Porches and decks
Screened porches and decks
The room the house is really about: screened, glazed or open, framed to face the lake.
A porch is where most of the summer happens, so we draw it for the view first and the weather second. Roof, ceiling, floor and screens are built in the off-season, and it is finished before the first weekend of the year.
What's included
Drawings and framing
Roof, ceiling and lighting
Flooring and railings
Screens, glass panels or open railing
Stairs to the lawn or the water
Fans and heaters, if you want them
Cost
What changes the cost
No figure here: the house sets the number, and the estimate shows where it came from.
Screened, glazed or open
A screened room costs less than a glazed one; an open deck costs less than either.
Wood or composite
Both last well; they cost differently and need different care.
Roof and ceiling
A porch with a roof and a finished ceiling is a bigger job than an open deck.
Slope and footings
A steep lot to the water means taller piers and more footings.
Railings and code
Guard and stair heights follow the building code.
How it goes
A porch before the season
- 01June to September
Step 1: Design
We draw the room with you, with the view in mind.
- 02October to December
Step 2: Footings and frame
Footings and framing in the early off-season.
- 03January to March
Step 3: Roof, ceiling, floor
Closed in, then finished.
- 04April to May
Step 4: Screens and finishes
Screens, paint and stain once the weather allows.
Questions
About porches and decks
Can a screened porch become a four-season room?
Yes, but it needs insulation, heat and proper glazing. We'd draw it as that from the start.
Do you build over a slope?
Yes. It changes the footings and the stairs, and we plan for it in the drawings.
Is it ready for the summer?
That is the schedule. We plan the porch for the end of the build window.
Build windows
Ask for a build window
Tell us about the house and when you're there, and we'll say which window it fits.