SPOTLIGHT PORCHES
Screened Porches BY JOHN HELTZEL
The Cross Between
Being Inside and Out
H
ave you enjoyed hanging out in a screened porch, possibly at a friend’s turn-of-the- century home, or a lake house rental? Once
very popular, screened porches have become a rare feature since the mid-20th century, in spite of their functionality and cost-effective construction.
Te first screened porches appeared in the Victorian era, to provide a respite from hot summer evenings; they were oſten built on the second floor as a sleeping space. Te concept was a cross between window screens and the very popular front porch.
Window screens date back to 15th century mosques in which they were used to allow light into the building but prevent access to more ominous perpetrators such as wild animals and enemies. In the late 1800s metal and fabric screens became popular to cover open windows, simply to keep out insects.
Te front porch concept, which dates back to the temples in ancient Greece, became a popular and practical addition to the home as a place to retreat from the heat of the interior in the evenings. Combining these two practical concepts into the screened porch was an inevitable development.
But, the invention of the automobile and home air- conditioning greatly reduced the number of evening strolls that led to front porch visits. Suburban decks and patios became more common, yet less utilized. Rarely was a screen porch incorporated into a new home design, and the screened porches that were added onto the home oſten had an “aſterthought” look and feel.
Revive the Screened-in-Porch Concept But, with thoughtful planning, atention to detail and the incorporation of newly developed materials and construction details, installing a screened-in porch can be an aesthetic, functional, and cost-effective way to expand one’s living space.
10 create | A REMODELING RESOURCE FROM NARI METRO DC
First, think about how the porch will be used. If it is to be a place for family dinners, or a Saturday eve- ning card game with cigars, a small intimate space may be just right. If it is also to be used as a place to watch kids in the pool, read a book, or get away from the Internet, however, consider making the space wide enough for two furniture arrangements to accommodate both a leisure seating spot and a space for dining. And, an outdoor fireplace might be just the additional detail that will stretch the porch usability another month or two toward winter.
Ensure the Porch’s Appearance Blends in With That of the House Like any successful addition to a home, you should consider the original structure’s scale and proportions when sizing the porch, which can actually enhance the exterior. To accomplish a successful aesthetic, the designer must consider the porch’s roofline, exterior finish materials, and location to ensure that it visually ties in with the existing home. Consider incorporating materials that will represent the porch as a real part of the house, not just a quick addition. Tis can be accomplished by adding details such as brick posts on the porch corners, crown or dentil mold to match the existing eaves, or column details that are consistent with the style and era of the home. A well-planned screened porch is an opportunity to enhance and create order to an otherwise uninteresting basic home’s rear elevation.
Location, Location, Location! Te orientation of the screened porch must also be considered, with the roof designed to control the amount of sun exposure. A gable roof may provide more visual interest inside, but facing it to receive the low western aſternoon sun could turn it into a screened solar oven. Convenient access is another important consideration. If one has to walk through a less convenient room to carry dinner to the screened
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