5 tips for planning your screened porch

WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SUMMER, WE ALL WANT TO COOK ON THE BBQ AND ENJOY THE TERRACE. IN THE LAURENTIANS, INSECTS ARE PLENTIFUL AND PRESENT ALL SUMMER LONG, ESPECIALLY IN THE LARGE WOODED AREAS SET BACK FROM THE REGION’S VILLAGES. A SCREENED-IN PORCH IS A GREAT WAY TO ENJOY THE SUMMER WHILE BEING SAFE FROM THESE TROUBLESOME VISITORS. HERE ARE 5 TIPS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING A SCREENED VERANDA.

Position it well

Some like to enjoy the terrace at breakfast in the morning. Others prefer it at the end of the day, for aperitifs or supper. Depending on your habits, you can plan your terrace to face east, to maximize the morning sun, or west, to take advantage of the evening sun.

The right size

We recommend a minimum space of 10 x 12 feet. This is enough space for a small table, an armchair or two deckchairs. For greater comfort, we recommend a 12 x 16 foot veranda, which can accommodate more furniture and more people at the same time.

Think about guardrails

A veranda has to be safe. Sometimes it can be built at ground level, but sometimes it can be several feet above ground level. In the case of our sloping lots in the Laurentians, this is quite common. In such cases, you’ll need a guardrail, just as you would for a terrace at the same height. Low walls can also be used to support the screens.

Lighting and heating

This room deserves to be lit, just like the rest of the house. This aspect needs to be considered when planning the space. There are a number of attractive, specialized outdoor lighting fixtures available, or recessed lighting can be incorporated. To extend the season and increase comfort on colder evenings, patio heaters or a fireplace can also be installed in the veranda.

Easy-to-replace mosquito nets

We recommend the use of aluminum-framed tensioned screens for easy replacement in the event of breakage. Generally speaking, glaziers can manufacture this type of screen up to 4×8 feet. For larger screens, turn to specialized manufacturers like Exosystème.
They also offer the option of retractable systems.