Screening in tiny front porch?

[BubblesandPat]

We live in a Charlotte with the little front porch. We see people have screened in thier front porches but nobody with our smaller porch. We were thinking of putting in a storm door with screen but then thought what about screening in the little porch. Not only to allow some cross ventilation but a bug free place to sit. Has anyone done this? Will the contractors look at us like we are crazy?

[Keefelane66]

Its your home your choice just get approval, if it makes you happy go for it.

[retiredguy123]

There is a small porch on my street that is screened in. It shouldn't be a problem if you get it approved by ARC. The contractor won't care as long as you pay them.

[BubblesandPat]

There is a small porch on my street that is screened in. It shouldn't be a problem if you get it approved by ARC. The contractor won't care as long as you pay them.

Thanks. We have had to deal with "architectural" boards in previous homes...not fun
The ARC here hopefully isn't as painful? We are talking with contractors who are quite familiar with the process so hoping they will guide us

[retiredguy123]

Thanks. We have had to deal with "architectural" boards in previous homes...not fun
The ARC here hopefully isn't as painful? We are talking with contractors who are quite familiar with the process so hoping they will guide us
ARC is easy to deal with. But don't trust the contractor to get the approval. Do it yourself.

[villagetinker]

Thanks. We have had to deal with "architectural" boards in previous homes...not fun
The ARC here hopefully isn't as painful? We are talking with contractors who are quite familiar with the process so hoping they will guide us

You can call or go to the office (I think they are in Brownwood now), the form is online and no cost. You fill it out and usually get a reply in 2 weeks. If you include your email address you should get a copy of the final report (PDF).
I would include the color of the framing you intend to use, as well as the screening. I like the dark brown aluminum frame as it shows a lot less dirt, and if the screws rust it does not show. White screening tends to give you some privacy during the day.

[tophcfa]

A few years ago a neighbor down the street was having their front porch screened in, so I stopped by and asked the guy doing the job if he could come over and give me a price to do ours. He came over and told me he would do it for $950, but it might take him about a week to finish the job. He said I didn’t have to pay him anything until the job was done, so I told him to do it. The guy was a subcontractor, working for White Aluminum, but was doing the job for me on the side working for himself after hours. He did an excellent job, working evenings after completing his daily work for White Aluminum. My poor neighbor paid White Aluminum $2,600 for the exact same job. Screening in a small porch is a very easy job and a great addition. We enjoy sitting out there during rain storms, with a roof over our heads, reading the paper or playing a game of cribbage. During the cooler winter months we can keep both the front door and slider in the back both open and get a refreshing cross breeze coming through the house.

[BubblesandPat]

You can call or go to the office (I think they are in Brownwood now), the form is online and no cost. You fill it out and usually get a reply in 2 weeks. If you include your email address you should get a copy of the final report (PDF).
I would include the color of the framing you intend to use, as well as the screening. I like the dark brown aluminum frame as it shows a lot less dirt, and if the screws rust it does not show. White screening tends to give you some privacy during the day.

Thank you!! Very useful info!

[BubblesandPat]

A few years ago a neighbor down the street was having their front porch screened in, so I stopped by and asked the guy doing the job if he could come over and give me a price to do ours. He came over and told me he would do it for $950, but it might take him about a week to finish the job. He said I didn’t have to pay him anything until the job was done, so I told him to do it. The guy was a subcontractor, working for White Aluminum, but was doing the job for me on the side working for himself after hours. He did an excelleninformation!

, working evenings after completing his daily work for White Aluminum. My poor neighbor paid White Aluminum $2,600 for the exact same job. Screening in a small porch is a very easy job and a great addition. We enjoy sitting out there during rain storms, with a roof over our heads, reading the paper or playing a game of cribbage. During the cooler winter months we can keep both the front door and slider in the back both open and get a refreshing cross breeze coming through the house.

So glad to hear this..its exactly why we were thinking we would enjoy the screening...

[westernrider75]

We live in a Charlotte with the little front porch. We see people have screened in thier front porches but nobody with our smaller porch. We were thinking of putting in a storm door with screen but then thought what about screening in the little porch. Not only to allow some cross ventilation but a bug free place to sit. Has anyone done this? Will the contractors look at us like we are crazy?

We have a Charlotte with a screened in front porch. Because we have the single garage door our front porch is larger than the model with 2 separate garage doors, but we enjoy sitting out there in the evening and reading.

[DonnaNi4os]

Do it. You will love it! Be sure to check and see if it is allowed in your development. Ours needed to get a petition going to have the ARC approval needed. My dog loves it!

[Juliebythesea]

Call Aluminum Contractors in Leesburg they are super nice and great pricing!!!

[SHIBUMI]

After you file the arc request, with the help of the contractor, if needed, YOU should attend the ARC Meeting....... if there are any issues you can clarify there or spend more time
waiting on another request. And you can learn why denied if denied. Fill out the form and go to the meeting is the best bet.........make sure you know the pledge of allegiance................:)

Thanks. We have had to deal with "architectural" boards in previous homes...not fun
The ARC here hopefully isn't as painful? We are talking with contractors who are quite familiar with the process so hoping they will guide us

[tzarbo]

We live in a Charlotte with the little front porch. We see people have screened in thier front porches but nobody with our smaller porch. We were thinking of putting in a storm door with screen but then thought what about screening in the little porch. Not only to allow some cross ventilation but a bug free place to sit. Has anyone done this? Will the contractors look at us like we are crazy?

I would call Windows of Central Florida (352) 217-8151 and see if they would install a Enclosed Screen Porch. Our porch is a little bigger and they installed a beautiful screened porch enclosure for us. I believe they wouldn’t turn down the work.

[villagetinker]

White Aluminum (441 Leesburg) is another option for the enclosure, and as noted above be sure to get ARC approval before to start work.

[tejas]

Check out the Charlotte model for sale, VLS#242580, on The Villages web site. It has a screened porch. There are photos from outside and inside the porch. Looks like a nice cozy spot to enjoy morning coffee or evening cocktail.

[BubblesandPat]

Check out the Charlotte model for sale, VLS#242580, on The Villages web site. It has a screened porch. There are photos from outside and inside the porch. Looks like a nice cozy spot to enjoy morning coffee or evening cocktail.

Thank you that is exactly our house!

We did book with Joes Screens. Came highly recommended and we had a good feeling about them. Already submitted the arc.

We had one quote that was over double of everyone else because he said we needed to install another electrical outlet outside the screen room because we would be enclosing our current outlet inside the screenroom.. Our linai has just the internal oulet. Nobody else said that . and never heard of doing that. We will see if the arc says we need to do that...

[Troopie]

I'm so happy with my decision to screen in my front porch area. It keeps birds out (they kept trying to make nests in a wall hanging out there, and were leaving droppings. I also used to have issues with mud dobbers (wasps that make mud nests on walls). Those problems are now solved, and I think it has enhanced the appearance of my house. It's a bonus that when packages are delivered and placed in the screened-in area, no one can really see them from the road. I had Cook Aluminum do the installation (ask for Thumper). The number is (352) 342 7809. I'm very happy with the quality of their work.

[patfla06]

We just screened in our front entry and love it. We kept getting wasps and even snails. Made a mess on the walls.
It’s so much cleaner now.

It looks amazing and wish we had done it sooner. We had tiled the floor previously.

T & D did ours and they did an excellent job.

[villagetinker]

Thank you that is exactly our house!

We did book with Joes Screens. Came highly recommended and we had a good feeling about them. Already submitted the arc.

We had one quote that was over double of everyone else because he said we needed to install another electrical outlet outside the screen room because we would be enclosing our current outlet inside the screenroom.. Our linai has just the internal oulet. Nobody else said that . and never heard of doing that. We will see if the arc says we need to do that...

I had the exact same situation when I enclosed ours, I had an electrician add the outlet outside of the screened area, glad I did as we use that outlet all the time and this way we do not have a cord going through the doorway.

[Nana2Teddy]

Make sure they do the tighter screening material that tiny bugs can’t get through. I think it’s called 20/20? Several neighbors near us who’ve had this done said ARC approval wasn’t required for screened porches. Maybe it depends on the district? I’m in 13. We will definitely check on that before proceeding. We got one quote a few months ago, and the electrical outlet wasn’t mentioned, but it’s definitely something we’d want to do as part of the job.

[BubblesandPat]

Make sure they do the tighter screening material that tiny bugs can’t get through. I think it’s called 20/20? Several neighbors near us who’ve had this done said ARC approval wasn’t required for screened porches. Maybe it depends on the district? I’m in 13. We will definitely check on that before proceeding. We got one quote a few months ago, and the electrical outlet wasn’t mentioned, but it’s definitely something we’d want to do as part of the job.

Yes we got the 20 20 screening. We may add the electric at a later date. Just didn't seem worth the additional 1500 to just be able to put up christmas lights.

You might wanted to double check ARC as we are in 13 also and were told get approved as it will be required and asked for if we sell.. May as well do it now!

[Nana2Teddy]

Yes we got the 20 20 screening. We may add the electric at a later date. Just didn't seem worth the additional 1500 to just be able to put up christmas lights.

You might wanted to double check ARC as we are in 13 also and were told get approved as it will be required and asked for if we sell.. May as well do it now!

Wow! $1500! That’s crazy! We got a quote recently from Pike’s to have 3 new electrical outlets installed in our house and lanai, and the total for all 3 was under $1000. We are going to get more quotes, but it sure makes $1500 for one outlet sound like highway robbery, lol. We will definitely get ARC approval. Thanks!

[Dotneko]

Wow! $1500! That’s crazy! We got a quote recently from Pike’s to have 3 new electrical outlets installed in our house and lanai, and the total for all 3 was under $1000. We are going to get more quotes, but it sure makes $1500 for one outlet sound like highway robbery, lol. We will definitely get ARC approval. Thanks!

We are in 13 also. When i checked with ARC, I was originally told no approval needed. I said are you SURE?? She checked with someone else and said, oops, yes, 13 needs approval for screened front porches.
We are waiting for ours to start - the decorative door was a 4 week backorder, so it should start in June.

[Nana2Teddy]

We are in 13 also. When i checked with ARC, I was originally told no approval needed. I said are you SURE?? She checked with someone else and said, oops, yes, 13 needs approval for screened front porches.
We are waiting for ours to start - the decorative door was a 4 week backorder, so it should start in June.
Thanks for this clarification. We were also told the decorative door would be a longer wait time. We are still deciding whether or not to do the screening. There’s pluses and minuses for us. We will be obstructing a great “nosy neighbors” view of our street from where we sit and eat at our kitchen counter, lol, and hide our pretty front door, but it will cut down on afternoon sun, allow us to open our front door for a cross breeze, and keep our porch cleaner with less bugs/mud daubers, so we gotta choose our priorities. 🤔😂

[BubblesandPat]

We are in 13 also. When i checked with ARC, I was originally told no approval needed. I said are you SURE?? She checked with someone else and said, oops, yes, 13 needs approval for screened front porches.
We are waiting for ours to start - the decorative door was a 4 week backorder, so it should start in June.

Exactly our experience...our door is about a month too. But we understand ARC approval takes about 2 weeks. We aren't in a huge hurry..would like it completed by fall.

[patfla06]

Yes we got the 20 20 screening. We may add the electric at a later date. Just didn't seem worth the additional 1500 to just be able to put up christmas lights.

You might wanted to double check ARC as we are in 13 also and were told get approved as it will be required and asked for if we sell.. May as well do it now!

We did the 20/20 screening and love it!!