Are you looking for a deck or screened in porch builder in Roanoke, VA?
Many homeowners find themselves craving an outdoor space to hang out in that doesn’t get muddy every time it rains. A deck is a great solution for an in-between spot that allows you to spend time outside without getting too close to nature. For others, a screened-in porch is a safe haven from bugs and a nice place to watch the rain fall.
Winning Home Additions
There are three main types of outdoor home additions: patios, screened-in porches, and decks. Patios are generally nearly level with the ground and are made from brick, stone, or concrete. Patios are great for creating a flat surface to set chairs and tables on, as well as potted plants.
Decks get you off the ground more than patios and are generally more comfortable underfoot. Decks are traditionally made from wood, but some new higher-end decks are made from composite or PVC.
A screened-in porch builder will tell you they are just as they sound: covered porches with screens to keep the bugs out. They are generally not heated or cooled, but fans and heaters are not complicated to install.
What is a Deck?
A deck is a fantastic addition to almost any home. They add property value, increase your usable living space, and, if they are on the second story, provide an additional shady place underneath to hang out.
A deck is a great place to place a grill or put an outdoor table and chairs. Decks make hosting barbecues viable and are a wonderful space for noisy kids to hang out. Dirty feet? No problem. Since decks are already exposed to the elements, a little extra dirt or spilled food won’t be noticed.
Screened-Out
The real benefit of a screened-in porch is not what they keep in, but what they keep out.
A screened-in porch allows you to sit and enjoy the outdoors while keeping bugs, dirt, and animals away from you. They are excellent places to enjoy a meal and the beautiful weather without dealing with flies swarming your plate. They are also a nice place to sit and watch the rain fall while staying perfectly dry.
Another benefit to a screened-in porch is that they allow your pets a safe space to enjoy the outdoors. A local Roanoke, VA screened-in porch builder like Reynolds can install heaters and fans to extend the usability of your porch during more extreme weather shifts.
Drawbacks and Shortcomings
As you might imagine, when deciding between a deck and a screened-in porch, they each have their cons.
Decks are:
- Exposed to the elements and only usable when the weather is nice
- Not as clean; generally have bugs and debris.
- Traditional pine decking warps with the weather and needs to be refinished often.
Screened-in porches are:
- A worse source of sunlight due to roof coverage
- A fire hazard for any kind of grilling
- More expensive to install
Deck vs Screened Porch in Southwest Virginia
So which is better? Deck or screened porch? The answer to this question is highly personal and depends on your family’s specific needs.
Do you love to grill out and sunbathe? Then a deck is probably the better choice for you. Do you hate bugs and just want a place in your home where you can enjoy nature without getting too close? Finding a great screened-in porch builder in Roanoke, VA, is the ticket to your happiness.
Best of Both Worlds
If you truly cannot decide between a screened-in porch and a deck, go for a combination of them both. The screened-in porch will allow you to stay safe from the bugs and the rain, and the deck will give you the freedom to fire up the grill and sunbathe.
An outdoor addition contractor will be able to customize your combo to fit your home. Often these two can be built with the same base deck, and then a screened-in section added to half. The downside of having both is that a door to the outside on your porch risks letting in pests while you come in and out.
Honorable Mentions
Obviously there are more choices for home additions than just decks and screened-in porches. An excellent option for keeping dry and still enjoying the outside is a covered porch. These can be built small, or wrap around your whole home in a traditional Southern style. A pool deck is a great way to class up an above-ground pool and increase your family’s enjoyment of it! A covered outdoor kitchen can give you a permanent built-in grill, as well as offering countertops for preparation and bar seating for enjoying your meals.
Can We Build It?
Whether your needs are better suited to a deck or a screened-in porch is up to you to decide. Whichever one you choose, make sure you use the best construction company in the area: Reynold’s Home Improvement. With over 20 years in business, we are well-trusted in Southwest Virginia and have the reviews to back it up! Get started on your project todayso that you can start enjoying your new space as soon as possible!