Replies

1. 
   calvin_ | Jun 05, 2001 12:49pm | #1

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   Crusty, Recently screened ours in. 4x4 cedar posts, recycled glass block panels between the posts (urethane caulk mortar joints in case the posts swell/shrink). Used a strait bit in lam router with small edge guide for registration on the post. Splined the screen in the posts. Wood door with a closer so I don't hear it go wapppp. The block keeps the dog in and the cat from scratching on the screen. Goes up 3 block to a 4x4 sill. Screen mounted to outside. Good sized drink rail with the 4x4's. House is cedar shingle. Don't know if you'd like it w/vinyl. My daughter says it looks sweet.

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Jun 05, 2001 02:26pm | #2

   *crusty.... i've used the Screen Tite system.. and i really like it...the interior can be 2x or 4x framing.. the exterior is the vinyl snap-cap..one of my customers didn't like the vinyl.. so we used cedar over the base track.. with SS. finish washers and screws so we could rescreen if needed..if you have pets and / or kids.. you have to consider rescreening as part of the process...

1. 
   ChuckT_ | Jun 05, 2001 04:58pm | #3

   *One of the recent issues of Fine Homebuilding had some neat ideas in Sarah Susanka's "Drawing Board" section. It mostly revolves around making it easily convert to windows for three season use, but clever ideas never the less. There's also some discussion of screen porches in her book "The not so big house"

1. 
   James_DuHamel | Jun 05, 2001 11:05pm | #4

   *Crusty,Look in the June 2001 issue of This Old House mag. On page 46 is an article that shows how to make removable panels for screened porches. This process makes the porch versatile, and the panels are easy to install and remove. They look sharp too.If you have pets, or lots of things get tossed around the porch, consider using a pet proof screen. More expensive, but lasts forever. The pet proof screening is also a sun block.James DuHamel

1. 
   Crusty_ | Jun 06, 2001 10:21pm | #5

   *Thanks guys -- good ideas. I had always thought that I'd go with panels of some sort so I could use glass in the winter. But having something "solid" around the bottom raises the concern of less air circulation. But I'll look at the sources you suggested.Calvin, I've considered cedar. There's a place just up the road that makes cedar siding -- they'd plane me whatever I wanted. How exactly do you "spline" the screens in place? (I have a picture in my head, but not sure it's right).

2. 
   calvin_ | Jun 07, 2001 05:29am | #6

   *I sent you an email splainin the splined screen on cedar posts.

3. 
   Steve_Joyce | Jun 07, 2001 03:53pm | #7

   *CalvinI'm in the process of building a porch and I am still trying to figure out what the best method of building screens so I can remove them and insert glass fort eh winter. My father rigged something up years ago in his old home that worked great however the house has since been sold and I can't go check it out for ideas.What is the best way to build screens to custom sizes so that the frames are roughly 3/8-5/8" thick?Thanks for any and all suggestions.SJ

4. 
   Bill_Edwards | Jun 07, 2001 04:36pm | #8

   *Same way we say it in Tennessee. Just finished a similar porch for myself. you didn't say anything about a roof so I assume it's not a problem. My 8'x 26' porch; treated 2x4 double top plates, treated 2x4 bottom plate, treated 2x4studs doubled with 3' between(allows easy conversion to glass, or door installation), 1"x1" stop applied at the exterior side of the 2"x4" stud openings with fiberglass screen stretched and stapled to stop, second stop applied against stretched screen, leaves space for demountable railing to be installed in each 3' screened space(code?) The above porch looks good, relatively simple, quick, inexpensive.

5. 
   doug_hubbard | Jun 07, 2001 05:54pm | #9

   *Volume helps in a big way-You're in Arkansas as I recall- don't know your layout but high ceilings and fans are pretty much standard in the porches I build. I like to give the summer heat some place to disperse.

6. 
   Crusty_ | Jun 08, 2001 06:22am | #10

   *Doug, 9ft. ceilings throughout the first floor, will have ceiling fans in every room except dining room, 2 on the front porch, 1 on the screen porch (smaller). Bedrooms face south and west to catch the prevailing breezes. Attic fan located at top of stairs in entry. If all this doesn't work, I may not be able to afford to cool it!

7. 
   calvin_ | Jun 08, 2001 11:53am | #11

   *I think that for that thickness of screen frame, I would go to a glass shop and have em make up some aluminum screen panels. I've done this before for removable screens. Wood stops secured on one side, screwed on the other. Some colors available.

8. 
   Steve_Joyce | Jun 08, 2001 02:43pm | #12

   *Calvin,Thanks for the idea.I think I remember what was done by my father. If he had a window opening in the porch of 50" for example, the top frame would consist of two pieces of 5/8" thick wood with a 1/2" gap in between. The depth of the frame would be about 2" in order to give enough play to allow the bottom edge of the window/screen to clear the similar wood framing on the bottom. The bottom framing wouldn't have a depth of 2" only about 1/2"-3/4". He then had to have custom screens made along with custom storm windows for the winter.The system worked great and I think the contractor used it several other times since then....however I just can't figure out how to build the screens the easiest.SJ

2. 
   Crusty_ | Jun 08, 2001 02:43pm | #13

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   We will have a screened-in-porch (how we say it in Arkansas), about 8 x 16 with the house making up 2 sides of it. Concrete porch (elevated) with white vinyl siding. Any ideas on the best material/technique? Have any of you used the "systems" I've seen advertised? I want something that looks nice and is durable (glass is not an option) and I will take the time to do whatever works best. (And I want a wooden screen door with a spring that goes "wapppp" everytime it closes.)