Screened Porch System

Woodcrafter74

I'm putting together a quote and design for a customer who wants a second floor deck with a screened porch underneath. They want a screened porch "system", with as little maintenance as possible. I'm envisioning a system that has a top and bottom track where aluminum or vinyl screened panels can snap it/out of.

I've seen the systems where you attach the screening to the porch structure, but I'm only planning on having two (at the most three) posts spanning 16', so screen obviously won't stretch that far.

Any suggestions?

PipeGuy

Last year I built about 75 LF of 8' high screen porch wall with this system http://www.screentight.com/
Thus far I'm happy with the results. I used it because I didn't want to have to tear off and repaint wooden strips every time a screen needs replacing.
If the screen is subject to pets or children I think a major maintenance saver can be found in using 'pet' screen in lieu standard gauge. It even comes in colors http://www.fabricdepot.com/Catalog.aspx?ItemKey=5515'

joasis

I'm with Pipe on that, screentight is the way to go. It holds the tension on the screen perfectly.

Woodcrafter74

Thanks for the input Pipe & Joasis. I've seen the Screentight system and I like it, but the trouble I see is then I have to put in a wood frame to nail the screen strips to. Wood frame = maintenance.

But in leau of other options, I'll probably will go Screentight, my local lumber yard is a dealer.

Thanks.

rglen

Woodcrafter74, you mentioned the screened porch will be beneath a deck. How will you "roof" the screened in porch to keep it dry and keep leaves etc from accumulating on top?

Woodcrafter74

There's a couple different systems out there for draining away the water, like Underdeck or American Dry Deck, etc.

Did you have a particular system you've worked with?

rglen

Nope I've seen them but they look like they could be a long term maintenance problem as tree crap will get in and clog them up. Most mention that they will generally self clean but that you might have to pull up the first and last deck board to clean / flush.

mci2980

has a nice porch enclosure. it is basically storm door sections using h and u channel to tie it all together. i think harveys is in deleware. its about 3 bucks an lineal inch and maintanance free

Woodcrafter74

That's exactly the style system I'm looking for, but with screens, not glass. By looking at their website, it doesn't look like they have a screen system, unless they're not showing it.

Patrick

Wood crafter, It does not say it on the website, however there is an option on the aluminum enclosure wall system to have just screens. The screens by the way are removable. In my opinion though, for the slight extra cost you are better off ordering the thing with glass and screens and just keeping the glass sashes down in the basement incase you ever want them. PK

Woodcrafter74

MCI & Patrick,
Thanks for the Harvey lead. I like their system--interchangeable panels in aluminum tracks. $4.60 per linear inch for the screen system, add an additional $.40 for interchangeable glass panels. That's a pretty cheap up sell.
Thanks again.

Patrick

The best part is how fast the thing goes together, and its pretty good at making up for an out of square opening/unlevel deck or roof

vinylguy

and for a water proof roof and deck system all in one check out masterdeck.com great new product only one piece vinyl deck system and roof system out there and in my opinion the best vinyl decking on the market. has its on guttering system built right into it. and now they come in wood grain features

Woodcrafter74

Vinylguy,
deckmaster.com isn't the right one.