RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--According to local deck and porch designing experts, screened porches have been making a strong comeback. However, what was once a practical necessity is today becoming a more luxurious amenity for homeowners who are interested in jazzing up their screened porches with their own personalized style or transforming them to match their living standards. Ed Overberger, an Archadeck consultant, says recent trends indicate that homeowners are looking for ways to extend the use of their screened porches. "It's simple – homeowners are using their screened porches more and want to prolong their outdoor living time. With so many upgrade choices for screened porches available now – especially for playrooms, shelter for pets, or entertainment rooms – the process is easy," Overberger said. Screened porches were very popular before air conditioning became mainstream in the early 1960s, Overberger said. Porches acted as an extension of the home that provided cool temperatures during warm months, as well as a venue for family dinners and gatherings. The following are porch upgrades residents can keep in mind when choosing which screened porch is best suited for them: An entry level screened porch with stapled screen and pressure-treated lumber. A screened porch which uses more modern mechanically fastened screen for easy repair and replacement. A low-maintenance screened porch with aluminum inserts with vinyl or aluminum components to reduce maintenance. A Three-Season Porch that offers a traditional porch similar to the one your grandmother might have had. It is made of wood and is mostly cedar and traditional in appearance. A Three-Season Porch option which uses all low maintenance materials, such as aluminum and vinyl for more a more contemporary low maintenance porch. Most consumers do not realize that when they are planning for a screened porch, they can upgrade it to a Three-Season Porch for a modest amount of money, simply by adding glass or acrylic storm panels. For this process, screen panels are replaced with storm panels. Then, the porch can be used more throughout the year – two extra months in the spring and two extra months in the fall.
