OT: Screened Porch addition

[BhamDawg91]

In Alabama. Looking to add on to existing porch and screen in. Will have to add cement slab for floor to match existing one and roof over new addition. Have 1 estimate so far at almost $200 per sq foot. Only putting screen up on 10 ft section of existing porch. The rest of the existing porch will be connected to where the new addition is. Adding a couple of electrical outlets, ceiling fan and moving a post. Nothing fancy but was not expecting that much since the same guy built another screened porch for us at our old house 20 years ago for $36 per square foot. Obviously have to get more estimates but I know this guys work first hand. We are not in a rush to do it so time is not an issue. I just can’t believe prices are this high. Am I crazy or is this the new normal? Anybody have an idea of reasonable cost per sq ft for something like this?

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

What is the actual square footage?

Price per square foot is a really number to go with... There are so many variables. Post some drawings. Sketches are fine, just need dimensions on the existing porch and new addition. Take a photo of what you have now to.. I can do a half *** take off and give you a ballpark on materials. Unless you are under 50 square feet, I think you are getting the high end of the spectrum.

Screened porch is not an expensive project unless you start getting into some engineering in the roof.

Also list the types of materials (ie. Asphalt shingles, pressure treated posts, tile floor.)

Just remember, if he is using trades for stuff like tile and concrete, they are probably going to have $1500-$2000 minimums.

 

[BhamDawg91]

So existing is approx 170 sq feet. A 10ft section will be screened. The new addition will be 170 sq feet. 3 sides will be screened. 10x17x10. So the total screen in section. 20 feet x 17x 10 feet. Total area for both 340 sq feet. Roof is over the existing but will have to be remodeled to cover both new and old. I will try to
Add a drawing in a little bit.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

So $68,000 for a screened in porch?

 

[ronpolk]

I got 5 quotes recently to paint the outside of my house. 1 was outrageous and the other 4 was in line with about what I expected. The outrageous was double everything else, which came from the guy that was most highly recommended.

My personal thought is that lots of people are doing home renovations/additions right now and most good contractors are flush with work. I think they feel they got enough in the pipeline that they can price a higher right now because it ain’t gonna kill them to miss out on the job. I could be dead wrong on that though.

 

[RocketDawg]

So $68,000 for a screened in porch?

That's "a little" steep for a screened in porch. Probably off by a factor of 3 or 4. Small jobs will, of course, be more per square foot, but what he's doing isn't a finished room.

 

[BhamDawg91]

So $68,000 for a screened in porch?

No. 34

 

[LBCJ5]

If you can send me a sketch I will do you a plan. No charge for brother dogs.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

This is great. Depending on what LBCJ5 comes up with, I would guess $18 -20k is what I would budget at today's material/labor prices hiring it out. $10-12k doing it yourself. (Unless you are using cypress or WRC.)

One thing to consider Bham is you are going from a 10*17 to a 20*17 roof structure. It gets awful tough to reach those spans without engineered wood unless you are cool with 3 columns in the middle of the porch. You also get into some material waste as 17 is the worst length.

When possible, try to keep spans in the 14' to 16' range max if you want to keep budgets lower. But I am just guessing at this point.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

200 x 340 ?

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

340 is the total sf. Only 170 sf is new. 200*170... It took me a minute too...

 

[grinnindawg]

We're adding a 10'x20' addition with a 4x8 "hardened pantry" onto our den in Madison Al. $34,500($175/sq ft).
We signed the contract before covid hit, so things have likely changed.

$200 a square foot seems high for a porch. I'd be renting a concrete mixer and getting a couple of pallets of bags delivered.

 

[Sienfield]

I recently had a screen porch added to the back of my house. This was during the high cost of lumber. It is 16 ft by 34 ft with brick columns, lights, ceiling fans, and outlets. This was over an existing deck. I could only get one bid so I went with it. Cost me $36,000.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Bham, Seinfeld's post made me think a little. His project was basically a home addition without walls. When I think porch, I am thinking of a small simple structure. something bigger would fall into covered patio or deck. I have not been in the deep south in 20 years, Texas has a little different vernacular.

If you are doing something along the lines of a flat roof structure like this,that just butts up to an existing eve, I think you should expect to really hunt down a few more quotes.

View attachment 21122

But if it's more of a gabled roof tied into the existing roofline to look like one seamless roof original to the house, well your quote may not be so offensive. Especially if you have nice finishes. So if you're project is more like the ones below, $30k isn't crazy in today's market.

View attachment 21124

View attachment 21125

 

[dawgman.sixpack]

Just be sure to use Screen Tight to attach your screen.

 

[BhamDawg91]

LBCJ5. Here are some rough sketches.

View attachment 21144View attachment 21145

Hope these work.

 

[T-TownDawgg]

Aggregate size in the bags in usually #78 or #89. Too small. Also, those bags have zero admixtures you'd need for a pour that size.

Use a ready mix supplier. I would use bagged concrete mix for small pads or fence posts, not for a structural slab I include for my living space.

 

[T-TownDawgg]

^^This. Please don't let some redneck just pop an occasional staple in some batting strips to secure the screen.

Also, I've learned the hard way to over-engineer the door. Use solid hardwood, and sandwich some sturdy 1/4" grid "rabbit pen" wire between 2 screen layers on the door, or else a careless neanderthal or some snot-nosed kid will punch through it the first week, guaranteed.

 

[LBCJ5]

Cool bro/or sister. I'll do what I can with what you posted here then we'll tweak it.

 

[LBCJ5]

Hey JLS I'll send you PDF's for critique if that's ok?

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

For sure. I will check spans.... It'll be a SPS barn raising by the time we are through.****

 

[BhamDawg91]

One thing to consider Bham is you are going from a 10*17 to a 20*17 roof structure. It gets awful tough to reach those spans without engineered wood unless you are cool with 3 columns in the middle of the porch. You also get into some material waste as 17 is the worst length.

When possible, try to keep spans in the 14' to 16' range max if you want to keep budgets lower. But I am just guessing at this point.

The only reason I went with 17 ft. is because that is the size of the existing porch. He didn’t seem concerned about it. But it could explain why it’s higher than I expected.

 

[LBCJ5]

Check PM

 

[jethreauxdawg]

You also get into some material waste as 17 is the worst length.

This is important. At my first house I built a very nice deck. I laid it out to fit symmetrical against the back of the house. Came out to be 33 feet wide. I had so much waste. Learned a lot though.
As a general side note to the OP. Make this decision based on what it will add to your enjoyment of the house. Don’t think it will add value when it comes time to sell. At my last house I built a nice covered outdoor area and appraisers didn’t care. Your situation may be different because it appears to be nicer than what I did, but I was told only heated/cooled sqf matter.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

If you will be in this house long term (20 plus years), build it twice as big as you think you want it. It's not going to get cheaper to build and you be glad you have move space.