Hot option for outdoor living Homeowners embrace open-a,ir porches

fN vv suBURBAN Atlanta business. ll'm seeing significant newfound interest in open-air porches. They are currently one of the hottest requests from my clients.

In recent years, probably 157o of the projects we built included a screened-in porch, but the dominance of screened-in porches has shifted to porches that are open. They offer desirable features for homeowners and sales opportunities for dealers.

Over the past two years we've built many different styles of open porches-porches with gable roofs, shed roofs, hip roofs, and the latest, flat roofs. Variations are numerous. We've had customers that want their porch painted, others who prefer stain, and some who ask for a combination of paint and stain. Furthermore, all of the desirable amenities of a screened porch can be built into an open porch. This includes electrical outlets, ceiling fan/light kit, TV, audio speakers, and a fireplace.

What's the difference between a screened-in porch and an open porch, besides one having screens and the other not? Both provide shade from sunshine and cover from precipitation, allowing for more use than from an exposed deck. When they are elevated like a deck, they often provide usable, rain-free space on the ground level.

A screened-in porch is an extension of a house projected outdoors. Compared to an open porch, it feels a little more enclosed and private.

An open porch is subtly different. It is like a piece of the outdoors brought partially inside. An open porch is cov- ered with a roof structure, yet psychologically has an open feeling. If a deck adjoins an open porch, as it often does, the usable outdoor living area is much larger than if it adjoins a screened-in porch-there's no door and wall dividing the two areas. Another advantage we see involves grilling, a common activity on a deck or porch. Grilling. serving. and eating are more informal without screened walls, and spills are less traumatic.

An open porch is like a park pavilion attached to a house. If that is too public and the homeowner wants a little privacy from neighbors, a sliding curtain can be installed as a separator. A curtain adds color, texture, and versatility to a porch.

There is at least one situation in which an open porch may not be

Siding And Trim Specifications And Coverage

advisable-if the back yard attracts a lot of mosquitoes or bugs. However, the homeowner can burn citronella candles or take other steps to minimize insect confrontations.

The maintenance needed for an open porch is similar to that for a screened-in porch, which is less maintenance than required for a fully exposed deck. The floor and railing of an open porch is not exposed to the elements like a deck; therefore, if the floor and railing is stained, the coating will protect and look great for years to come. If the ceiling is stained, there is a good chance it may never need to be re-stained.

Whether it includes an open porch, screened-in porch, pergola, or no overhead structure at all, an outdoor living area should be an inviting space. It should be a place where the homeowner wants to go, where family and visitors gravitate naturally because of its promise of pleasant comfort.

A good view and tasty grillings will certainly lure people onto the deck, but so will two other characteristics: building materials. appearance of wood. Vinyl and wood plastic composite decks can be very attractive-I've built many decks with them-but I try to steer my clients toward wood. Most of my projects are built of preserved lumber, but not the kind typically offered by treating companies. We work directly with dealers and sawmills to get high-grade lumber with vertical grain. Then we have it machined on the surfaces with rounded corners and tapered sides. The result is a very good-looking project that invites homeowners to make use of it.

A dark deck/porch can be spooky and hazardous. This is not the atmosphere wanted. Soft lights on steps, along railings, and on the porch roof will promote greater use of the deck.

We install LED lights instead of incandescent lights. Some LED bulbs do not attract bugs or they attract fewer bugs. We've come came across a couple of LEDs that are being advertised as bug repellent lights: Miracle LED 605023 LED light bulbs, Yellow, and Infinity LED Ultra bug light with 38 powerful LEDs. You may find others by doing some research of your own.

We've had good results by using Pharox 6 watt LED bulbs (this bulb is intended to replace a 60-watt incandescent bulb, although it only produces 360 lumens-less than half of what 60 watt incandescent would oroduce) and GE Reveal l0w, 400 lumens CFL (just a slightly higher output than the LED, it's marketed as a 40w replacement).

Offering open-air porches is valuable for contractors who are building outdoor spaces. If you are not talking with contractors about open-air porches, you and your customers may be losing out on jobs.

(1) lighting that adds practical elegance once the sun sets and

(2) natural

Another factor that can affect deck/porch usage is the material it's made of. I'm partial to the natural

- John Paulin is the owner of Tailor Decks, Statham, Ga, which he founded in 1994. One oJ his decks was chosen overall deck of the year in the 201 I competition of the North American Deck & Railing Association. He has also won the LongSullivan Award of the Southern Forest Products Association for his innovative use of southern pine.