Screen Porch Transformation

[lakngulf]

I posted this earlier in Rural Living, but want to get some ideas from Project savvy folks. I have a 13 x 32 screen porch that is great during certain months, but I want to make it more year round. I do not want to lose the screen porch effect, but be able to close windows or doors and heat/cool.

Has anyone done something similar? I am interested in window types, sliding doors, flooring (it is now deck lumber), problems that I might encounter. One picture shows the outside wall. How much extra re-enforcement will I need to space some of it out for sliding glass doors? Most sections are about 45 inches wide now. Thanks for your help.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I have somewhat of the same thoughts at my house which has a screened porch.

I would finish off the bottom third with insulation and wall. The top 2 thirds would be framed up in windows (large) that open to screens. One of the down sides to this is that you lose some visibility looking out to the scenery due to the frameing.

In other words.....consecutive windows somewhat butted up to one an other.

Don't think it would be cheap but you didn't mention costs.

Let's see what others say.??......

 

[reddog176]

I had been looking into the same topic awhile back, and came up with this product: Eze-Breeze Sunrooms by P.G. Awning that seems to fit the bill quite well.

If I remember correctly it wasn't 'that' expensive of an option either, at least, taking climate into consideration you'd end up with a 3-4 season room, rather than a 1/2-1 season one.

 

[ruralruss]

I posted this earlier in Rural Living, but want to get some ideas from Project savvy folks. I have a 13 x 32 screen porch that is great during certain months, but I want to make it more year round. I do not want to lose the screen porch effect, but be able to close windows or doors and heat/cool.

Has anyone done something similar? I am interested in window types, sliding doors, flooring (it is now deck lumber), problems that I might encounter. One picture shows the outside wall. How much extra re-enforcement will I need to space some of it out for sliding glass doors? Most sections are about 45 inches wide now. Thanks for your help.

I have a screen porch out back that I have wanted to do the same with. Whether or not you get around to it I suggest you put in a ceiling with insulation above. We did this on the screen porch in the back and our open deck in the front, at the builders recommendation. It makes those hot southern summer days much easier to bare.

Russ

 

[J_J]

I have considered the same thing, and I began collecting sliding glass doors several years ago. My idea was to add 4 x 4 post, a 6 ft or 8 ft sliding door, and then another 4 x 4 post and sliding glass doors, etc, and continue that around the perimeter. For fresh air, slide every how many panels you need. The glass can also be tinted to block the sun.

 

[Bob_in_VT]

We rebuilt our porch in 2003 and used the Eze-breeze windows. Highly recommended. I'm in northern Vermont and we even use the porch in the winter sometimes with the fireplace going.

 

[MarkV]

From your photo's it looks to me like the ceiling rafters are resting on a single top plate that spans close to 4' between vertical supports. If I am seeing that right it is pretty light framing and to put sliding doors in you would be increasing the span between supports. I believe you will have to add headers above each opening to support the roof load. Depending on the height of the opening, once a header is added you may not have enough height for standard size sliding doors.

I did see a porch where the owner had storm windows made, just the glass, to fit the spacing of his vertical supports. He would mount one unit on the lower half of the opening and one on the upper half with a horizontal support at rail height dividing them. With the window units mounted on the inside of the porch they did not interfere with the screen and could be removed during the better weather months. The addition of indoor/outdoor carpet and a space heater it made it a reasonable area except for our coldest times here in the south.

If it is a concern in your area, closing in a space like that would make it heated living space here and require it to meet code for a living space. It would also affect property taxes by adding more heated square footage to the house.

MarkV

 

[lakngulf]

From your photo's it looks to me like the ceiling rafters are resting on a single top plate that spans close to 4' between vertical supports. If I am seeing that right it is pretty light framing and to put sliding doors in you would be increasing the span between supports. I believe you will have to add headers above each opening to support the roof load. Depending on the height of the opening, once a header is added you may not have enough height for standard size sliding doors.

MarkV: You see that correctly. I will have to do some hefty header support for windows, and even more for sliding glass doors. I am not certain of the height, but I think there is space. What would be recommended for headers? 2x8, 2x6, 2x10.....or whatever fits?

Bob and reddog: Thanks for the reference to Eze-breeze. I will look into that

J_J: If the wall height and the budget will allow for it, I think sliding glass doors would be ideal. My thought was to add 2x4s to the existing to gain the 4x4 effect, but an actual 4x4 post would be stronger. If I go with 4x4 to replace the existing 2x4s, what is the best method for installing (nailing) the header boards. Also, is it in the header board that the 1/2 piece of plywood is added between the two header boards for flush?


ruralruss: What type insulation would you recommend? Also, what was used for your ceiling? I could go ahead and do that before I stared on the other part.

JDGreenGrass: You are right that it will not be cheap. I want to see what all my options are and then see what fits the budget. I have three grandsons and another one due in August. The goal is to enclose the porch enough that it will be cool enough (or warm enough) for sleeping four or more boys. That would free up the real bedrooms for adults.

 

[ruralruss]

MarkV: You see that correctly. I will have to do some hefty header support for windows, and even more for sliding glass doors. I am not certain of the height, but I think there is space. What would be recommended for headers? 2x8, 2x6, 2x10.....or whatever fits?

Bob and reddog: Thanks for the reference to Eze-breeze. I will look into that

J_J: If the wall height and the budget will allow for it, I think sliding glass doors would be ideal. My thought was to add 2x4s to the existing to gain the 4x4 effect, but an actual 4x4 post would be stronger. If I go with 4x4 to replace the existing 2x4s, what is the best method for installing (nailing) the header boards. Also, is it in the header board that the 1/2 piece of plywood is added between the two header boards for flush?


ruralruss: What type insulation would you recommend? Also, what was used for your ceiling? I could go ahead and do that before I stared on the other part.

JDGreenGrass: You are right that it will not be cheap. I want to see what all my options are and then see what fits the budget. I have three grandsons and another one due in August. The goal is to enclose the porch enough that it will be cool enough (or warm enough) for sleeping four or more boys. That would free up the real bedrooms for adults.

It was a regular rafter ceiling with 3/16 in. tongue and groove 4' by 8' sheets and yellow fiberglass bats. It really does make a huge difference on hot summer days.

Russ

 

[lakngulf]

We rebuilt our porch in 2003 and used the Eze-breeze windows. Highly recommended. I'm in northern Vermont and we even use the porch in the winter sometimes with the fireplace going.

Bob, I like the looks of the room you did in Eze-breeze. More importantly to my project, my wife loves the look. Could you give me a ball park of the cost? Did you do the installation? How large is your room?