House Trends: Screened Porches, a Solution to Outdoor Living

RISMEDIA, July 2, 2007—Imagine being able to enjoy a well-prepared dinner on your porch every evening this summer, but without the annoyance of insects or the worry of rain.

According to Chris Carey, director of sales for Archadeck, that notion is exactly what draws many people to have a screened porch added onto their home.

“Outdoor living is the trendy way of living nowadays,” Carey said. “We have found that, during the summer season, homeowners seek as many ways as possible to stay outdoors more. And, many of these people find the answer to their dilemma in a screened porch, which offers an indoor/outdoor experience, all along with the luxuries of shade from direct sunlight, as well as rain and insect protection.”

Archadeck sets itself apart from others by distinguishing itself as a “design-build” business, Carey said. The company, which acts as both the designer and the builder, designs the project for the customer and then makes it a reality by constructing it. Screened porches are a popular request and Carey said the actual projects vary in design and style, depending on the needs and wants of the customer.

When it comes to screened porches, there are a myriad of choices and a long list of material options that can be used to build them. However, the first thing to decide is the main usage of the screened porch. The size of the porch, for example, will depend on how it’s being used. If its only purpose will be for dining, it normally would be designed to be smaller than if it was to be used for general multi-functional “outdoor living,” which calls for a larger space.

“Many people choose a screened porch simply because it increases their living space—it makes them feel they have more square footage to their home; some use it mainly for entertaining; while others want a screened porch to remind them of a special time in their lives, for instance, growing up in their childhood house,” Carey said.

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