Screened porches, patios and decks allow you to enjoy the outdoors in comfort whatever the weather.

If you love spending breezy weekends relaxing outdoors, but you’re not so fond of being eaten by bugs, fried by the sun, or having your newspaper blown away by the wind, screened porches, decks or patios are the perfect solution. Building an enclosed or semi enclosed structure around an existing deck or patio is becoming an increasingly popular home improvement project, as it’s very easy for anyone with a spare weekend or two to do. Screened porches, patios and decks come in a choice of designs, depending on the climate in your area, and the type of weather you want to shelter yourself from. Insulated structures are designed to protect you from cold and wind, and by incorporating heating you can enjoy your patio or deck well into the colder months of the year. Summer structures are designed to shade you from strong sunlight and protect you from UV radiation, while still allowing cool breezes to pass through.

Things to consider when planning and designing screened porches, patios and decks.

A very important consideration to make when you’re choosing materials is the amount of maintenance you’re prepared to do in the long term. You should also factor in long term maintenance costs when you’re working out a budget for the project. Broadly speaking, natural timber will require regular ongoing maintenance to prevent it rotting. You can reduce the amount of maintenance needed by choosing good quality hardwoods, and by priming and staining the components before you build with them. Building the structure first, then painting it means you will inevitably have small gaps in the coverage, which rainwater will quickly find, eventually causing the timber to rot. Any good home hardware or timber supplier should give you plenty of useful advice on maintenance, so make sure you discuss the issue with them before you make your choice.

Screened porches, decks and patios made with aluminum require much less maintenance, and are generally far quicker and easier to install. You can buy the aluminum frames and screens in kits which can be assembled in no time.