Services
Enclosing an open porch
You already have the roof and the floor. We frame screen panels between your posts, hang a door, and find out what the old porch has been hiding.
An open porch has been taking weather for years. Before we quote, we probe the posts, the beam ends and the floor edge, and tell you what we find in writing.
In the written plan
A written look at posts, beams and floor before we price the screening
Screen panels framed between your existing posts
A screen door and latch
Repairs we find, each priced before we do it
Paint or stain, matched to the house
What changes the cost
What moves the number
There's no figure on this page. Your written plan prices each of these.
What's soft
Rot at post bases and beam ends is common on Gulf Coast porches, and every replaced piece adds to the cost.
Post spacing
Wide spans need extra framing so the panels don't bow.
The floor
A floor that holds water may need new boards, a better pitch or a different surface.
The rail
Keeping the old rail or taking it down changes the framing.
The roof edge
A roof that doesn't overhang far enough lets rain onto the screen, and a fix adds work.
Permit
Enclosing a porch is usually permitted; the fee and review time depend on where you live.
How it goes
From the visit to the last day
- 01
Step 1: The look
We check the posts, beams and floor and tell you what we found, with photos.
- 02
Step 2: The plan and permit
Repairs, panels and door are priced one by one; we apply to the building department.
- 03
Step 3: Repairs first
Anything soft comes out before a screen goes on.
- 04
Step 4: Panels and door
Frames are built to your posts, then screened, then painted.
Questions about enclosing an open porch
Do I have to rebuild the floor?
Not always. We check the boards and the framing under them. If they're sound and shed water, we keep them.
How do I know if my porch posts are sound?
We probe the base of each post and the ends of each beam with a screwdriver. Wood that gives way is rotten and needs replacing. We send you photos of every one we find.
Can you enclose a porch that has a low rail?
Yes. We either screen above the rail or replace it with a framed wall, depending on the height and what looks right.
Do old porch posts need to be tied down?
A porch we enclose often needs better connections between roof, post and footing. We look at that on the first visit and put what's needed in the plan.
Have a porch you never use?
Send two photos, one of the porch and one of the roof edge. We'll say what we'd check.