I told the design-build group to get all pressure treated wood 2 months in advance so it could pre-shrink, they did not do it. It was installed tight, but now there is a 1/4 to 3/16 gap on both the screened porch and open deck. Only a few mosquitos get in, but a lot more wasps get in. I hate wasps
! I asked why they did not put screen down 1st, they said they didn't think about it.
The next house they did, I saw they put the screen down. I love using my money to educate people...
On the open deck, the gaps are big enough that the wasps go down under the deck and build nests. The sides are closed in.
So here's what I'm going to try: I found some sites on the web that will sell aluminum rod in various diameters, up to 12 feet long. I will buy enough in the varying sizes to drop it in the gaps. It won't be completely sealed, but will keep out skeeters and wasps. Looks like about $600 to do a deck, much more than screen but neater and no "crud hammock" effect. Will do this on the open deck, and go under the screened (because I can) and put screen on the bottom of the joists. If it gets too cruddy, I'll go the aluminum rod approach.
Doing it again, I'd do the fiberglass screen under the decking. The crud will be small (it had to get through the outside screen to get in, so it should fall back out). If you hated it, it would be easy to cut it away with a knife after the fact. You can't loose.
Pete
