If insects are a problem ( they aren’t where I live ) a screened in porch might be a necessity. Perhaps something retractable would work . There are companies that install retractable screens for doors & patios / porches.

I would love to have a screened porch. Mosquitoes are a serious issue here (one block away from a lake and wooded area) and the patio is basically unusable without bathing in repellent. If bugs are not a problem for you, choose what you like best. Probably you could add screening later if you find you need it.

The idea of retractable screens seems like a good solution.

we're screening our porch - but it's at ground level.

if you are elevated, I think that sometimes it's less buggy. Also - if you have decent ceiling fans to move the air, you can lessen the bugs we well. Our neighbors' deck overlooks a small lake - but they have never screened it and it's quite pleasant out there with the elevation (+9'-10' or so) and the fans.

This would be for the second floor. We have a full walkout basement. If the porch was on the main floor we definitely would screen it because we do have mosquitoes here in South Carolina

We're in western NC and planned to screen our porch but it wasn't required for occupancy so we put it off. Turns out we're fine without it. Porch floor is slightly elevated, about 4' but we're at the top of a rise so have almost a constant breeze and when that fails us we have a ceiling fan. Bugs have not been enough of an issue to warrant screens for us. Will you be open on all 3 sides or will your porch be tucked more in a corner? That will make a big difference with air movement.

It will open on all three sides. It basically comes of the kitchen/dining area and is 19'x14' with a vaulted ceiling. The main concern in just mosquitoes and rain.

We get a lot of wind driven rain so screening wouldn't help us with that at all. YMMV based on your local weather. As for mosquitoes, we see very few but if you do, I'd screen.

Yes, it all depends on how big and how often are your bugs, if any!

We are on a lake. The mosquitoes and other insects are terrible. We have an uncovered deck and a screened porch. The deck gets very little use and the screen porch is In constant use.

I dont know what what type of screen we used but it barely obscures the view. We are always surprised when we are out boating how few houses on our lake have a screened porch.

Your porch is a a great Size! I would definitely use screening.

Pollen settles in screened in porches and trying to keep my porch clean was annoying.

I'd wait and see if I were you. We also planned to screen our porch but didn't get it done prior to moving in and kept putting it off. We've been in the house a year though and have almost decided not to bother.

Our porch is elevated 10' above a walk-out basement, and although mosquitoes are terrible in the yard below, they rarely seem to find us up on the porch. I'm a magnet for the little devils too. We really like the breezes we get up there too, which screens would inhibit somewhat.

As much as I am concerned about bugs and mosquitos (not a huge problem here), I am concerned about VERMITS on our porch, if we don’t screen it in! We are going to do just a covered patio, but now thinking screened in porch. We have raccoons, occasionally skunks, moles, rabbits, mice, garden snakes, a great variety of birds due to our feeders. I am afraid we will incur damage to our furniture (which I would like to put cushions on) if we don’t screen it in!

We thought about retractable screens, but now I am thinking they might be more expensive than a screened in porch! And if I am afraid of vermits, we would be putting the screens down at night, maybe during the day. And if we are entertaining, between the porch and stone patio, are we going to want to raise the retractable screens every time someone (child or adult) wants to go outside, or flip the burgers on the grill? This is the current evolution of our thoughts. The building project begins this spring, so we will make a firm decision soon.

Not so much for bugs, but we like a screened in porch for privacy. Would eliminate if we didn't need it. As someone else mentioned, it is a pain to clean the porch during pollen season which in our area is twice a year.

We live in a relatively bug free area and love our covered but not screened porch. It’s amazing. We have lots of little critters about but they never seem to come up to the porch so all good. This decision is so regional.

Poogan, I'd love to know what you settled on and if you're happy with it.

We put in Scenix Windows by Larson and we LOVE them. I’ve heard they might be discontinuing them, or replacing them? Not sure. There is a thread here with a long discussion of Scenix lovers and lots of photos. If you can’t get that, get something like it because they are awesome!

It does seem very individual. Mosquitoes are a problem all summer in mid-South and especially at dusk. I previously had an open deck, so no overhead fan, and got driven in by bugs. Now have a screened porch which is elevated so not able to do a comparison re: height! But have some open deck down a few stairs and definitely more skeeters there.
We eat on the porch a lot and another thing I wonder about is flies. Previously when having a meal out on an open deck we were constantly waving flies away & covering any food even if still serving. No such issues with screens.
I do like that we have some unscreened deck because it is a different experience & when not buggy, I also like to sit out there.

Thank you both so much for your input! :)

We originally were going to have a deck, but then were concerned about mosquitoes and bugs. And then we were going to put in screens, but then decided we wanted more climate control, and so did put in the windows. And I’m so glad we did. I live in Ohio, and with windows, we can enjoy our three season porch easily, April through November. Even in the middle of winter sometimes if it’s the sun is shining and we put out our little heater, we can even still enjoy our porch. We put ourheater out here this morning and we are enjoying lunch on a beautiful November day, Still enjoying our space.