Screened porches and covered decks
In a Wisconsin summer, a screen and a roof can be the difference between using the deck every evening and not at all.
Open decks are great until the bugs come out at dusk or a thunderstorm rolls through. A screened porch keeps the air moving and the mosquitoes outside. A roof alone keeps rain off the grill and the furniture. Either one turns a deck into a room, which changes the project from simple carpentry into real construction.
What are the options?
- Covered deck. A roof over all or part of the deck, tied into the house or freestanding. Shade and rain cover, but still open to bugs.
- Screened porch. A roofed deck with screen panels between posts and a screen door. The most common upgrade for summer evenings.
- Three-season room. Windows or removable glass panels instead of screens, which stretches use into spring and fall. It's heading toward an addition, with more design and permit work.
Why the structure matters
A roof adds weight, and in Eau Claire that weight includes snow that can sit on it for weeks. That load runs down through the posts and beams to the footings, so a screened porch typically needs bigger posts, more footings and a beam designed for the roof. Most existing decks weren't built to carry one. If you're building a new deck and think you'll screen it someday, ask the builder to size the footings and framing for that now.
Can my current deck be screened in?
Sometimes. The builder will check footing depth, post size and the ledger connection, and figure out whether the deck can take the roof load or needs new posts and footings. The house matters too: where the new roof meets the existing roofline, and whether windows or a second-floor deck are in the way.
Permits and contracts
A roofed porch is a structural addition and will need a building permit. Wisconsin's home improvement rules, ATCP 110, specifically name porches in their definition of home improvement, so the written-contract protections described in our Eau Claire deck guide apply.
Small details that matter
- Screen under the deck boards, or a solid floor, keeps bugs from coming up through the gaps
- Ceiling fans and lighting are easier to plan before the roof goes on
- Gutters keep roof water from dripping onto the stairs and freezing there
Pricing comes from the builder after they've walked the yard, measured, and talked through materials and layout with you. We don't quote prices, and any figure you hear before a site visit is a ballpark at best.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Does a screened porch need a permit in Eau Claire?
Yes, a roofed porch is structural work. Inside the city, permits go through the City of Eau Claire Inspections Division; other towns have their own inspectors.
Can a screened porch be used in winter?
Not really; screens don't keep out cold or blowing snow. If you want more seasons, ask about a three-season room with windows, which is a larger project.
Related services
More background: Eau Claire deck guide.
Spongy boards, a railing that gives, or a deck you've sketched on a napkin?
Call now and a Chippewa Valley deck builder will help you figure out the next step.