Chances are, you probably don’t want to sit on your screened-in porch with a winter wind blowing through, chilling you to your core. To get your screened-in porch ready for winter, there are some steps you need to take. This article talks about how to winterize your screened-in porch to keep you cozy and also keep your porch functional in the cold.
Ways to winterize your screened-in porch
From late fall to early spring, enjoying the fresh air on your screened-in porch might be difficult. But the following ideas can help you enjoy your screened-in porch during those cold winter months.
Store fragile items
Even though you’ll still be spending time on your screened-in porch in the winter, you should store items like delicate fabrics or untreated wood furniture until warmer weather returns. Storing these items helps reduce the possibility of damage.
Deep clean
After deciding which items will be stored and which ones will stay on your porch for the winter, go ahead and give your screened-in porch a deep clean. Clean the screens with either water or a vacuum. This deep cleaning can help reduce the likelihood of mold and mildew forming during winter months.
Check weatherstripping and caulking
You want the warmth to stay inside your screened-in porch, but any tiny crevice where heat can escape, heat will escape. Give the weatherstripping a look and check for any gaps or areas where it’s worn down. Replace as needed.
It’s also essential to check caulking around your screened-in porch, especially around your screen door. It’s common for caulking to wear down over time, which could allow moisture to come in and heat to escape.
Check electrical outlets
Days are shorter and colder during the winter, so you might have an increased desire to use an electrical outlet for any number of things like a lamp or a heater. Before using those electrical outlets, ensure they’re in good condition and rated for outdoor use with an outlet cover.
Add a source of heat
A mountain of blankets can be cozy, but there are better options to add heat to your screened-in porch during the winter. Consider the addition of a space heater or a patio heater. Or, if you want a more permanent way to get some heat, building an outdoor fireplace on a screened-in porch is possible.
Vinyl curtains
One of the easiest ways for homeowners to winterize a screened-in porch is to add heavy-duty vinyl curtains. The curtains will need to be hung by tension rods on a pulley system using grommets. Before you take a trip to the home improvement store for materials, measure the distance between walls to know how long your rods will need to be.
Heavy-duty vinyl curtains are a simple, DIY option for your outdoor space. They also come in various colors (clear vinyl curtains are an option, too).
Vinyl film
Vinyl film or vinyl sheeting offers a transparent way to cover your screens without blocking any views. You’ll benefit from a view without the cold air blowing through. However, vinyl sheets have a shiny appearance, which can be unappealing to some homeowners.
Vinyl sheeting (also called plastic sheeting) is a do-it-yourself option for winterizing your screened-in porch, but it is more time-consuming than heavy-duty vinyl curtains. You’ll need a few tools, such as a measuring tape, to know how much sheeting to use over your porch screen and a razor knife to cut it. You can attach vinyl sheets to the porch with Velcro straps.
Tip: You could save a few dollars if you go with thinner vinyl sheets, but you could pay for it in the long run with noise from the thin material rattling around in the wind. Thin vinyl film is also more likely to be subject to damage from wind and debris. You will have to weigh the options of spending more upfront to have better quality vinyl sheets or saving a few dollars and possibly having to replace them sooner.
Acrylic panels
If you’re looking for a winterization option to reuse each winter, acrylic or vinyl panels would be the best option. Since acrylic panels are reusable, the upfront cost is more significant than the other options discussed in this article. It is also the most labor-intensive option because you’ll need to build storm windows to house the acrylic or vinyl panels. Storm windows act as frames for the screens and panels–– simply swap out the screens for acrylic or vinyl panels when the temperatures drop. Once spring returns, you can swap out the panels for your screens again.
Convert to a sunroom
If winterizing your screened-in porch every year is getting tiresome, consider converting your screened-in porch into a sunroom. You won’t have the fresh air of a screened-in porch, but it might be easier to enjoy a sunroom year-round without as many hoops to jump through as a screened-in porch.
When to winterize your screened-in porch
Now that we’ve talked about ways to winterize your screened-in porch to take it from a three-season room to a four-season room, it’s essential to know when to complete these tasks.
When you should winterize your screened-in porch comes down to your location. Aim to give yourself two months before the winter weather usually arrives to begin planning what winterization steps you’ll take. To air on the side of caution, plan to have your screened-in porch winterized about a month before the winter weather makes its debut–– that way, if a surprise early cold snap comes, you’ll be ready.
FAQ about screened-in porches
Decor for a winter screened-in porch should be cozy–– warm blankets and outdoor rugs are almost always a necessity.
Several factors can influence the price of adding a screened-in porch, such as size–– the larger your porch, the more materials, labor, and time will be needed. But on average, for an existing porch that’s around 200-square-foot, homeowners will pay $1,680 to $2,490 to screen it.
Building a screened-in porch from scratch has an even greater price range. It can cost between $6,480 to $26,490 or more–– this is because you’ll need everything, such as framing, flooring, roofing, a staircase, door, railings, posts, beams, and the screening material.
When to call a professional
Sometimes, deciding which winterization option is best for your screened-in porch is tough. Connect with a construction professional to help guide you through the process if DIY isn’t the route you want to take.
If winter is sneaking up too fast and your mind has only been on winterizing your screened-in porch, contact a lawn care professional to help get your last mow of the season done before winter hits.
Main Photo Credit: Shutterstock
