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⎯ Covered Deck Vs Screened Porch⎯

Covered Deck vs. Screened Porch

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    ⁃ Chattanooga, TN ⁃

    Open Deck, Covered Deck, or Screened Porch?

    Most homeowners start out picturing a deck and end up asking whether they should cover it. It's the right question, and the answer usually comes down to one thing: what's actually keeping you off the space you have now.

    Each of the three is a real answer to a different problem. Below is what each one solves, what it costs relative to the others, and how to tell which one you're actually after.

    ⁃ What Each One Solves ⁃

    Three Different Answers

    Open deck

    Solves: not having outdoor space at all.

    The baseline and the least expensive. Full sun, full sky, nothing between you and the yard. Perfect in spring and fall, harder to use in a July afternoon or a rainstorm. Best when the deck already gets natural shade, or when you mostly use it in the evening.

    Custom decks →

    Covered deck

    Solves: sun and rain.

    A roof over some or all of the deck. Rain stops ending the evening, and the surface stays cool enough to walk on in August. You keep the open sides and the breeze. This is the most common upgrade we build, and it roughly doubles the number of days a deck gets used.

    Covered decks →

    Screened porch

    Solves: insects.

    A covered structure with screened walls. Everything a covered deck gives you, plus you can actually sit out at dusk in July without being eaten alive. The tradeoff is that it feels more like a room and less like being outside.

    Screened porches →

    ⁃ Side by Side ⁃

    How They Compare

     Open deckCovered deckScreened porch
    Relative costBaselineSignificantly moreMost
    Usable in rainNoYesYes
    Usable in hard sunLimitedYesYes
    Usable at dusk in summerDepends on mosquitoesDepends on mosquitoesYes
    Open feelCompleteMostlyPartial
    Furniture stays outNoMostlyYes
    Blocks light indoorsNoSome, depending on designSome
    Permit & structureStandardRoof structure, heavier postsRoof plus framed walls

    One thing worth knowing: a roof over part of the deck is a common middle path. You get covered space for the table and open deck for the grill and the sun, without paying to cover the whole footprint.

    ⁃ Making the Call ⁃

    What's Actually Keeping You Inside?

    The fastest way to decide is to think about the last few times you wanted to be outside and weren't.

    Go with a covered deck if

    • Afternoon sun is the reason you don't use the space
    • Rain regularly cuts an evening short
    • You want to leave furniture out year-round
    • You'd like to grill without standing in the weather
    • Your lot is open with little natural shade — common in Ooltewah and the newer subdivisions

    Go with a screened porch if

    • Mosquitoes are genuinely the deciding factor
    • You're on a wooded lot or near water
    • You want to eat outside in the evening in July
    • You'd use it as a real room, not just a place to stand
    • You're in Soddy-Daisy or anywhere near the lake, where this comes up constantly

    And if none of those describe the problem — if you just want more outdoor space and the weather isn't what's stopping you — an open deck is the right answer and you'll save real money.

    Not sure which one you want? We'll walk the space with you, look at where the sun falls and how the roofline works, and tell you honestly which one solves your problem. Free written estimates.

    Get an Estimate Call 423-356-5282

    What Covering a Deck Actually Involves

    A roof isn't an accessory bolted onto a deck. It's a second structure, and it changes what's underneath it.

    The posts carry more. A deck designed for people and furniture isn't automatically sized to carry a roof, snow load, and wind uplift. Covered structures need heavier posts and often deeper footings.

    It has to tie into the existing roofline. This is where covered decks succeed or look bolted on. Pitch, fascia detail, and where the new roof meets the house all determine whether it reads as original. It's the part we spend the most design time on.

    It affects the light indoors. A roof over a deck outside a kitchen window will darken that room. Sometimes noticeably. Worth thinking about before, not after — and there are design choices that mitigate it.

    Permitting is more involved. A roofed structure gets more scrutiny than an open deck, and HOA review committees care more about it because it's visible and permanent. More on permits and HOA approval →

    Adding it later

    You can cover a deck after the fact, and plenty of people do. It costs more in total than building it covered from the start, because of the second mobilization and because the original framing may need reinforcing to carry a roof it wasn't designed for. More on phasing a project →

    If there's any chance you'll cover it eventually, say so during the estimate. We'll size the posts and footings for it now, which costs relatively little at build time and saves a substantial amount later.

    Screening an existing covered deck

    If you already have a roof, adding screen walls is comparatively straightforward — framing the openings and installing the screen system. That's the cheapest path to a screened porch, and it's worth knowing if you're deciding whether to cover a deck now.

    Where We Build

    Based in Chattanooga, building across Hamilton County and into North Georgia.

    See all service areas →  ·  What does a deck cost? →  ·  Composite or wood? →  ·  How long does it take? →

    ⁃ Common Questions ⁃

    Covered Deck & Screened Porch FAQ

    What's the difference between a covered deck and a screened porch?
    A covered deck has a roof and open sides. A screened porch has a roof and screened walls. The roof handles sun and rain; the screen handles insects. If mosquitoes are what keeps you inside on a July evening, only the screened version solves it.
    How much more does a covered deck cost than an open one?
    Substantially more, because a roof is a second structure — framing, roofing, heavier posts, and often deeper footings. Screening adds more on top of that. The exact figure depends on how much of the deck you cover and how the roof ties into the house, which is why we quote it after seeing the property.
    Can I cover only part of my deck?
    Yes, and it's a popular middle path. Cover the section where the table goes and leave the rest open for sun and the grill. You get most of the benefit for less than covering the whole footprint, and it often looks better than a roof over the entire deck.
    Will a covered deck make my house darker inside?
    It can, particularly if the deck is outside a room with large windows. How much depends on the roof pitch, the depth of the cover, and orientation. It's worth raising during design — there are ways to mitigate it, including skylights, a shallower cover, or a clear or translucent roof section.
    Can I add a roof to my existing deck?
    Often, but the existing structure has to be evaluated first. A deck built for people and furniture isn't necessarily sized to carry a roof plus wind and snow load. Posts, footings, and the ledger connection all need checking. Sometimes reinforcement is straightforward; sometimes it isn't worth it compared to rebuilding.
    Can I screen in a deck that already has a roof?
    Usually yes, and it's the least expensive path to a screened porch. It means framing the openings and installing a screen system. If you're deciding whether to cover a deck now, knowing that screening is a straightforward addition later is useful.
    Do covered decks need a permit?
    Yes, and roofed structures generally get more scrutiny than open decks. HOA architectural review committees also care more about them, since they're permanent and visible from the street. We handle permitting and prepare the HOA submission as part of the project.
    Which one holds up best in this climate?
    A roof protects the deck surface from sun and rain, which extends the life of the decking itself — composite or wood. A screened porch protects it further. It's a secondary benefit rather than a reason to cover, but it's real.

    ⁃ Where We Build ⁃

    We Serve These Areas

    Based in Chattanooga, building across Hamilton County and into North Georgia.

    Signal MountainSteep lots, brow-lot views, and heavy tree cover. Elevated builds and cable railing. Lookout MountainExposed rock, historic homes, and architectural review. We build both TN and GA sides. OoltewahNewer subdivisions, open sun, and HOA approvals. Replacing builder-grade decks. HixsonEstablished neighborhoods with aging wood decks. Replacements and two-level builds. Soddy-DaisyLarger rural lots near the lake. Screened porches and detached structures. Red BankClose-in lots with sloping rear yards. Getting more from a smaller footprint.

    See all service areas →