A screened porch should work as part of the way you use your backyard. Start with the activities you want to bring outside, the views you want to keep and the route between the house, porch and garden. Those choices give the project a purpose before you choose the details.
BigDecks plans and builds outdoor spaces in Greater Austin, including screened or covered spaces, real-wood decks, fencing, shade and landscape connections. The right scope depends on your property and the space you want to create.
Start with an ordinary day
Picture the porch on a weekday as well as when friends come over. Is it a place for breakfast, a quiet afternoon, dining or a second sitting area? Note when you expect to use it and where the sun reaches the proposed space at those times.
Bring the furniture dimensions you have, or a short list of what you would like to fit. Leave room in the plan for people to move between chairs, doors and the yard. A useful layout starts with those movements rather than an empty rectangle on a drawing.
Look outward from where you will sit
Consider the view from a chair as well as from inside the house. Screen framing, posts and door locations become part of that view. Describe what you want to see, where privacy matters and which connections to the rest of the yard you want to retain.
Screen and door options should be selected for the actual project. Bring questions about visibility, cleaning, upkeep and how doors will be used by your household. The review can establish the proposed system and its limitations before it becomes part of a written scope.
Treat an existing deck as a starting point for review
If you already have a deck or covered area, send photos of the whole space, its connection to the house and the surrounding yard. Include any drawings or records you have.
A site-specific assessment is needed to determine what can be retained and what the proposed enclosure requires. An existing surface or a particular board size does not establish that the structure can support an enclosure. If you hope to build in stages, discuss the eventual plan now so the team can assess those choices together.
Connect the porch to the whole backyard
A porch can be planned with a deck, paths, planting, fencing or another outdoor space. Think about where people arrive, where shoes or towels go and how you will reach the rest of the yard.
Design Assist is a paid, tiered service. Before work begins, we confirm the fee, scope, included plans and views, and revision allowance in writing. Construction, equipment and specialist services are priced separately unless expressly included in your proposal. The project review establishes which approach fits your scope.
Bring a clear starting brief
Useful inquiry details include:
- Photos and any available plans for the existing space.
- Your main activities, furniture needs and preferred views.
- Doors, paths and neighboring spaces the porch needs to connect.
- Any lighting or other equipment you want the team to consider.
- Your preferred timing and budget, even if either is still undecided.
The written project quote should identify the proposed enclosure, materials, responsibilities and any related work. Required approvals and any specialist work need to be addressed for the actual property and scope.
Use Send my project & estimate on BigDecks to share your starting point. John reviews the inquiry and arranges any site visit needed for a written quote. An online deck estimate is a planning estimate; the screened space and other project components need their own confirmed scope.
Describe what you expect from the enclosure
Make a list of the conditions you want to discuss: sunlight on the seating, views through the screen, rain at the edges, door operation and the cleaning you are prepared to do. Ask how the proposed system addresses each item and what limitations should be reflected in the written scope.
Explain whether you are seeking an outdoor screened space or a different kind of enclosed room. Those are different briefs to review. For an existing deck, keep assessment of the structure separate from choosing a screen pattern or door; reuse and related work must be established for the actual project.
Planning a project? Explore real-wood deck building in Austin, estimate your deck, or work through your layout with Design Assist. Material availability, pricing, and site requirements are confirmed for your project.