Screen Porch...any way to make it a bit warmer?

[dimimi]

We just bought a house with a screened in porch. We wanted to find a way to make it a less cold out there. We got estimates for windows, but it was thousands of dollars.

I want to put plastic up, I know it won't keep it "warm" but I would think it would help a bit.

Does anyone have any ideas...or has anyone found inexpensive windows that they could install themselves?

 

[aaarcher86]

We just bought a house with a screened in porch. We wanted to find a way to make it a less cold out there. We got estimates for windows, but it was thousands of dollars.

I want to put plastic up, I know it won't keep it "warm" but I would think it would help a bit.

Does anyone have any ideas...or has anyone found inexpensive windows that they could install themselves?

I'm not sure how often you'll be out there but in ours we had a Kerosine heater. We used it for the 'smoking room' so we'd turn it on when we went out and off when we went in, but we'd hang out sometimes too. It worked well.

 

[Pembo]

IN our previous house, we had a screened in porch. We covered it with plastic every winter. It kept the snow off, was a great place to store the Xmas boxes, and it kept the house warmer. We didn't heat it but when the sun was out it heated up nicely. My kids played out there often. I especially loved it in the early spring when we had the green house effect going on. We live in Ohio so being able to get out before May was a bonus.

 

[scrapquitler]

My Mom has a screen porch with wood for the bottom 2 feet then the screens above that...and in the fall she puts in storm windows and she has a little electric fireplace type heater, its not exactly warm, but you won't freeze if you sit out there.

 

[dfchelbay]

We just bought a house with a screened in porch. We wanted to find a way to make it a less cold out there. We got estimates for windows, but it was thousands of dollars.

I want to put plastic up, I know it won't keep it "warm" but I would think it would help a bit.

Does anyone have any ideas...or has anyone found inexpensive windows that they could install themselves?

We have a screened in patio that is 18'x30'. We have a very heavy plastic that we put up for the winter. It is attached where the roof meets the side walls and it gets rolled up in the spring and summer. You can't even notice that it is there. It keeps the wind and some of the cold air out, not to mention any snow that might be blowing in. In winter, we store the outdoor furniture, planters and stands, garden decor, etc. there. It keeps everything dry and out of the elements. I've also seen at Lowes that they sell sheets of plexi glass. That could also be good for keeping out the winter elements and keeping the patio a bit warmer. They are clear too, so you can still see through them into your yard.

 

[Malibustyle23]

A lady that I know has a very large screened in porch. It was too costly for her to get windows in it so somehow she has plexiglass sheets that she puts up in each window every winter until the spring. Not sure exactly how it is rigged but perhaps you could find a way for the same material to work for you?

 

[torinsmom]

I tried the heavy plastic for ours. It was a pain to put up and I didn't notice much of a difference in the temperature. I have the regular wood deck floor, so cold air comes through there as well. A friend covered their floor with some kind of hardwood and when they put plastic up it does make a big difference.She uses the stuff you buy to seal your inside windows, the plastic you use a hair dryer to shrink. I have thought of putting an astroturf material on there on top of a sheet of plywood to block that air from underneath, but don't know how that would work.

 

[lgjjp]

our screened porch is 12 x 20. for the winter my husband made wood frames that we stapled plastic on. Its great - I dont have to cover or find a place to store patio furniture and we have a kerosene heater and a tv out there. During the late fall , early spring when its sunny out it warms up enough to sit out there or the kids to play out there.

 

[dimimi]

Thanks! I'll be sharing these ideas with my DH!

 

[SnowWhite2]

I think I found a project for DH during our Christmas shutdown.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Our screened porch was 18' x 22'.
2) We bought sheets of Plexiglas and framed them.
3) We would put them up for winter and take down in spring.
4) If it got warm in winter, we'd take down one or two panels.
5) Pretty cheap and worked well.

 

[mdrob214]

I'm filing these ideas away. WE are talking about screening in the back patio, and we'd like to do windows, but it'll be too costly right now. This sounds like a good compromise. Thanks!