Screen In Your Big Backyard
by Sue Booth
Home Improvement Ideas Columnist
Whether you choose a stand-alone enclosure or screen your front porch deck, mesh enclosures can save your outdoor parties, and the life of patio furniture, deck, and pool equipment.
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Screen In Advantages, Screen Out Problems
There are several reasons a screened enclosure can be a great addition to your home or your backyard:
- Is Mother Nature crashing your party? A screened enclosure is perfect for sheltering you and your guests from the hot sun, rain, or annoying mosquitoes.
- An enclosure will protect your porch deck and patio furniture from the elements.
- Enjoy the screened enclosure as an extra family room or kitchen area without the expense of building an addition to your home. An enclosure will even add value to your home.
- Keep leaves, branches, and bugs out of your backyard pool. Save on costly pool chemicals and extend the life of your pool equipment.
A Screening of Screens
With so many types of enclosures on the market, it can be hard to identify the best. What should you look for?
- Select screens that are durable, sag-resistant, easy to clean, and provide good visibility. A good option might be enclosures with black-painted aluminum screen cloth.
- Avoid screens more dense than 20-by-20 threads per square inch, which are more likely to be damaged by the wind. A common choice is 18-by-14 mesh.
- A standard stand-alone enclosure may not be right for you. You can screen in your front patio, porch deck or top floor balcony. Ask your contractor or screen enclosure manufacturer for custom options.
- If you're not sure that your screened enclosure was installed properly, hire a structural engineer to check it out. It may initially cost you several hundred dollars; however it may be cheaper than replacing the entire structure later on.
Screened enclosures are practical, but also fun and creative. Reap the benefits of a pool, spa, or patio enclosure without feeling enclosed in your backyard. If you make the roof of your enclosure a screen, you can even enjoy an uninhibited sky view.
About the Author
Sue Booth is a freelance writer and a former product analyst for Good Housekeeping magazine. She holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.
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