How to Design a Combination Screen Porch & Deck
- 1). Create a deck area and screen porch at the back or side of your home. Unless you plan to park a car under the deck, try to build it on a large flat area rather than a slope. If your deck will have a nice view of the mountains or other landscape, build it to face in that direction.
- 2). Sketch various living areas into your deck plans. You will need a cooking or grilling area, room for lawn chairs and conversation and general traffic areas. If possible, connect the deck to your kitchen so you can transport food and other items more easily. Do not create a fire pit on the wooden part of a deck. . Instead, extend a small area from the deck for a fire pit.
- 3). Draw a wooden framework to support your deck. You will need to put support posts over small concrete slabs. Design these slabs to be hidden below the soil line. Make all support posts a minimum of 8 inches by 8 inches. Otherwise, your deck might sag in places. Make all cross beams 2 inches by 12 inches minimum.
- 4). Use salt-treated lumber or a metal framework to support your screen porch. The porch does not have to be attached to the decking, but it should be heavy enough to resist high winds. A good way to build a freestanding screen porch is in an octagonal shape. Attach the bottom section to heavy lumber that will keep it in place. A square or rectangular porch will work in areas where wind is mild.
- 5). Draw the screen porch section at one end of the deck if it disturbs traffic flow. Unless your deck is large, you will probably prefer to place the screen porch off to the side. Hook up lights in the screen porch for playing cards or dining. Install solar lights along the sides of your deck to create a nice effect after sundown.
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