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ByErin Nutter Updated on
Discover the perfect blend of style and functionality with our stunning gray composite deck and screened-in porch. Our low-maintenance gray deck offers a sleek and modern outdoor space, while the screened-in porch provides bug-free relaxation and protection. Get our tips for how we were able to design one of our favorite rooms in our house!
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own.This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.Read our full privacy policy.
Questions To Ask About Design
- Look at the profile of the back of the house or where you are putting your deck and/or porch.
- Where will you have the steps? Do you need steps to get to your yard?
- What will the rest of your landscape look like?
- What materials do you want to use? Colors?
- What building codes do you need to follow?
- What type of doors? Sliding doors? Screened doors?
Screened-In Porch On Deck
Before we even decided on a screened-in porch and large deck we debated about building all sorts of outdoor spaces. Ultimately we knew that a screened-in porch was the right idea for us! Now, this is not a normal DIY home idea because we hired a professional to build this screened-in porch and large composite deck. Come along as we explain the products we used to add to our outdoor living space.
Design Ideas & Products
The screened-in porch and large deck were DIY design ideas, but we actually paid up. This was one project that we did not want to try to DIY. We let professionals complete this home improvement project.
Building this screened-in porch and deck did take a team of professionals several weeks. We are very happy that we did not attempt this on our own. If you are looking for a great DIY resource check out this guide from Family Handyman.
Our Design
We knew that we would be doing composite decking. Also, we knew that this composite deck was going to be large! It was tough to figure out exactly how large it would be.
Because our house is a little awkward with different parts sticking out of the back, our screened-in and deck design pretty much had to expand the back of our house.
Possible Configuration Of House Elements
You may need to think outside the “box”, window, or door when planning your screened-in porch or deck. We ended up needing to turn 3 family room windows into a sliding door to go out onto our porch. We also changed the style of the door to a sliding one to go onto the deck from our kitchen.
While we were nervous that we might end up losing light, it actually ended up making our family room appear much bigger and brighter. Here are the other doors near our kitchen that we replaced going out onto the deck.
With the screened-in porch started we were then also prompted with other DIY projects like updating our mantle and fireplace and mounting our television in the corner with a DIY corner shelf.
Porch and Decking Materials Used
Here are just a few of the main products used in our outdoor space:
- Island Oak Timbertech Decking Boards (this color is close to the color we used)
- Fairway Vinyl White Railings with Black Round Aluminum Balusters
- Tongue And Groove Red Mahogany Stained Ceiling
- Atlas Outdoor Ceiling Fan
- Screeneze System
- New Sliding Doors
Decking Materials: Timbertech Azek Island Oak review
This medium gray Timbertech composite decking has enough texture to make it look a little richer than the base Timbertech model. Island Oak color was discontinued but Island Mist, Trex Rocky Harbor or Azek Castle Gray are options you may want to consider.
While this product is more expensive than regular pressure-treated wood, we are hoping it will last us for years to come. We love this rich color, but it does show dirt easily.
Tip To Help Choose Decking Color
Make sure you get samples of the Trex or composite decking you are considering and look at them outside. You can even leave them in the same area to see how the dirt and pollen may appear over time.
Why did we choose gray?
In our home, we have been working on getting rid of browns and beiges in our house. Therefore our deck had to be gray and not brown. I was nervous that with our cream-colored siding, it would not go together but we ended up loving the gray Island Oak color!
Read More>>>Use this homemade deck cleaner for composite decking to help clean the dirt and mildew.
Porch & Deck Railings
Fairway V110 Vinyl Railing with Round Aluminum Balusters
This is a similar product from Home Depot that you can purchase for your deck railing.
One thing I learned is that if your screened-in porch is high enough off the ground then you will also need railings that go around your porch. I didn’t realize this at first, but it makes total sense since a screen really can’t stop someone from falling out.
Check with your local building codes to make sure you are following all rules and guidelines.
Black Balusters
Black spindles instead of all-white vinyl can add a little more modern feel to your backyard. When you look out our windows the black blends in with our backyard and does not seem as obtrusive.
However, we have round black metal poles in this railing and I wish that my young children would not be able to spin them. Again, this screened-in porch and deck design is meant to last, so hopefully, the railings will too!
Tongue and Groove Ceiling
Our contractor was phenomenal and made sure to use classic tongue and groove wood for our ceiling. Just like our ceiling makeover in our basem*nt, we know that ceilings can really transform spaces.
Use a rich-colored stain on your tongue and groove boards to add warmth to a screened-in porch. Using wood on the ceiling is a great balance to the other gray, white and black materials used in the space.
You can see other places we have also used this stain color such as DIY bathroom shelves and DIY art displays.
Outdoor Ceiling Fan
At first, I thought this fan was way too expensive for what it was. I absolutely love it after I saw it put up, felt the wind it gives off, and saw how bright the light can be. You can also put the light on a dimmer.
My husband was completely right when he said that we need to buy a nice outdoor ceiling fan and light. While this was more expensive than I thought an outdoor fan would be, it was still a lot cheaper than other models out there.
However, if a new fan is just not in the budget you may want to consider painting your existing outdoor fan like my DIY blogger friend of Tag & Tibby did.
Screeneze Screening System
The contractors that set up our screens said that this system was amazing. They noted that we could even watch a video of a full 5-gallon bucket on this system and the screen would not budge.
Everyone has commented on how tight the screens look and supposedly they are easy to replace if need be (but we shouldn’t have to do this).
The only negative, but I would think is the case with any screened-in porch would be that screens seem to collect wonderful pollen. Occasionally I have had to wipe or spray them down.
Deck and Porch FAQs
What to use for a screened-in porch roof design?
Depending on the profile of your house you can build a gable, peaked, or hip roof. Tongue and groove cedar or sealed pine, shiplap, painted wood, beadboard, PVC beadboard, composite materials or even metal panels for the inside ceiling of your porch. You want to consider factors such as climate, maintenance, and desired style when choosing your roof and porch ceiling design.
What are the cons of using vinyl railings on your deck and porch?
Vinyl railings come in limited color palettes, the color may fade over time and cannot easily be painted. While they are a good durable choice for your deck or porch, other materials such as metal or composite may be sturdier. If you like relatively low-maintenance, basic colors and the lower cost of vinyl railings then they are a good choice for you.
What is cheaper to build a sunroom or screened-in porch?
In general, a screened-in porch is typically cheaper to build compared to a sunroom. A screened-in porch involves framing, screening, and possibly adding a roof, using materials like wood or aluminum. On the other hand, a sunroom is fully enclosed and insulated, requiring additional construction elements such as foundation work, insulation, HVAC systems, and specialized windows. These additional features contribute to higher costs. However, the specific cost difference depends on factors like design complexity, materials chosen, labor costs, and location.
How to keep bugs away in your screened-in porch?
To help keep little bugs out of your sunroom you can consider putting a screen underneath the decking on the floor. Also, continue to monitor for holes and repair your porch screens as needed and in a timely fashion.
Where is the best location for a screened porch?
The best location for your screened-in porch will vary slightly for each home. The ideal location for a screened porch depends on factors like proximity to living spaces, views, sun exposure, wind direction, privacy, and accessibility. You may want to consider building your porch off a commonly used room such as a living room or kitchen. The best location for a screened porch will depend on a combination of these factors and your personal preferences.
Should you use composite decking or pressure-treated wood for your deck and screened-in porch?
Budget and maintenance are the biggest factors to consider when choosing your flooring for a screened-in porch. Composite decking is durable, low-maintenance, and resistant to bugs, rot, and fading. It offers a modern look. On the other hand, pressure-treated wood is more affordable and can be painted or stained to match your style. However, it requires more maintenance to stay in good condition. To help you decide to weigh your budget and how much time and effort you’re willing to invest in maintenance.
Follow us on Pinterest, Youtube or Facebook for more DIY inspiration!
More Outdoor Home Ideas
- How To Build A Backyard Playset
- How To Build Large Planter Boxes On A Hill
- 33+ Unique DIY Planter Ideas For Your Backyard
We plan to spend a lot of time enjoying our outdoor space. Our screened-in porch and large deck design ideas have really added more livable space to our home.
Erin Nutter
Erin Nutter is the DIY enthusiast, writer and photographer behind TheDIYNuts.com. She loves sharing her passion for do-it-yourself projects along with her husband, Eric. As an artist, mother, and lover of all things DIY she hopes to inspire you to be creative to make a life and home you love.
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Love it. We have a room that was going to be a screen room but we decided to put very large windows instead. We also put a wood burning stove in it and we use it all year only on weekend in winter cause it does take some time to heat up. We did it all ourselves in sections and it was became our favorite room in the house. Enjoy your new room, you’re going to love it!
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Hi Kathy! Yes, with little kids we knew we needed an outdoor room to lounge around while they played outside. We are so happy that we added this screened-in porch and large deck on to our house.
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I actually have some fans on a Facebook page related to this stuff. I’ll share your post about wood decks with them and see what they have to say. I’m sure they’ll love it though.
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Thanks, Stephanie! We love our screened-porch with composite decking!
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I really loved this article about composite decking! It gave me some new insights that I never really thought of before.
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That came out great. I am in the process of installing a composite deck with plans to add a screen enclosure in the future. What was your footer? Was it posts into the ground within concrete , or was it a slab??
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Hi Anthony. Our composite deck posts in the ground and we also have rocks for drainage.
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