to make the roof style fit with the home. In this case, you can see 3 gable roofs on the back of the home so using a gable style would fit right in. In addition, using a gable was perfect because it would extend over the existing half dome window and not cause any problems with other windows.
The customer wanted to convert this deck into a screened porch
As it turns out, there was quite an architectural challenge in designing this screen porch. The first challenge was that the gable roofs on either side were a different heights and pitches so we needed to design something to work well with both adjacent gables.
One of the larger challenges that an inexperienced contractor might not think of was water drainage. If you look at the adjacent gable roofs and imagine the screen porch abutting up to them, the water coming off those other roofs is going to flow right down into the screen porch.
In this scenario, water would drain right down from the adjacent roof into the screened porch
Take a look at how this design would work if no accommodation was made for the water flow and appropriate drainage. In order to fix that problem, we engineered cricket roofs to divert running water away from the screened porch.
Cricket roof diverts drainage water away from screen porch
As noted above, working with architectural elements on the home can be a challenge and is a major factor in the design. This home not only had a large elevated half-round window that they wanted to keep but they also had a vent on the back of the house that we needed to work around.
As you can see in the final design below, we were able to accomplish all of the architectural challenges while still creating a stunning structure that would look like it was built with the original home.
You can see how the gable roof fits in beautifully with the architecture of the home. You can also see how the screened porch is finished to match the look of the room to a tee.
Our work at this Delaware home is in progress so we look forward to sharing pictures once we’ve finished. One thing that isn’t apparent in this picture is matching the materials. Often one of the first questions people ask me is “Can you make it look like it was made to go with our home?” The answer almost all of the time is yes. We hunt down roof shingles, paint colors, siding, gutters and other materials to match your new structure to your home.
The deck of this home used Trex composite decking. We were able to extend the stairs by using the same decking material for a perfect match.
On this particular home, we are working with a stucco exterior. Stucco is a challenge because it is thin mortar and is brittle. When attaching the structure to the home, very special care and attention is paid to working with the stucco on the home’s exterior.
As we mentioned before, adding a roofed structure to your home will affect the light into your home. In many of our screened porches and sunrooms we add Velux skylights. These not only bring more light into your new room but allow for more natural light into the adjoining room in your home.
As you can see, it’s really important to work with an experienced outdoor builder. You might not want to work with a general contractor unless they have extensive experience in building outdoor roof structures. It’s a fair question to ask specifically how many screen porches or how many sunrooms they have built. When you are meeting with the builder, make sure they ask you a lot of these types of questions. Any contractor that takes a quick look at it and says “yup I can do it” is almost certainly not one you should work with. Also make sure that your builder is going to give you a design drawing. One person’s interpretation of specs can be a lot different than another’s. You want to make sure that you and your builder are on the very same page.
Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus
We build throughout the greater Columbus area and would love to talk to you about a screen porch or another outdoor addition you are planning for your home. Give us a call at (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at. westcolumbus@archadeck.net. Please also feel free to take a look at our website. You can see hundreds of great pictures of all sorts of outdoor projects.
The interior of this screen porch displays design perfection in every detail
Have you ever been flipping through your favorite home and garden magazine and seen an image that makes you wish you could have something just like it? If you are a proactive homeowner that is always looking for ways to improve upon your home or landscape then the answer is most certainly yes. These Powell, OH homeowners recently turned their dream of having a screen porch into a reality.
It all began when we initially sat down and met to get an idea of what they were looking to build. They told us that what they wanted most was a unique structure and they even gave us some pictures they had clipped out to use as a starting point for their project which showed a very finished structure that had wrapped beams and lots of architectural reveals on the inside and outside. The pictures provided valuable insight into developing the concept of the screen porch’s design. (see picture of clipping below). With the homeowner’s requests in mind we were ready to begin the design process.
This screen porch in Powell, OH by Archadeck of Columbus is picture perfect in every way.
The finished porch boasts an abundant 16′ x 16′ sq. feet of blissful outdoor living space which includes 9′ high walls which are higher than standard screen porch walls. High ceilings are becoming more and more popular and we like to build the walls of our outdoor structures to match the the walls inside the house on the adjoining room. Your outdoor room is truly an extension of your home.
In terms of trimming out this screen porch, we used “build-up” columns in the screen porches interior. In essence this means we actually build them up to make them appear larger and more finished. By having thicker columns in the middle, we were able to put sconce lights in the interior and these more robust columns add to the elegance of the entire room. When working with certain interior design aspects of an outdoor structure, bigger is usually better, it gives your finished room a richer feel.
Powell, OH screen porch Cedar tongue and groove ceiling detailing
We used Paulownia trim on the posts which comes ready to paint upon installation. On the floor the homeowners chose a pressure-treated pine floor laid on a diagonal pattern. Using pine adds a rustic, natural ambiance to a room like only real wood can, and choosing the diagonal patterning conveys a sense of creativity by steering away from the traditional pattern commonly seen in screen porches. These Powell, OH homeowners played on the rich lines and wood within the flooring and took it a step further by choosing an unfinished cedar tongue and groove ceiling. Also included were some little creature comforts and extras. These included a wall mount system for the homeowners TV, ceiling fans, and ample electrical outlets on those hearty posts.
This image shows the majesty of the porches exterior
Of course, the quality and sense of exclusivity was carried on to the exterior as well. We put architectural reveals on the outside with the use of additional trim that creates the appearance of a more layered look which shows shadow lines. We also installed siding on the exterior of the porch and painted it to make it look natural to the house. We used aluminum screen inserts and also placed white reveals around the screens to add character.
If you are looking for a builder that can deliver you a “picture-perfect” outdoor structure, contact Archadeck of Columbus to get started today call us at (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net
Archadeck of Columbus explores the interior design options and considerations in screen porches, 3 and 4 season rooms and sunroom additions and how they can harmonize so effortlessly with your existing home.
Columbus OH rustic sunroom with exterior grade door
Wouldn’t you love to have that room addition you have always dreamed of? A place to relax, read a book, take a nap or even a room where you can watch the sun fade into the horizon. Nowadays room additions don’t have to be “plain Jane” sheet rock with four walls and no pizzazz. Room additions can come under the guise of many other titles, like sunrooms, 3 and 4 season rooms and even screened porches. Any room that is attached to your existing home that serves to improve your way of life can be a room addition. That being said we are going to explore the interior design options that can be incorporated into various room additions.
When we refer to the term interior design, this does not mean you have to be a licensed interior designer with an association like ASID ( American Society of Interior Designers) in order to turn your room addition into a work of art. The first vital observation to make is to what extent you will be able to trim out your structure and what medium would be appropriate for your structure. This depends solely on what type of structure you choose to build. For example, a screen porch interior can be trimmed out with a myriad of beautiful interior details, but since a screen porch is subject to temperature variance and inherit moisture your interior design choices may be a little more limited than that of a sunroom, which is insulated. By adding insulation, windows and the HVAC you are in essence dealing with an interior room addition that just so happens to take its inspiration from the outside world around you from the beauty of nature and gives us the ability to coexist with that beauty from within an insulated, temperature controlled structure. A sunroom , also referred to as a 4 season room, addition to your home will come with endless interior design possibilities because having insulation and a consistent temperature free from the exposure of possible moisture will give you the ability to explore more options in flooring, ceilings, trim, wall finishes and even furniture and accessories.
This screened porches interior design gets its inspiration from nature.
Within a screen porch we are seeing many interior choices that reflect the rustic look. Rustic design options include exposed beams, rich deep wood tones used in the floors, bead board or ply bead ceilings, and even the addition of stone fireplaces within the structure. A good analogy is to compare the interior design options that are popularly used in today’s screened porches is a design that mimics a wilderness lodge full of earthy tones and hues that create a natural appeal for such a structure. Making sure your interior design choices are weather-worthy is crucial to the life and required maintenance of your screen porch here in Ohio where the winters can be quite brutal.
This four season sunroom has a beautiful tile floor.
Once you move into the realm of the 3 season room addition more interior design choices will begin to unfold especially if you choose to build a structure that offers the option of convertibility by changing out the screens for windows when the weather changes such as an Eze Breeze convertible system. In doing this you will expand your choices for suitable design choices . More flooring, wall and finish options are within your grasp. The addition of windows to your 3 season room can open up a world of interior design possibilities.
Notice how this sunroom flows effortlessly to and from the existing homes interior through these stunning french doors.
A sunroom is the coup de grace of room additions. Sunrooms offer an extension of your interior living area that offers a bird’s-eye view of the outside. Sunrooms are insulated, heated, and cooled to keep the room and you at a constant comfortable temperature no matter whether there is snow on the ground or 100 degree temperatures outside. By choosing a sunroom addition you open all the choices in interior designs. With a 4 season room there is no danger of freezing temperatures causing flooring choices such as tile to crack. You also have the ability to trim your 4 season room with interior grade hardwoods without or without rugs used atop, wall-to wall carpeting, and even the popular laminate floors seen readily in today’s homes such as the popular Pergo laminate flooring. By adding the simple element of insulation to your room addition you have opened the door to endless wall finish options as well. Without insulation wall finish options such as crown moldings, faux finishing and even wallpaper aren’t possible because without insulation putting drywall in your room addition is not possible because of the presence of moisture.
This sunroom has track lighting and ceiling fans for added appeal and convenience
No matter what type of room addition you are thinking of, it is important to also consider the way the structure harmonizes with your existing home. Taking into consideration door swings, and traffic flow as you move from the addition into your existing homes interior is important to get the most enjoyment out of your room addition. Taking the functionality of your structure into view is also crucial, for example if you intend to use your structure as an extended room for dining and entertaining close proximity to your homes kitchen would be a necessity for utmost enjoyment. Imagine taking your morning coffee and danish on a sunroom alive with the first morning light, the whole experience can turn from mundane to moving just by your surroundings.
Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus
Archadeck of Columbus can plan, design and build the perfect room addition for your home. We make certain that our room additions are cohesive to your existing homes character and style down to even the smallest elements, matching carpet, ceilings , flooring and even paint to ensure your room addition will look original to your home. Contact us today to learn more (740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net
Visit our screened porches gallery for more images of sunrooms and 3 and 4 season rooms visit our outdoor rooms gallery for design inspirations
Archadeck of Columbus explores ways to utilize your screened porch well into the autumn or all year through by converting your screen porch into a 3 or 4 season room.
Archadeck of Columbus can convert your screened porch to a 3 or 4 season room
For many homeowners who have a screened porch they look at it as a structure that can only be used during the warmer months of the year and once the weather turns colder they can no longer spend time enjoying their screened structure. Many screened porches are treated much like a seasonal outdoor pool would be, opening in the spring only to close it down a few months later after the warmth of the sun has made its grand appearance and faded back behind the clouds of autumn. This doesn’t have to be the case. There are many ways to convert your screen porch into an outdoor living space that can be used beyond the end of summer and in some cases all year through. These conversions still take advantage of the whole reason you wanted a screen porch to begin with – the freedom and fresh air without the hassle of insects and the suns dangerous UV rays beaming down upon you and your family. These conversions won’t take away all the glory that is the screened porch, only enhance it and make it a livable addition to your home and backyard for extended season enjoyment.
A screen porch does have it’s limitations and in some cases only be used between five and six month out of the year. Screened porches can be converted into 3 and 4 season rooms that can be used for longer time periods throughout the year. If you are considering a new screened porch in your future and think you may want to convert the structure at some point, it is good idea to convey this to your builder so that certain prerequisites for conversion can be met ahead of time, such as the use of standard window sizes to make conversion easier and less hassle in the future.
Here is a look at some of the options available to screened porch owners who are thinking of a conversion:
The addition of windows turn this amazing screened porch by Archadeck of Columbus into a 3 season room
The 3 season room
Converting a screened porch to a 3 season room can be as easy as adding windows. By adding windows you can take advantage of 3 or more months of enjoyment on your screened structure. All windows come with screens that can be used when that Indian summer arrives. Many homeowners use acrylic inserts that block out the weather and when the temperatures dive into a less comfortable zone you can easily add a space heater to add warmth on those days when the windows won’t block a sufficient amount of the chilliness to keep you comfortable while using your screen porch. Vinyl window inserts such as the Eze breeze porch enclosure system, are on a track system and can be opened and closed depending on the weather. Other manufacturers offer a double-paned insulated window that can also be removed in the spring when the weather turns warm. The advantage of having windows and screens is you can amend how your structure functions season to season, and even day to day and customize how much of the outside you want to let inside. Artistic enclosures makes a wonderful swing and slide window wall that is perfect when considering a conversion to a 3 season room for your screened porch.
Sliding glass windows can turn your screen porch into a room for all seasons
The 4 season room
The difference in a 3 season room and a 4 season room is the addition of insulation. These structures can be used throughout most of the year. Insulation is added to the kneewalls, ceiling and underneath the floors. On existing screened porches this requires enclosed walls be re-opened to add the insulation. Making the decision to convert to a 4 season room is based on how often you feel you would use the structure during the cooler months of the year. A 4 season room will still need to have a heating source, whether this heating source is a heat pump or a new MEHVAC unit such as Mitsubishi’s ductless heating and cooling unit, which are engineered to efficiently heat or cool and individual space the functionality of the space throughout the year for you and your family is the deciding factor when thinking of converting to a 4 season room.
The addition of windows turn this amazing screened porch by Archadeck of Columbus into a 3 season room
No matter how you choose to convert your screen porch, Archadeck of Columbus can help you with our years of experience in converting screen porches to better suit the colder months of our Ohio climate, that can sometimes be harsh. Archadeck of Columbus can meet with you to discuss which conversion would best suit your needs and your lifestyle. Contact us today at (740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net
To see more stunning 3 and 4 seasons rooms by Archadeck of Columbus visit our Columbus screen porch photo gallery.
Archadeck of Columbus is able to create three seperate outdoor structures that work as one. This double deck, patio and screen porch have the harmony and fluidity that many single structures lack, covering all the bases of style, design, quality workmanship and function with this winning triple-play.
This large double-deck sits directly over the gorgeous screen porch and patio.
It is not often that you have a combination of structures that work together effortlessly to create not just a grouping of spaces but an entire outdoor living area. These Columbus, OH homeowners definitely scored a triple play with this stunning second story double-deck, rustic screen porch and beautiful paver patio. Every inch of these structures are built with quality and style and they also create the feeling of one large, multi-functional outdoor structure despite the fact that they are actually three separate structures. These structures work together with harmony and fluidity as they flow effortlessly into one another, making it perfect for intimate get togethers and entertaining on a grand scale as well. Here is a video to experience to experience this entire outdoor living space.
This photo shows how each of the structures by Archadeck of Columbus work together as one.
Archadeck of Columbus used composite, low-maintenance TimberTech XLM decking in Sandridge to cover the second story double-deck and accented it with black aluminum railings. On the lower level, a rustic screen porch welcomes you with its breathtaking and aromatic cedar walls and trim. The floor of the screen porch is finished with large concrete slab pavers that resemble tile to carry on the rustic theme, we also used Unilock pavers around the porch itself. The screen porch spills out onto a beautifully designed patio . As always, Archadeck of Columbus paid close attention to every important detail of this outdoor oasis by making sure the roof between the deck and screened porch below is a dry roof to keep out moisture that could cause damage to the structures. For the final touch we added small flush mounted low voltage lighting for safety and ambiance.
Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus
If you are ready to turn your backyard into an extension of functional beauty and style, contact Archadeck of Columbus to learn how to create an outdoor oasis of your own. (740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net
Archadeck of Columbus expands your knowledge of screened porch interior ceilings. There is more to a ceiling than meets the eye.
This screened porch is big on rustic appeal by the choice of wood and the exposed rafter ceiling, even down to the details of the ceiling fans.
As with any element of design in custom building, when you talk about the number of the choices that are available, screened porches are no exception. Screened porches can be constructed with simplicity in mind as well as sophistication. One area to consider using as a design focal point when building your screened porch is the ceiling. The area in which an interior ceiling covers is quite large, and is the perfect spot to add style and flair to your screened structure. There are a myriad of choices, styles, accoutrements, detailing and materials that can be used to finish your interior ceiling. Each one can be used to convey a feeling and a mood within your screen porch. Here are some very popular ceiling design elements to show what function each one carries out in order to make finishing out your screened porch a little easier.
Ceiling elevation
By using open, exposed rafters and skylights this screened porch by Archadeck of Columbus offers incredible views.
Cathedral and clerestory ceilings– When choosing the elevation for your interior ceiling keep in mind that magic and the slight of hand is at work in some cases. For example, a room that has a higher elevated ceiling will appear and feel larger than it actually is. Cathedral ceilings give the room a sense of lightness and airiness. They also offer more room to use trim, moldings and architectural detailing. With an ability to allow room for these details in a higher elevated ceiling, you also get the “architectural reveals”, which in essence are effects caused by shadowing lines that can be induced through extra architectural details and lighting. These architectural reveals are used to add depth and ambiance to a room.
This screened porch by Archadeck of Columbus has enclosed rafters within the confines of a flat, finished ceiling.
Flat ceilings– Flat ceilings are sometimes used to create intimacy inside a particular space, and can also be used to create a sense of unity or formality. Flat ceilings can be played-up by the use of hardwood finishes to achieve a rustic elegance. Gone are the days of the boring 8′ blown popcorn ceiling with no personality or pizzazz, now even a standard height ceiling of 8′ or 9′ feet and be finished to convey warmth and beauty within your screened porch.
This is good example of exposed rafters used in a screened porch.
Rafters- to expose or enclose- that is the question
Exposed rafters– Exposed rafters are very popular among outdoor structures such as screened porches. Exposing the rafters creates a rustic, earthy elegance to the structure.
Enclosed rafters– Enclosing the rafters is more expensive than leaving the rafters exposed. Enclosed rafters are still used to create formality to a structure. The decision to leave the rafter exposed or to enclose is a personal preference.
This screened porch by Archadeck of Columbus provides a rustic influence through the use of cedar tongue and groove
Material Choices
So many choices– This is definitely an understatement. There are literally more material choices than you could ever imagine that are suitable for use in a screen porch. Some homeowners go with a more classic style, and others throw all caution to wind and really “think outside the box” in terms of using material choices as design elements. On the ceiling alone you have a wide array of materials to choose from like the wonderfully aromatic cedar tongue and groove, which carries on the rustic feel many screened porch owners are looking for. Then you have pine tongue and groove, which is less expensive than the cedar, but has a similar effect that is very natural and “woodsy. Using hardwoods on the ceiling are reminiscent of a “mountain lodge” type feel. There is also beadboard, which can be left natural or painted in the hue of your choice. Many homeowners choose a white-painted beadboard ceiling for their screened porch. White beadboard is clean, crisp and charming.
A gabled ceiling and skylights add to this screened porch's charm.
Material costs
As with any material, each has its own price point– Pine is less expensive than cedar, beadboard is very popular among use as a ceiling material for screened porches. Beadboard can be less expensive than both pine and cedar depending upon the type of beadboard and the radius needed for your particular structure.
This beauty by Archadeck of Columbus has a gorgeous tongue and groove ceiling.
Rafter Styles
When leaving the rafters exposed the size of the rafter itself will greatly impact the look of your space. Larger rafters with more girth and presence reflect a masculine feel and also leave a bigger cavity within the ceiling itself.
Wrapped rafters – by wrapping the rafters in a material like pine you can deliver style continuity and provide that rustic feel everyone is gravitating towards in design. Wrapping the rafters does cost more because wrapping the rafters will use more material as well as more labor.
This screen porch is finished in cedar and uses exposed 4x6 rafters.
It’s all in the details
Architectural elements– elements that can be used to add style and mood to your screened porch are important in a masterfully planned and built structure. Elements such as the ridge beam, which is the beam which runs the length of the ceiling, and in vaulted settings goes in-between the 2 opposite sides of the ceiling can become a focal point by using a large wooden beam. Ridge beams are also usually where the ceiling fan is most often mounted. Roof beams are the beams that run along the perimeter of the ceiling. Roof beams are sometimes trimmed out or wrapped to add some sizzle and style.
The little extras really count– Options that can be added to your screened porch ceiling include skylights, ceiling fans, lights and multimedia devices such as speakers. We install a large amount of skylights for our clients and we use Velux. Velux skylights come with multiple options including built-in blinds that will open and close at the touch of a button, automatic sensors to close if the skylight is open and it detects the presence of one raindrop and much more. The little extras you pour into your individual structures ceiling can be as simple or as luxurious as you wish.
Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus
With all screened porches you want to make sure you are using an experienced, licensed builder who has the knowledge and the design expertise to provide you with a screened porch that has your individuality built from the floor to the ceiling. Archadeck of Columbus has years of experience in perfecting the screened porch, and other outdoor structures, to learn more contact us at (740) 879 – 3730 westcolumbus@archadeck.net.
Columbus Decks, Porches and Patios by Archadeck of Columbus 