Tag: Choosing the right connection for your Columbus OH screened porch

Say goodbye to the screened porches of yesteryear!

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.
fishing trip

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!

Columbus outdoor fireplace on porch
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.

Delaware screened porch interior

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.

Columbus screened porches

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.

Archadeck of Columbus team
The Archadeck of Columbus team.

 

 

Connecting with a screen porch expert is an important as connecting the porch to your home

Our design series on screened porches continues with an in-depth look at roof styles and the importance of choosing the correct connection to your home.

Are you looking for a backyard experience without the rain, bugs and dangers caused by the sun?A screened porch is the perfect solution. Enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells without the bugs, rain, and too much sun.

A lot of our customers look for our guidance on the type of screen porch roof and where to attach a new porch to their home. Consulting an experienced builder is the key to success in this area. Your existing home’s structure will often dictate where we can tie in and what type of roof will work best for your project. Existing roof lines, dormers, windows, existing skylights, bump out areas such as bay windows and many other factors are considered.

Selecting the right roof style

The three most common roof styles are gable, hip and shed. It is not always necessary to make your screened porch roof an exact match to the style of your existing home. Often different roof styles can be combined to complement one another. Shed roofs are usually not as complex as a gable or hip roof, and are the least expensive to build.

  • A hip roof has 3 or more sides that all slope downward from a common point
  • A gable roof is the most popular. It looks like a triangle with two sides sloping down from a center line
  • A shed roof is a flat roof that slopes in one direction from the home

This Arlington screened porch has a shed roof which unifies the modern lines of the existing home. It also features a unique spiral staircase.

Arlington, OH screened porch with spiral staircase shed roof with tie-in

This lovely screen porch features a hip roof.

Hip roof screen porch Archadeck of Charlotte

A side wall connection and gable style roof adds to the charm of this screened porch.

Columbus gable roof screened porch with sidewall connection

Making the right connection

The next determination is where to attach the screened porch to your existing home. This can be achieved through a roof tie in or a sidewall connection.  Indeed in most situations a roof-tie in connection is more expensive than a sidewall connection. Roof tie-in connections require greater experience and expertise to make the connection structurally sound and water tight.  It is important to make sure your contractor is or employes a roofing specialist when hiring them to attach a structure to your home.

This screen porch was built with a gable roof and  also includes crickets. Crickets are used to tie one roof line cohesively into another and also aid in diverting water away from the roof.

gable roof with crickets

This sidewall connection includes a cantilever which aids in the support of the 2nd story overhang and deflects the weight from the roof tie-in, to the structural framing of the porch.

gable roof with cantilever

Because this home has a flat roof we used a shed roof with a roof connection.

low grade shed roof

This roof connection also connects to the wall on the other side.

this roof connection also connects to the wall on the other side

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus
Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

Archadeck of Columbus is a national company. Our engineers design all the structural details of how each project is to be built whereas a lot of companies let the carpenters make the decision. In the field is where theory turns to practicality and having the right contractor can ensure the integrity of your new porch and your existing home. The goal is to have a cohesive design that looks original to your home. A successful project ends with a quality structure that harmonizes with all the elements of your home and landscape.

Contact Archadeck of Columbus to learn more about our custom screen porch designs and quality construction standards. Call us for a free consultation today (740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net

See more screened porches that were built with originality and  expert craftsmanship at their core by visiting our screened porch gallery located on our website.