Turning an Unused Porch Into a Screened In Porch: Ideas for South Metro Homes

Lots of Twin Cities houses have a porch or deck that mostly just sits there. Too buggy in June, too exposed in August, and by fall it's where the lawn chairs wait for spring. Screening it in is one of the simplest ways to actually start using it.

Start with how you want to use it

Before you think about furniture, think about what the space is for. Morning coffee? A spot for the dog? Dinner outside without the mosquitoes? That answer drives the rest: where the door goes, how much open screen you want, and whether you need tougher screen where pets or kids lean on it.

Two common routes

Screen porch conversion. If you already have a covered porch with a roof and posts, the openings you have can usually be screened in. That's what our screen porch conversion service covers.

ScreenEze system. ScreenEze is a track-and-cap system that goes over your framing and gives a clean, tight look with no staples or wood strips showing. It's a popular pick for screened in porch installation, and if one section gets damaged later, that section can be rescreened on its own.

Things to sort out first

• Is the framing solid? Rotted posts or rails should be fixed before any screen goes up.
• Where do you want the screen door, and which way should it swing?
• Do you want pet-resistant screen on the lower panels?
• Is there furniture or a grill that needs room to get in and out?

How long does it take?

Most porch installs take a day or two once the framing is ready. You get a quote up front, and the estimate is free.

Thinking about screening in your porch?

Twin Cities Screen Solutions builds screened in porches in Hampton, Hastings, Cottage Grove, Woodbury, Eagan, Rosemount and across the south metro. Call or text (651) 243-1273 or request a free estimate.