How To Add An Enclosed Porch To Your House?

There was a time when porches were used for the summer season alone. Today, homeowners want porches for all seasons and as easy as it seems, adding an enclosed porch to your house can be a complicated task. It costs a lot and it also relies on several different factors. If done properly by hiring a home addition contractor, it can also help improve the resale value of your house. So, let’s take a closer look at enclosed porches and see what you can do to add one to your house the right way.

What Are The Types Of Enclosed Porches?

Before you can begin building an enclosed porch, you must become familiar with the types. There are three main types i.e. Screened-in, Three-season, and Four-season.

Screened-In Porch

To begin with, the screened-In is the most simple and popular type of enclosed porch. The reason is because it is inexpensive and does not require much labor or a team of experts to build it. All you need to do is add screens to the sides. Screening is important as it will keep the critters and bugs at bay while also keeping the rain out. However, on the downside, there is no climate control, which means the porch’s seasonality won’t be extended much. A great thing about a screened-in porch is that it’s low commitment. If you don’t like it, you can remove the mesh or screens and you will have an open porch.

Three-Season Porch

The 3-season enclosed porch is windowed or walled to protect it from the elements and it also helps with temperature regulation. The thing with this window-styled porch is that it can trap heat when closed and allow a cool breeze inside the porch when opened.

On the downside, considering these porches are not insulated, it won’t be possible for you to use them in the dead of winter and cold as your feet might hurt while exposed to the extreme temperatures

Four-Season Porch

Finally, the 4-season enclosed porch is a fully insulated one that offers the most benefits as compared to the others, especially when it comes to climate control. This type of enclosed porch can be connected to your home’s HVAC system and allow you to regulate the temperature.

These porches come with insulation installed in the walls and might be included in the windows as well. However, the downside of enclosed porches is that they are the most expensive to build as they are slightly complicated. Plus, they take a bit longer to construct as well. A small condo remodel McLean is usually more economical than building an enclosed porch for a house.

What Affects The Cost Of An Enclosed Porch?

Now that we have discussed the types of enclosed porches, we should shift our attention to the cost factors that determine the total cost of building or adding an enclosed porch to the house.

Location

Location is the first and the most important thing to consider for any home improvement project where you will add something. Although it is obvious, some homeowners still find it hard to grasp. The farther you live, the more expensive the labor costs will be. This is because the team will have to travel longer, burn more fuel, and use additional resources.

Plus, if the location is relatively difficult to reach, you will have to ensure there are no additional obstacles in the way that might complicate the transportation of the materials and other items. Furthermore, you might also need to acquire a permit especially if you are traveling on highways, motorways, narrow streets, etc.

Pre-Existing Foundation/Roofing

Adding an enclosed porch does not mean that you get to begin construction having hired the right team. You will need to have a pre-existing foundation or roofing that supports the structure. If not, you will need to build it first which will add to the expenses. Depending on the project, building a pre-existing foundation or roofing can cost somewhere between $2,500 to $8,000 on average.

Labor

Depending on the size, dimension, and type of your enclosed porch, you will need to hire a general contractor. You should not work on a complicated enclosed porch on your own. Hiring a general contractor is going to cost you, but take it as an investment.

In most cases, the labor costs are higher than the material costs alone. The amount of time it takes for the team to build the entire enclosed porch will tell a lot about the final cost of the project. However, you should consult an expert and request them a quote or an estimate.

You can cross-compare the number with others and pick the one that offers the best price without compromising the quality.

Materials

When it comes to materials, you should know the price will vary based on the type and purpose. For instance, in the case of a screened-in porch, the materials will cost $600 to $3,200. This is the price range of the screen mesh alone, which also varies based on the price per square foot. The type i.e. fiber to copper also decides the price.

There are some other types as well such as stainless steel, vinyl-coated polyester mesh and bronze etc. Moving on, the cost of materials for a three-season enclosed porch depends on the framing materials and windows. Windows can run somewhere between $200 to $2,000 at the high end.

And finally, the four-season enclosed porch may cost you around $15,000 to $60,000. As mentioned earlier, the four-season enclosed porch tends to be the most expensive. Because these porches require insulation, you are looking at some additional costs. Plus, the installation of insulation materials is another added cost you need to be aware of.

How To Build An Enclosed Porch On A Tight Budget?

Building an enclosed porch on a tight budget can be a complicated task. However, there are certain ways you can get it down if you are willing to put in the effort and time. You can apply for a personal loan. Banks, online lenders, and credit unions are willing to offer loans with interest.

However, the amount they are willing to offer depends on the lender. Some lenders may lend up to $35,000 to $50,000. At the same time, you are going to need excellent credit to qualify to apply for a loan. Keep in mind that personal loans are usually fixed but are higher than the interests offered on home equity loans.

However, a home equity loan is another option for you to fund your project. In this case, you will need to have at least 15 to 20% equity to qualify for this type of loan while your home serves as collateral for the loan. Plus, the home equity loan takes around two to six weeks to approve, which means you need to keep this time frame in mind.

Conclusion

Adding an enclosed porch to your house requires defining your needs and preferences and analyzing the current situation of the property. You need to make sure the addition pays off well should you decide to sell the property in the future. Plus, discuss it with home addition companies DC and hire the best one to make sure you spend money the right way. Saving a few thousand dollars will get you nowhere if the enclosed porch does not make any sense.