It’s summertime in the Midwest, which means more time spent in warm weather outdoors. We crave this time of year: barbecues, kids running through sprinklers, and long bike rides. Unfortunately, this beautiful weather isn’t predictable, and certainly doesn’t last throughout the year. We spend many months as families indoors, away from the elements. This is one reason why screened porches and sunrooms are so popular: they offer additional living space for family game nights and entertaining year-round.
This lovely young family wanted to create an outdoor living space to encourage more time spent in the fresh air, but without mosquitos, bees, and debris. J&J Construction consulted with them and created a fully-custom addition (no kits here!) to blend seamlessly with the rest of their home. In fact, it looks like it was original to the home–the sign of a successful addition.
The back of this home offered a spacious deck, two steps up from the yard. Additionally, there was room for the kids to play and a beautiful outdoor kitchen and dining space. Sliding glass doors led from the living room to the deck. We removed this dated and worn deck in order to create a brand new space. We did incorporate the existing kitchen bump-out into the screen porch addition. The homeowners agreed that there was no need to change this feature. In fact, it added a nice structural design element to the porch.
Take one step into this screened porch and instantly feel warm and welcomed. The walls and ceiling are lined with cedar, an ideal choice due to its durability. While cedar does require some maintenance, it’s likely to last twice as long as something like pressure-treated pine. This classic look coordinates with any home design. We installed cedar siding on the exterior as well and stained it to match the existing siding. The finishing touch was installing roofing shingles to match the rest of the house.
The TREX flooring is the warm, neutral color “toasted sand”, and we love how it compliments the natural cedar. TREX is maintenance-free composite decking. It will never have to be stained, and it’s durable enough to withstand outdoor elements, rambunctious children, and four-legged family members. TREX decking also resists rotting, staining and cracking.
We replaced the existing sliding glass patio door that was leaky and installed a hinged Pella Lifestyle Aluminum-Clad Wood Style. This is going to be a durable, long-lasting and quality option for the space. They offer substantial noise reduction, and are a perfect feature in this screened porch.
The screen door leading to the outside patio and outdoor kitchen has a retractable screen. Since the screen is retractable, the fabric is protected from harmful UV rays, dirt, and weather. There is still plenty of living space outdoors including a dining and entertaining area as well as an outdoor kitchen and bar space. This backyard now has something for everyone!
An outdoor ceiling fan along with several outlets put the finishing touch on this gorgeous outdoor living space. A ceiling fan is a wonderful addition to any covered porch or patio with a structure. It will provide a cooling breeze and circulate air, making time spent in your outdoor living space even more enjoyable. There are plenty of outlets if homeowners would like to use a standing lamp or bring in any electronic devices for entertainment.
Our homeowners were thrilled with the finished product. A custom screened in porch allows them to enjoy family time in an additional living area outdoors without the hassle of insects or weather-related elements. They can’t wait to entertain here! The room size is substantial and the options are limitless–an office area, a game room, movie nights..or all of the above. We know they’ll enjoy their addition for years to come.
If you’d like more information on our remodeling process, or specifically how to transform your outdoor space into an area you will use year-round, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for a phone consultation. To see more customer spotlights, click HERE.
