We opted to go with concrete. I didn't stamp it since most other decks/patios I've seen that were stamped collect and hold dirt in the grooves. We also didn't stain it since that option tends to need to be repeated once traffic areas wear through. You also have to keep the surface of the concrete clean from spills and stains during the build. Everywhere something spills is a spot where the stain may not adhere. Instead of all of that we worked with the concrete company and had our concrete colored. They added color dye to the entire batch of concrete and when it was poured it had a nice mellow brown tone. This blended in nicely with the house. Almost all of the synthetic wood decks I've seen have their issues. Some can be simply keeping them cleaned and free from mold, others I've seen suffered from sagging and swelling. All of them require some type of maintenance. We're going on two years and I've done absolutely nothing to our suspended concrete deck, patio, or covered concrete patio below. They are solid and sound. Not sure if you can utilize concrete or not, but look into seeing if your concrete company will add dye, maybe another option for you. FWIW - I would never install a wood deck - way too much maintenance.

Our first house which we lived in for over 30 years had a small screened porch which was screened on a north and east wall. We started using it here in NH as soon as it was warm enough. Both rain and snow came thru the screens. My husband always swept the excess out the door since the porch was over the basement tool area. The amount of rain/snow depends on how the wind blows in your area. I never keep track of weather patterns and in New England they seem to depend on the type of storm we are having. The ceiling fan helped a lot even though the house was on a shady lot and the porch did not get afternoon sun. Our current porch faces east. We will build an additional porch that will be off the new kitchen (currently being totally renovated). It will wrap around the garage that is being built now. My husband wants to put a cot out there for hot evenings. We have a ceiling fan in a livingroom but not in the kitchen/dining area. Although the livingroom has south windows it is much cooler because of the fan. We will put fans on the new porch which will have a dining area and a sitting area. We ALWAYS eat on the porch as long as it's warm enough or not too hot. I have not noticed the furniture getting wet although for bedding purposes keep in mind that on muggy, damp days you might not want to leave bedding on the porch all the time. The cats love the porch BUT we do not let them stay out on the porch at night because we have coyotes in the area. Ours might be high enough off the ground but the old porch that was closer to the ground was a problem for a relative. A bobcat came right thru the screens to get his cat. My husband has seen a screens badly damaged by a hawk that tried to get a small dog (we're in NH). The dog escaped into the house. We can sit on the porch when it rains, you just don't want to be close to the screens.

We are also building a screened-in deck and are planning on using "Screen Tight". The screening system and door have already been ordered. We also like the fact that it will make the installation and replacement of damaged screens a lot easier, as well as keeping the screens at a better tension. It will also be much easier to clean than wood bordered screens. Our new room addition and attached screened-in porch will be completed by the end of July.

I am not suggesting anybody would purposefully do a bad job. Contractors do not sabotage their clients. Many people on these forums believe in contractor sabotage. Thousands of angry internet users sign up on Gardenweb just to post ventings about bad contractors. The OP has common concerns, and if they read many of the GW forums, the fear of contractor sabotage may be very real to them. Contractors are so-called, becuase they do work by contract. (Not because they "become afflicted by disease" which is another meaning for the word "contract") A contract is a formal agreement between 2 or more parties. It is not a one-sided deal. The client is an equal part of the picture. An uninformed or indecisive client is not the contractor's fault, but it affects the bottom line. Please allow me to restate my point: If the contractor is not making at least a small profit on your job, the quality of work will suffer. If the contractor bid your job with a small profit margin, and then the customer refuses to go with the original contract amount, demands a lower price through change orders, the result is less quality. Contractors must make money! No reasonalbe person can expect a contractor to take a loss because a customer changes their mind. Most people think the cost of construction are materials and labor. Wrong. Construction, like any business, has 4 main areas of expense: Materials Labor Overhead Profit Most contractors are not good at business. They neglect to build all 4 costs into their business model. Instead, they track each job individually. When the cost runs over the contract, they must send the good laborers to another job. Then you are stuck with the clean up guys, or the project manager and foreman taking care of the "punch list" This is not purposefully doing a bad job. There is no malicious intent on the contractor's part. My point is that you want the good workers who started your job, to be the same good workers to finish the job. Contractors put their best workers on the most efficient jobs, the jobs where they can make the greatest contribution to the business. It is very easy for a client to interrupt progress. There are certain times to be there, front and center, asking questions, and understanding the answers. These times are bid walks, official inspections, hold points, and punch lists. You should make sure the inspections and hold points are written into the contract, involve your physical presence, and are held frequently enough to satisfy all your concerns. Otherwise, watch the work from a safe distance. Take pictures, but do not ask the workers 40 questions. Be a smart client and you will get an excellent product for a good value. If the work is bad from the start, by all means INTERRUPT PROGRESS! As soon as possible. Use any or all of the above tactics, including RFI's for change orders demanding a lower price than the original contract. Call the inspector early if there is a dispute. Do not allow bad work to progress. Just be a smart client. Realize that entering into a contract with a contractor makes you a contractor of sorts. Not every person makes a good contractor, even on the client's end of the deal.