Screened in Deck

Outdoor Living
Without the Insects

Finished screened-in porch on the rear of a two-story house.

Built on

Veteran-owned and -operated
15+ years of crew experience
BBB accredited licensed & insured
Free estimates in person or by phone

The short answer

What does it take to screen in a deck?

It depends on one thing: whether the deck already has a roof. A covered deck only needs vertical framing between the posts you have, screen tensioned into it, and a door that seals — that's the quick version of this job.

An open deck has to be roofed first, because a screen enclosure with nothing over it stops almost nothing. That makes it a cover deck build with screening added, and it's worth knowing which project you're actually pricing.

Covered deckVertical framing, tensioned screen, sealing door
Open deckNeeds a roof structure first, then screening
Mesh optionsStandard fiberglass, pet-resistant, or solar
Plan aheadFan and light wiring is far easier before we frame

Months of outdoor time you don't currently get

Mosquitoes, wasps and biting flies make outdoor spaces unusable during peak seasons, when you'd most want to use them. Screening systems installed on covered or open decks create a barrier that allows airflow while blocking insects, pollen and leaves from entering the space. You gain months of additional outdoor living time without chemical repellents or constant swatting.

We install screening systems that involve frame construction around deck perimeters, screen material tensioned and secured to prevent sagging, and door assemblies that seal completely when closed. The system either integrates with an existing cover structure or includes its own roof framing to create a fully enclosed outdoor room. Screen mesh grade determines what size particles are blocked and how much light reduction occurs.

One porch, four stages

How screening changes your outdoor space

These four photographs are the same screened porch, from posts in the ground to the day we handed it back.

1
Posts and structure
Vertical posts at corners and at intervals along the open sides, plumb and securely anchored. Even slight movement creates gaps where insects get in.
2
Roof framing
An open deck needs a roof before it can be screened. A covered deck only needs vertical framing between the posts you already have.
3
Rails and tension
Horizontal rails top and bottom hold the screen under tension. Screen is splined into grooves or stapled and trimmed, then covered with trim that protects the edges from tearing.
4
Door and seal
A door frame with spring-loaded or magnetic closures, set so it seals every time it swings shut.

Posts set
Roof framed
Roof on
Finished

Finished screened porch with its door closed, seen from the yard.

What you notice
afterwards

After screening is complete, you'll notice the absence of flying insects even during dawn and dusk when mosquito activity peaks. Outdoor meals no longer attract wasps, ceiling fans operate without blowing napkins and lightweight items off tables, and pollen counts inside the screened area drop substantially compared to open air.

The space stays cooler than unscreened areas in direct sun because of shade from the screen material itself, typically by several degrees, while maintaining cross-ventilation.

Standard fiberglass mesh — economical, handles most insects
Pet-resistant screening — withstands clawing and pushing
Solar screening — reduces heat gain and glare, darkens the space
Removable panels for winter, if you have somewhere to store them

Choosing mesh

Which screen material to ask for

Mesh is the one decision on a screened porch that you'll notice every single day, and it's usually made in ten seconds at the end of a long conversation about framing. It's worth more than ten seconds.

Mesh	What it's for	The trade-off
Standard fiberglass	Mosquitoes, wasps, biting flies, pollen and leaves	Blocks roughly twenty percent of incoming light and adds a slight haze to the view
Pet-resistant	The same, but it survives a dog leaning on it or a cat clawing it	Heavier and more visible than standard mesh; the obvious choice if an animal uses the porch
Solar	Insects, plus a real reduction in heat gain and glare	Darkens the space noticeably — best on a west-facing porch that bakes in the afternoon

Darker screen colours cut visibility more from outside but are less noticeable from within the porch, which is the direction you'll actually be looking.

Common questions

What is the difference between screening an open deck versus a covered deck?

Open deck screening requires a roof structure in addition to perimeter screening, essentially building a cover deck first and then adding screens. Covered decks need only vertical framing and screens between existing posts and roof, reducing both cost and installation complexity.

How do screened decks hold up during winter?

Screen material remains in place year-round in most climates, though snow load on horizontal surfaces and ice accumulation can stress frames. Removable panel systems allow seasonal disassembly, while permanent installations should use reinforced framing in areas with heavy snowfall to prevent collapse under accumulated weight.

What maintenance does screening require?

Screens need periodic washing to remove pollen, dust, and cobwebs that accumulate on the mesh and reduce airflow. Tears or holes from accidental impacts should be patched immediately to prevent insects from entering. Door sweeps and seals require occasional adjustment as they wear to maintain a tight closure.

Can screening be added in sections over time?

Screening installation works most efficiently when completed as a single project because frame alignment and door placement depend on overall layout. Partial screening leaves gaps that insects exploit, negating much of the benefit. Phased installation is possible but requires planning door locations and frame connections in advance.

How does screening affect visibility and light?

Standard fiberglass mesh blocks approximately twenty percent of incoming light and creates a slight haze when viewing through it, similar to looking through a window screen. Darker-colored screening reduces visibility more than light gray or charcoal options but is less noticeable visually from inside the enclosed space.

Can you screen the deck I already have?

If it's already covered, yes, and that's the straightforward version of this job — the roof is the expensive part and you already own it. We frame vertically between the posts you have, tension the screen and hang a door.

If the deck is open to the sky it has to be roofed before it can be screened, because a screen enclosure with no lid is just a fence around your deck. That turns it into a cover deck project with screening added.

Does the existing deck need to be strong enough?

It needs to carry more than it does today. A roof puts real vertical load into posts and footings that were sized for people and furniture.

We assess the framing, footings and ledger connection before quoting. Most sound, code-built decks can take it; some need reinforcement, and we'd rather find that at the estimate than halfway through.

What happens to it in winter?

Screen stays put year-round in this climate and comes through winter fine. What needs thought is snow load on the roof above it and ice on horizontal surfaces, which is a structural question we handle in the framing rather than something you manage seasonally.

Removable panel systems are an option if you'd rather take the screens down and store them, though most people leave them up.

Can I add a ceiling fan or lights in there?

Yes, and a fan is the single upgrade people are gladdest they made. Cross-ventilation plus a fan is what makes a screened porch comfortable in July rather than merely insect-free.

Wiring is far easier to run while the structure is open than to retrofit afterward, so it's worth deciding before we frame rather than after.

We design screening layouts that accommodate existing deck furniture arrangements and traffic patterns while maximizing usable enclosed space. Get in touch to talk through frame positioning, door placement and material selection based on how you plan to use the screened area through the year.