If you’re thinking about adding a screened porch on to your home this coming year, don’t you wish you had an uncle or friend in the business to give you the scoop on what you may want to incorporate into your porch? You want really good insight without being sold. You want someone to point you in the direction of who to call, where to look, and what to expect. At Archadeck of Kansas City, our clients will tell you that our only focus is in building a porch or outdoor space for how you want to live. In fact, if you call us for a free consultation and your first question is whether you should use wood or composite, we won’t answer you – at least at that point. We will ask you how you plan to use the porch, how long you’re going to be in your house, and whether or not you want to paint or stain every year or every couple years. We will ask if you plan on eating on your porch, watching the fire or TV on your porch, and how many people you plan on entertaining. If we build a space that looks pretty and uses lots of nifty materials but you never use it, then we have failed. But, once we work through how you want to live in your new space, here are some things we’ll share with you about the types of porches we’re building for our local area clients.

Flooring

Synthetic decking  offers tremendous advantages over traditional wood floors. Some of these products have extensive factory warranties. They are available in a wide variety of colors to suit almost any taste or design scheme and they require very little maintenance. Complete the room with a few throw rugs and you have a floor that looks like one that could easily be in an interior room.

Ceilings

Do you love the airy, expansive feeling of vaulted ceilings? They used to be almost unheard of on screened porches completed 20-30 years ago. Now a vaulted ceiling style seems to be the most requested. Clients who have similar ceilings inside their home often like to carry the style into their outdoor space. Alternately, people who have flat interior ceilings may enjoy having the extra space and light they provide on their porch.

Railings

Railings used to be an afterthought on many outdoor living projects, but they too have improved dramatically by the development of synthetic building materials. The railings are typically right up against screens and are one of the first areas of a porch that get wet from the rain. This makes railings another great candidate for using a synthetic material.

Outdoor Fireplaces

Although still a significant expense, improvements in fireplace inserts have made an outdoor fireplace more affordable. If you decide to add a gas fireplace on your porch, you have a choice between vented or ventless and can choose from several different heat-resistant materials for the front. Brick, stone and wood are all options that can be used for your outdoor porch fireplace. Regardless of the type you pick, the fireplace will extend the season for using your porch and add to the room’s warmth and ambiance.

Wire it for sound, and amenities

Consumer electronics are available almost everywhere we go and the porch is no exception. Surround sound speakers, televisions, and custom lighting can all be incorporated into the design of your porch so you can enjoy your favorite activities inside or out. Your music, TV, lights, and even your gas fireplace can all be controlled via remote – very convenient.

Custom furnishings

Many of today’s custom screened porches can provide protection from roughly 90% of inclement weather. This allows our customers much more latitude in choosing furnishings for their new living space. Both traditional and all-weather wicker are attractive, affordable and low-maintenance. You’ll see sofas appointed and accessorized with beautiful all-weather outdoor fabric from companies like Sunbrella. In addition, your protection from the elements also allows you to freely use more decorative touches like baskets and candles.

If you’re considering the addition of an outdoor fireplace – or a deck, porch, patio or other outdoor living structure – to your Kansas City area home, give us a call at (913) 851-3325 for a free consultation or email us at kansascity@archadeck.net. We look forward to your call.