# Planning a Screened Porch in Austin September 15, 2026 · BigDecks 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. For projects with several connected components, BigDecks offers paid Design Assist: 3D design and a plan for the site and its elements. The design fee is credited toward the build if you proceed. Straightforward builds have no design fee. 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](https://bigdecks.co/) 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. Planning a project? [Explore real-wood deck building in Austin](https://bigdecks.co/real-wood-deck-builders-austin/), [estimate your deck](https://bigdecks.co/price/), or work through your layout with [Design Assist](https://bigdecks.co/#design-assist). Material availability, pricing, and site requirements are confirmed for your project. ## More from the journal - [Budgeting for a Fence Replacement in Austin](https://bigdecks.co/blog/how-to-budget-for-a-fence-replacement-project-in-austin/) - [Planning a Fence Replacement in Austin](https://bigdecks.co/blog/fence-replacement-for-aging-austin-properties/) - [Planning a Deck for an Austin ADU](https://bigdecks.co/blog/deck-additions-for-austin-accessory-dwelling-units/) ![Broad wood decking and exposed board ends on a BigDecks project](https://bigdecks.co/images/projects/Forrest-127-web.webp)A BigDecks project. Real wood. Size matters. ## Start with the original. Our signature OG 4×12 boards set the scale. Explore the materials and get an estimate for your space. [Price your deck →](https://bigdecks.co/price/?wood=og-df) [Talk through your project](https://bigdecks.co/#hero-quote) --- [View this page](https://bigdecks.co/blog/screened-porches-for-austin-backyards/) · [Contact BigDecks](https://bigdecks.co/contact/) · [Agent guide](https://bigdecks.co/llms.txt)