How tough (i.e., expensive) is it to enclose a Trex deck? (flooring, roof)
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I have a 5 y.o. Trex deck off my house, but I really want a screened porch or sun room. Right now there is no shade, so the deck gets too hot to use most months, and too wet the rest of the year. Can I have a porch or sunroom built on the Trex flooring, or will I need something more substantial to attach the framing?
If you've done a project like this I'd love to hear about it!
You'd more than likely need a much more substantial support structure than what a deck is built on. Figure on tearing it all out and starting from scratch.
I have a 5 y.o. Trex deck off my house, but I really want a screened porch or sun room. Right now there is no shade, so the deck gets too hot to use most months, and too wet the rest of the year. Can I have a porch or sunroom built on the Trex flooring, or will I need something more substantial to attach the framing?
If you've done a project like this I'd love to hear about it!
Answers depend on how it's framed.
You won't likely be able to just build up from the deck... that would not be strong. But you may not have to tear it all out either. You may likely have to put in some new supports underneath, may have to run some new posts up through the deck to support a roof structure.
Definitely need to have a contractor look at it, and give you a bid.
I support covered spaces outside. Just spent a bunch of money on my own wrap around deck. Good luck!
A screened in porch ? Sure, not too hard. You're just talking about some 4 x 4 posts and some screen material, and some sort of roof assembly. If the deck can't support those things, then it can't support you!
You can actually buy pre-fab screen porch kits at Lowe's and Home Depot. Depending on the size and style, it would cost about $2k on the low end, up to $5k.
A sunroom is harder, assuming that we are talking about something that has more of the character of an interior room, with finished surfaces and windows that can be closed in inclement/cold weather. A sun room wouldn't really be built on top of the deck, you'd have to start from scratch, because your porch deck isn't moisture proof and for a sun room you would need the floor, walls, and roof to be so.
Personally I love old-fashioned screened in porches. Remind me of summers at the lake as a kid. The more modern gazebos and awning are cute, but you they don't keep out the bugs. Screened porches also usually have enough of a roof to keep rain out so you can still sit outside and enjoy a summer rain, and if it's windy you don't have leaves and stuff blowing at you.
You won't likely be able to just build up from the deck... that would not be strong. But you may not have to tear it all out either. You may likely have to put in some new supports underneath, may have to run some new posts up through the deck to support a roof structure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke
You can do pole building type construction around the deck to enclose it.
I've got a trex deck that has been enclosed into a sun porch. There is a sturdy foundation around the edge to support the building.
Most likely your deck has a foundation calculated to support the weight of the deck, not the very high additional weight of an enclosed building.
You'd more than likely need a much more substantial support structure than what a deck is built on. Figure on tearing it all out and starting from scratch.
OMG. Well, that's a non-starter. The deck is only a few years old and in good shape. I just want a screen room; maybe one with plexi panels I could put up in wintertime to keep the wind from blowing through.
Wow djmilf, those awnings are very dramatic. I would just worry that they would collect pine needles and bird droppings very quickly. I think I'm looking for something more permanent & substantial.
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