Screened In Porches... do they make the adjacent room dark??

[msop04]

We are building late next summer and have found the perfect Southern Living house plan. It has a back covered porch that is described as screened. However, the photos from the sample house don't appear to have screens on the back porch. I like light and was worried that screening it in would make the house super dark... what do ya'll think? I've heard there are screens that don't block nearly as much light, but are not as durable. I also know living in the South, a screened in porch is pretty much a necessity if you don't want to be eaten alive by bugs.

To those who have one, what is your experience? I'll post some photos of the plan and interior...

Lower level floor plan (modified and with attached garage):


Photos showing the view to the back porch:
Owner's Foyer


View from front door to Owner's foyer (back of house):

 

[msop04]

Note: My modifications are obviously not professionally done, so please excuse the photoshop job I did on it! HA!

Original:


Photoshopped modifications:
- Master Bath changes
- Laundry changes
- addition of Mud Room
- addition of Attached Garage
- access to Bonus Room above Garage via house

 

[Slickk]

Hi. Not enough time to post on the drawings, but as an owner of two covered porches, front and back, I wanted to say, yes! It does make the adjacent rooms darker. For sure!
However, the roofs makes both areas awesome additional living area so I think the trade off is worth it. So exciting!

 

[missy]

Yes in general they do. Could you add a big skylight on the covered porch to perhaps brighten up the adjacent room?

 

[elizat]

It depends on the porch and the method of access to me.

Our pool and outdoor living space is in a screen enclosure. It's a high enclosure to be fair. In our formal living room, we have a wall of three floor to almost ceiling doors that recess all the way into the wall that leads put to one of the entrances. It lets in a ton of light. We also have double front doors that are over 50 percent glass that drop you in the entryway, that lead to the formal living room, so you have a ton of light. I think they built it like that with that issue in mind.

I think screens are really important in the south. In Florida, at night, unless you are right on the beach it mosquito city. It also depends on the house location though.

 

[msop04]

Hi. Not enough time to post on the drawings, but as an owner of two covered porches, front and back, I wanted to say, yes! It does make the adjacent rooms darker. For sure!
However, the roofs makes both areas awesome additional living area so I think the trade off is worth it. So exciting!

I think natural light will be the trade-off for nice outdoor space... thanks!!

 

[msop04]

Yes in general they do. Could you add a big skylight on the covered porch to perhaps brighten up the adjacent room?

In theory, yes... but that would pretty much eliminate the shade from the covered porch. In the South, where summer is May-October, I'll take the shade! I think I may just have to deal with the loss of a little natural light! LOL Thanks, @missy!

 

[msop04]

It depends on the porch and the method of access to me.

Our pool and outdoor living space is in a screen enclosure. It's a high enclosure to be fair. In our formal living room, we have a wall of three floor to almost ceiling doors that recess all the way into the wall that leads put to one of the entrances. It lets in a ton of light. We also have double front doors that are over 50 percent glass that drop you in the entryway, that lead to the formal living room, so you have a ton of light. I think they built it like that with that issue in mind.

I think screens are really important in the south. In Florida, at night, unless you are right on the beach it mosquito city. It also depends on the house location though.

Girl, yes! Mosquitoes and all bugs in general are the bane of my existence!!! HAAATE them!! There are many windows on the front of the house beside the living area and dining/kitchen. The house isn't super deep, so maybe that will compensate for it??

What do you think about the photos? It's hard to tell, but does it look like the back porch is screened to you??

 

[Slickk]

Yes in general they do. Could you add a big skylight on the covered porch to perhaps brighten up the adjacent room?

@msop04 I actually have a large skylight in the rear deck roof that’s does help some. But mostly I find it annoying when the sun comes in just at the right angle to cause the seating area to be sunny. Oh, yeah, and the butterflies and bees get stuck up there and are either saved by me (butterflies with ladder) or die and then fall on my couch.


ETA The higher the height of the patio, the less likely to have bug problems. At least in the NE.

 

[msop04]

@msop04 I actually have a large skylight in the rear deck roof that’s does help some. But mostly I find it annoying when the sun comes in just at the right angle to cause the seating area to be sunny. Oh, yeah, and the butterflies and bees get stuck up there and are either saved by me (butterflies with ladder) or die and then fall on my couch.

Oh God... I don’t think I could handle the bees & bugs situation with a skylight!! LOL

 

[elizat]

Girl, yes! Mosquitoes and all bugs in general are the bane of my existence!!! HAAATE them!! There are many windows on the front of the house beside the living area and dining/kitchen. The house isn't super deep, so maybe that will compensate for it??

What do you think about the photos? It's hard to tell, but does it look like the back porch is screened to you??

Lol...oh the bugs. And lizards, snakes, poisonous toads, etc. That's reason enough there. It's hard to tell if it is screened in photos, but the layout has a lot of windows. I think that will help. It's a lovely layout!

 

[missy]

@msop04 I'm with you. I would take a little loss of light to keep the bugs (and hot UV rays) out. Good luck and it looks to be a very pretty design.

 

[msop04]

Here are the windows that will contribute to the main living area light... kitchen, entrance, and dining all have large windows...

 

[msop04]

@msop04 I'm with you. I would take a little loss of light to keep the bugs (and hot UV rays) out. Good luck and it looks to be a very pretty design.

Thank you, @missy! We are very excited!!

 

[Calliecake]

I’ve haven’t read the responses you have received @msop04. But I believe they do. I would love a screened in porch behind our kitchen eating area. It has all French doors all around the back and sides. I know it will darken the bright sunny kitchen and is the reason we haven’t added one. One of our neighbors added one to their home. I think it made the room seem dark and my husband couldn’t get over how dark it made the room in the house look. I will read everyone’s replies when I have time later. I hope someone has suggestions to avoid the room looking dark as I would love a screened porch.

 

[msop04]

I’ve haven’t read the responses you have received @msop04. But I believe they do. I would love a screened in porch behind our kitchen eating area. It has all French doors all around the back and sides. I know it will darken the bright sunny kitchen and is the reason we haven’t added one. One of our neighbors added one to their home. I think it made the room seem dark and my husband couldn’t get over how dark it made the room in the house look. I will read everyone’s replies when I have time later. I hope someone has suggestions to avoid the room looking dark as I would love a screened porch.

Thanks for your reply, @Calliecake! I’ve been reading about a type of screen that is very fine and let’s the most light in... the downside is that it’s not nearly as durable, so would likely need to replace panels more regularly... hopefully not...

 

[Octo2005]

Wow, congratulations! Looks like it is going to be amazing.

We have a back porch, while not screened in yet, it is a sizable porch(extending 8 feet from the house) and it makes the attached room much darker than other rooms that share the same side of the house, despite that wall being about 75% windows.

Is there anyway that you can incorporate skylights? Maybe in the covered porch to help bring the light closer to your existing window if that makes sense.

 

[msop04]

Wow, congratulations! Looks like it is going to be amazing.

We have a back porch, while not screened in yet, it is a sizable porch(extending 8 feet from the house) and it makes the attached room much darker than other rooms that share the same side of the house, despite that wall being about 75% windows.

Is there anyway that you can incorporate skylights? Maybe in the covered porch to help bring the light closer to your existing window if that makes sense.

We thought about skylights, but decided against them for two main reasons... 1) having the AL sun creeping through would defeat the purpose of a covered porch (we need shade down here, ya'll -- it's HOT AS HELL!) and 2) don't want to put holes in the roof and all that comes with skylights (leaks, bug accumulation, etc)...

I feel like there's no real answer to this... I pretty much want all the things. Covered porch, shade, light. No bueno. LOL

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

so jelouse
miss my screen doors so much
bugs are the pits
especially the bitey ones
its going to be a lovelly house @msop04

 

[TooPatient]

Maybe make the roof of the covered area as high as you can to allow more light? Then add shades either on the screened in area or on the windows looking into the area so you can block some for shade as needed.

It is a tough one! I love big, light rooms but the direct sun can be so hot! We are in the Seattle area where this isn't too much of an issue but I know in AL you can't just ignore the need for shade.

 

[TooPatient]

Something like this sort of shade that cuts the bright sun but isn't too closed in feeling.

 

[msop04]

so jelouse
miss my screen doors so much
bugs are the pits
especially the bitey ones
its going to be a lovelly house @msop04

Thanks so much, @Daisys and Diamonds!

 

[msop04]

Something like this sort of shade that cuts the bright sun but isn't too closed in feeling.

Those are shown on windows... can they be incorporated to an open air covered porch, I wonder??

 

[lyra]

Gorgeous house and plans! If it's really hot where you live, screened in porches definitely cut down on heat in the main areas. So a little less natural light is worth it in the summer. I would welcome a screened in area on the back of my house, with its SSW facing. We have e-film on all the back windows. It helps with the a/c, which can barely keep up with the heat we get in the summers.

 

[msop04]

Something like this sort of shade that cuts the bright sun but isn't too closed in feeling.

I found these on Houzz... I’m wondering if this would be durable...

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

screen door slams
Mary's dress sways
like a vission she dances across the porch ad the radio plays



i couldn't help myself

 

[msop04]

screen door slams
Mary's dress sways
like a vission she dances across the porch ad the radio plays



i couldn't help myself

HAHAHAAAAA!!

 

[TooPatient]

Those are shown on windows... can they be incorporated to an open air covered porch, I wonder??

I was wondering that too! I love that you can see out but still be shaded as needed. One picture was with a link that said it was exterior so there is (hopefully) something similar you can use.

 

[msop04]

I was wondering that too! I love that you can see out but still be shaded as needed. One picture was with a link that said it was exterior so there is (hopefully) something similar you can use.

I love that about it too! I found some on Houzz, but no info as to pricing, reviews, etc... I feel like that would be the best option if they are durable and not extremely $$$$$. I also like that we wouldn't have to have a door built in - we could simply raise the screened panels and voila! ... a totally open and glorious porch!

 

[msop04]

So I found this site... looks pretty amazing.
https://www.metroscreenworks.com/genius-sierra-800-pull-down-retractable-screen/