By Dave and Mary

A DIY Screen Porch Kit

A Wonderful (and Easy) Way to
Enclose Your Porch, Deck or Patio

Mary and I thoroughly enjoyed the screen porch kit we put up on our deck years ago when we lived in New Hampshire. Our portable screen room was kind of like a room addition for our family.

We enjoyed many meals out there, mornings with the newspaper and evenings with friends.

The right do-it-yourself (DIY) screen porch kit makes it easy to create a screen porch enclosure on your porch, deck or patio. If you are like the two of us, you will truly enjoy your outdoor living area.

For some, an enclosed porch, deck, or patio adds an additional room to your home without the expensive cost of an actual room addition.


covered back deck with screen wall kit from screen-house.com added
Many photos on this page courtesy of Screen-House.com
A DIY screened porch kit is normally easy to install; in fact, many can be assembled in a day.

Do you already have a porch, deck, or patio cover? Then choose a screen wall kit to enclose your area and convert it to a screened room or even three-season room.

Need a more permanent roof over your deck or patio? Select a hardtop enclosure or screened room kit.

No matter your specific situation, there's a screened porch kit that's ideal for you. Some are seasonal screen kits while others are more permanent.


Avoid These Pitfalls
When Purchasing a Screen Porch Kit

Since purchasing a screen porch kit can easily be an investment of your time and money, purchase one that fits your needs and will last a long time. To help maximize your investment, avoid these pitfalls:
  • Avoid kits made from low-quality materials as they may not withstand the elements or provide the durability you need. Look for kits that use weather-resistant materials such as aluminum, vinyl, or pressure-treated wood.
  • Avoid kits that are either too small or too large for your porch area. Additionally, check if the design aligns with the architectural style of your home including your traffic patterns and placement of door(s).
  • Avoid kits that lack proper reinforcements. Kits should be structurally strong to withstand wind, rain, and other weather conditions.
  • Avoid kits that are overly complicated to install, especially if you prefer a simpler DIY approach.
  • Avoid kits that lack a warranty or have poor customer service, as this could cause problems if you encounter any issues during or after installation. Research how the manufacturer handles problems or backs warranties.
  • Avoid kits that don't offer proper airflow or adequate options for natural or artificial lighting. Proper ventilation and lighting can add much comfort to your outdoor room.
Please make sure your screen porch kit complies with local building codes, regulations, or HOA requirements. You want a kit that meets your needs and provides a pleasant outdoor living experience, plus fits in your budget.



DIY Screen Porch "Walls Only Kits"

Already have a roof over your deck or patio? Then we recommend you consider a "walls only kit" that contains extruded aluminum framing and screening that will fit between your existing supporting columns.

Walls Only Kits make it extremely easy to convert your space into an outdoor living area free from bugs and by adding outdoor curtains or blinds, you could protect yourself from the wind and sun too.


Before and After Photos

open back porch before screen wall kit added
Screen wall kits can be tailored to fit almost any opening making them easy to install



back porch with screen wall kit added
Once installed, the new space becomes an outdoor living space
Adds aesthetic value to your home too!
A screen porch kit like this could be a great alternative to making your own screen panels or using screen panel products to build a screen porch on your existing porch or covered patio.

I am a do-it-yourselfer at heart and enjoy building; however, a kit would be my first choice in lieu of making my own screen panels. covered back deck area before screen wall kit added
Lovely covered back deck exposed to the elements



covered back deck with screen wall kit from screen-house.com added
Screen walls only kit adds immediate functionality
and adds a bit of privacy too!



screen walls kit from screen-house.com with screen door and hardware Most kits use extruded aluminum frames along with screening that can stay up year round.

Extruded aluminum is extremely durable, lightweight, and won't rot or warp making it an excellent material for screen porch construction.

Most screen kits come with screen doors and hardware - everything you need to create your outdoor living space.


Convert Your Deck or Patio with A Screen Porch Kit

A patio or deck can easily be converted to a porch by just installing a roof. Choose between a seasonal or more permanent roof depending on your needs. We love porches and many folks like to have a covered area to enjoy.

We recommend using insulated patio cover systems that are engineered to meet your local building code requirements for load bearing surfaces. Before ordering any such product, check with your local building codes department to determine the minimum requirements for your area. Then relay that information to the company from which you are ordering.

The right panels can be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.


insulated roof panels by screen-house.com


insulated roof panels over patio area by screen-house.com


You can also select among a wide variety of fabric patio and deck covers as well; perfect for mobile or manufactured homes too.


fabric patio cover by screen-house.com
A DIY patio awning may be just the product you've been looking for!



DIY Three-Sided Screen Enclosures

Three sided screen enclosures attach directly to your house for seasonal three-season comfort. Easy to install and remove during harsh winters, this economical solution works well on almost any home and mobile or manufactured home.

Ideal for enclosing a portion of your deck or patio, leaving you the option of enjoying bug-free dining or star-gazing on a summer night.


two three sided screen porch enclosures by screen-house.com
Works well on deck or patio



Another Great Option!

Whether you build it yourself or hire a contractor or handyman / gal to assist, check out these screen room plans. There are several to choose from and I like them because you can easily modify them to fit your specific needs.

Screen porch plan from Family Home Plans Screen porch plan from Family Home Plans
Spacious screened porches you can build from a plan



DIY Hard-Top Screen Rooms

Hard-tops are built to remain installed year round and can be used on almost any deck or patio. The roof panels come in different thicknesses to meet load bearing requirements and the extruded aluminum framing comes in a variety of colors.


hard top screen porch enclosure by screen-house.com
Enjoy year-round outdoor fun!



hard top screen porch enclosure on mobile home by screen-house.com
Perfect for mobile homes too
Once you have your new screen room, you can add other comfort amenities like porch curtains or blinds and, of course, comfortable furniture to maximize your outdoor time!



Screen Material Options

pet screening by screen-house.com You also can select screening material to meet your specific needs, especially if you have pets or no-see-ums.

Sunscreen can remove up to 70% of the sun's heat and UV rays and eliminate glare. It can also stop tiny insects and comes in three colors.


About Screen-House.com

logo The products we found at Screen-House.com may give you options you may not have previously considered.


Screen-House.com specializes in do-it-yourself home improvement kits and are leaders in screened enclosures, sheds, awnings and garage shelter kits.

They have a wide selection of enclosure products representing major manufacturers throughout North America.

We appreciate the pictures they shared with us here. Visit their website to see if their products are a good solution for your project.




Take a moment to review screen porch kit considerations to ensure you select the right one.

Options, Options, Options

We've only highlighted a few of the many products to either screen in or cover your porch, deck or patio. You may also be interested in installing a free standing screen structure or installing a gazebo or pergola.


screen porch kit from screen-house.com screen porch enclosure from screen-house.com


another screen porch enclosure from screen-house.com a screened porch kit courtesy of screen-house.com


another screened porch kit courtesy of screen-house.com screened porch kit from screen-house.com

Find a Local Contractor

Please remember these are do-it-yourself screen porch kits. However, you could hire a reputable, experienced local contractor on your own to install the screen kits if you need installation assistance.




a screen porch kit with vinyl roof
Screen enclosure with vinyl top
Seasonal solution depending on your geographical area



A beautiful screen-house.com screen room made from their kits


Check out this option for screen porch awnings:


Screen porch kit for awnings from Sunsetter
Screen panels for awnings by Sunsetter ®



Mary and Dave, Founders of Front Porch Ideas and More
Hi! We're Mary and Dave, lifelong DIYers, high school sweethearts, and we both love porches. You've come to the right place for thousands of porch ideas.

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Mary and Dave, Founders of Front Porch Ideas and More
Hi! We're Mary and Dave, lifelong DIYers, high school sweethearts, and we both love porches. You've come to the right place for thousands of porch ideas.
--- Our Sponsors ---
Use the PCA Visualizer to design your screen door

Shop for Porch Parts at Vintage Woodworks.

The Porch Store

--- End Sponsors ---


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Thank you for being here!


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At no extra cost to you, we earn a commission by referring you to some products on merchant sites. See our disclosure policy.
We, Front Porch Ideas and More, confirm, as stated on our privacy policy, that we do not sell personal information.

All content here is solely for presenting ideas. We recommend consulting with a licensed, experienced contractor before you begin your project.
We make no guarantees of accuracy or completeness of information on our site or any links to other websites contained here.

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