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This article provides details for porch construction and porch screen installation.
This article series discuss best porch & deck construction practices, including choice of framing materials, decking or flooring choices & installation, how to select and use deck and porch structural and flooring fasteners, actual deck & porch framing construction details & connections, deck joist & beam span tables,
How to build leak-proof rooftop decks, construction of covered & screened porches, deck & porch railing construction & materials, choices of finishes and stains for decks & porches, and past & current deck lumber preservative treatments with related health & environmental concerns.
This article series includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction (Steve Bliss, J Wiley & Sons) , by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Construction Detailing for Covered & Screened Porches
The detailing for decks and porches is very similar. Code
requirements for railings are the same, whether a deck is
open or closed in with screening.
If the screening runs to
the floor, railings will be required to protect the screening,
even if the railing is not required by code.
[Click to enlarge any image]
Porch decking
can be spaced (like an open deck) or installed tight with a
slope for drainage. Structurally, posts are easier to anchor
on a porch, since they are tied in to the roof framing, which
keeps them rigid.
Guide to Solid Decking for Porch Floors
Where the decking will be protected by
a roof, it can be either spaced like a typical open deck or
sealed and painted with a decking enamel for a more
formal appearance.
Solid decking is typically tongue-and groove
1x4, 5/4x6, or 2x6 decking. For solid decking, choose
kiln-dried stock and install it with tight seams.
Solid decking
should be sloped 1/4 inch per foot to drain. Make provisions
for drainage on the three exterior sides and, if
exposed to significant wetting, on the house side as well.
If the porch has a solid knee wall, leave minimum 1-inch
scuppers at floor level to allow water to drain from the
porch interior to outside.
With a screened enclosure, use
either solid decking or spaced decking with insect screening
stapled to the underside of the joists. Furring strips
tacked over the screening will help keep it from sagging
and tearing.
If the screening goes from floor to eaves, a system of
rails and balusters will need to be installed to protect the
lower half of the screen (Figure 4-18 below).
If the porch is 30 inches or more above grade, the
railing will need to comply with code for guardrails
(see “Railings,” page 147). Another option is to build an
enclosed knee wall and start the screening at the top of the
knee wall (see Figure 4-19 shown below).
Options for Screening-in a Porch
There are several options for screening.
Whether you
build your own or buy custom screens, aluminum screening
is much stronger and more tear-resistant than fiberglass.
Removable screens have the advantage of being easy
to remove and repair. However, building screens from
wooden screen mold is very time-consuming.
Simpler
options for screening are:
Have a window supplier build custom wood or metal
screens with vinyl splines to hold the screen in place.
Use a manufactured screening system such as Screen
Tight™ (One Better Way), a vinyl snap-in-place
system for fiberglass screening that screws onto the
exterior face of the porch framing.
Staple aluminum screening to the exterior of the 4x4 posts
and trim with 1x wood trim pieces screwed in place.
Deck & Porch Resources, Products, Manufacturers: Where to Buy
See porch construction, restoration, repair guides
SeeDECK & PORCH PRODUCTS & SOURCES for our complete/updated listings of manufacturers of porch & deck products, materials, coatings, fasteners, lumber, tools.
Prefabricated Deck & Porch Railing Systems
Avcon Structural Railing Systems www.avconrail.com
Thermoplastic and aluminum railings
CertainTeed www.certainteed.com
EverNew PVC railing system
Global Dec-K-Ing Systems www.globaldecking.com
DEC-K-ING aluminum railing system
DecKorators Inc.
www.deckrail.com
Decorative aluminum balusters and connectors for wooden
railing systems. Also, tempered-glass balusters
Duradek www.duradek.com
Durarail powder-coated aluminum railing system and
walk-on vinyl decking membrane.
FSI Home Products Division www.railingworks.com
Aluminum railing systems
Fypon www.fypon.com
Polyurethane railing systems in classic architectural
styles
HB&G www.hbgcolumns.net
PermaPorch cellular-polyvinyl chloride (PVC) railings
and posts reinforced with wood or aluminum; cellular-PVC
or aluminum balusters
Kroy Building Products
www.kroybp.com
Classic Manor PVC-railing system
L.B. Plastics www.lbplastics.com
Sheerline PVC-railing systems and PVC- post
cladding
Royal Crown Limited www.royalcrownltd.com
PVC railing system with steel reinforcing
Shakespeare Composites Structures www.armor-rail.com
Armor-Rail structural fiberglass (FRP) railing system with
turned balusters
Thermal Industries www.thermalindustries.com
Dream Rail PVC-railing system with optional tempered
glass balusters
U.S. Plastic Lumber Corp.
www.carefreexteriors.com
Recycled HDPE railing system
Hidden Deck Fastener Suppliers
BEN Manufacturing www.premier1.net/~ben69
Dec-Klips fit between deck planks with prongs into edges;
nailed into top of joists; electrogalvanized steel
Blue Heron Enterprises www.ebty.com
Eb-Ty UV-resistant polypropylene biscuit fits into slots in
edge of decking, screws into top of joist
Grabber Construction Products
www.deckmaster.com
Deckmaster angle bracket screws to side of joist and up
into decking; available in galvanized or stainless steel
Simpson Strong-Tie www.strongtie.com
DBTC deck ties screw down to top of joist with prongs into
edges of decking planks; triple-zinc-coated or stainless
steel by special order; disposable plastic driving tool
Spotnails www.spotnails.com
Tebo stainless-steel fasteners fit between decking boards
with prongs into edges of decking; installed with mallet
and proprietary tool
TY-LAN Enterprises Inc. www.shadoetrack.com
Shadoe Track angle bracket nailed along top of joist and
screws up into bottom of deck boards; available in galvanized,
powder-coated, and stainless steel
USP Lumber Connectors www.uspconnectors.com
Deck Clip screws into edge of one decking board and
locks to next board; requires toenailing one edge of each
board
Screen Systems for Porches
One BetterWay www.screentight.com
Screen-Tight vinyl porch screening system screws to
exterior of porch framing; snap-on facings conceal screws
and screen splines; available in white, beige, gray, and
brown
Deck & Porch Industry Associations
American Wood Preservers Association (AWPI)
www.awpa.com
California Redwood Association www.calredwood.org
Deck Industry Association www.deckindustry.org
Forest Stewardship Council www.fscus.org
Information on certified tropical hardwoods
Rainforest Alliance, Smartwood Program www.rainforest-alliance.org
Information on certified tropical hardwoods
Southern Forest Products Association www.sfpa.org
Southern Pine Council www.southernpine.com
Western Wood Products Association www.wwpa.org
Western Wood Preservers Institute www.wwpinstitute.org
- - Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction (Steve Bliss, J Wiley & Sons) .
Question:
(June 4, 2014) David Lee said: I have a stucco column back porch that I want to screen in. Something like screen tight isn't sturdy enough to screw into the 1" foam board under the stucco What options do I have.
(Oct 3, 2014) Gail said: I want to build a screen in porch on my modular home what are the specifications for snow loads in Alamance county
Reply:
David: you need to find the framing members behind the stucco and connect through the stucco to those. But beware: punching holes in the stucco skin of your building, if they are not sealed, can mean leaks, rot, insect damage or worse.
Gail: we'd need at least the country and state or province of your county to research a reasonable answer. Please let me know.
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In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
Mark Morsching, Everflashing, Tel: 800-550-1667, Email: everflashing@gmail.com. The Everflashing product comes in G-185 and Stainless Steel and is intended for use with treated lumber with copper in it. Everflashing produces a variety of specialty flashing products including flashings for use with decks at deck ledgers and deck perimeters.
Summerblue Arts Camp., Two Harbors MN, Lon Church, Director, c/o: Two Harbors High School
405 4Th Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota 55616, United States Email: lon_church@yahoo.com
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
Manual for the Inspection of Residential Wood Decks and Balconies, by Cheryl Anderson, Frank Woeste (Forest Products Society), & Joseph Loferski, October 2003, ISBN-13: 978-1892529343,
Masonry structures: The Masonry House, Home Inspection of a Masonry Building & Systems, Stephen Showalter (director, actor), DVD, Quoting: Movie Guide Experienced home inspectors and new home inspectors alike are sure to learn invaluable tips in this release designed to take viewers step-by-step through the home inspection process. In addition to being the former president of the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), a longstanding member of the NAHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), and the Environmental Standard Organization (IESO), host Stephen Showalter has performed over 8000 building inspections - including environmental assessments. Now, the founder of a national home inspection school and inspection training curriculum shares his extensive experience in the inspection industry with everyday viewers looking to learn more about the process of evaluating homes. Topics covered in this release include: evaluation of masonry walls; detection of spalling from rebar failure; inspection of air conditioning systems; grounds and landscaping; electric systems and panel; plumbing supply and distribution; plumbing fixtures; electric furnaces; appliances; evaluation of electric water heaters; and safety techniques. Jason Buchanan --Jason Buchanan, All Movie Review
In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.