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Porches & Decks Design Dilemma

Retractable screens question

11 months ago

I’m considering adding a screened porch onto an existing deck. It would have three pillars across the front. With retractable screens—do you use one large screen (approximately 16 ft wide), or do you use three individual screens (about 5 ft each)? Thanks!

Featured Answer

beesneeds

11 months ago

last modified: 11 months ago

I think you would be better off doing three screens.

Comments (11)

Lyn Nielson
11 months ago
the bigger, the easier to create problems.

Do you have small children?

how about a pix of the opening you intend to install.
gwen1 thanked Lyn Nielson
millworkman
11 months ago
" onto an existing deck "

What are you doing for the underside of the deck?
gwen1 thanked millworkman
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Dawn Martinez
11 months ago
16' screen sounds too large, please show us the space; that would help.
gwen1 thanked Dawn Martinez
gwen1
Original Author
11 months ago

I found this picture on the internet of someone who just finished their porch. Mine would be somewhat similiar, with a shed roof. I have a patio underneath. No small children. The size of the porch will be around 16’ wide. Length from the house around 18’. Right now just considering my options.
vinmarks
11 months ago
If you have deck boards there will be spaces between the boards for bugs to get through. How are you dealing with that?
gwen1 thanked vinmarks
gwen1
Original Author
11 months ago
I already have an underdeck ceiling.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
11 months ago
last modified: 11 months ago
If you use the correctly sized header you shouldn't need any intermediate supporting columns That would be about the width of the opening for a two-car garage door.

Then you can use one panoramic retractable screen.
gwen1 thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
Dawn Martinez
11 months ago
@BeverlyFLADeziner those look stunning!
chispa
11 months ago
It really depends on the design and style of the space, whether one large screen or 3 small screens will work better. Talk to your contractor.

On our pool cage here in FL we have "scenic view" screens, so we have a 40 ft wide span with no vertical supports breaking up the view. One of our dogs recently ripped one of the screens going after a lizard ... luckily it was an 8 ft wide side section and not the big one! Even with that incident, I wouldn't want to have all the vertical supports you see in the old style screen enclosures.
gwen1 thanked chispa
tony buildz
7 months ago
@BeverlyFLADeziner those look sweet. what make of screens are those? in my case, i would need four that are roughly 15' wide.

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