We are in SE Michigan and are in the process of having our main deck (4-5 feet off the ground) covered and it will become a 3-season porch. As the contactor is taking a very long time, we have had time to reflect on what is being done. We now wonder if we should have foam board insulation put under the deck boards, but don’t want to look at that pink color for ever. If this a good idea or not? Short of having to put down a floor on top of a perfectly good deck, any thoughts for us. Thanks.
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If you leave the floor open, won't it be an awfully short 3 season porch? That is, the beginning of Spring and the end of Fall are going to be a might chilly and a bit drafty, shortening the usability of your porch. No?
Besides, what are you going to use to keep rodents, snakes, bugs, etc, out of the now covered (if not comfy) porch? Nice place to winter over for all your nature neighbors.
I didn't give all the details. Currently there are plans to run screening under the porch towards the end of the project, after all the sawdust has been swept/blown off. There are solid walls with windows/screens, doorwall with screen and skylights. I just got to thinking about looking at the pink styrafoam insulation through the cracks...ugh.
OK. That makes sense. I was thinking back to my own experience with a 3 season room and ruing the errors I made in building it. Lots of glass, skylights, and a big french door leading to the outside deck - but no heat. Finally retro'd that.
Pella was the first mistake (after thinking all that work and $ was worth it for 3 seasons in Connecticut). Fell for Pella's advertising campaign years ago and spent a small fortune on their stuff. The skylights wore out within 10 years and leaked water like a sieve (new ceiling for that); the french door rubber molding is falling out and falling apart (no replacement parts available); screen doors are shot too - hinges rusting out, screens failing (no replacement parts there either); seals on casement windows exposed to sunlight are failing too (yup, no replacement parts).
On reflection, heat was the second mistake.
Pardon my venting. Good luck with your project. Hope it works for you.
Er, just a suggestion. Make sure you can upgrade (easily) to heat while you have the chance. You don't know how you're going to feel in 10 years. Y'know?Griff
I guess I don't know what you are having done, but I question its overall effectiveness.
If you are having a roof and some screening put up, then you won't truly have three seasons.
If you are having a roof and some real walls put up, then you need to be VERY CAREFUL concerning what kind of foundation is under your deck. You could find the entire room sinking into the dirt in a short time. A real room weighs a LOT, and a few 4X4's, with minimal concrete, probably aren't sufficient.
And if, as the other reply noted, you are having anything done without adressing the openings in the flooring, then you will be quite dissapointed in the mosquito population in your new "room".
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
Five new footings are in place to hold the extra weight of the walls, windows, doorwall and skylights, and there are plans for screening underneath when all the sawdust making is over. The space between the deck boards are about 1/2 inch or so, which would make any pink styrafoam insulation very visible.
I live about 500 miles due south, so I don't know your environment. So I will just make an observation. This also makes the assumption that I understand your description and conditions.
I can't imagine what an inch (+/-) of insulation board will do for you that painted plywood won't do better. I understand the insulation value of the board may seem necessary, but consider your description - windows, doors and skylights! Sounds like a delightful room, but it is shot with holes! And unless I missed it, it is to be an unconditioned (heated/cooled) space. Seems like you will be hard pressed to come up with much of an R value this material might contribute. Unless the walls and ceiling are heavily insulated, the floor doesn't matter - just stop the draft and bugs with the plywood. Paint it black and you won't see what is between the cracks.
Also, if you don't support the foam board with some sort of solid backing, I think you will eventually find that the ground has taken on a pink color that you can now admire through the cracks. Wind velocity over and around objects can really do destructive things to buildings including foam board. Down here we refer to it as a hurricane.
Your worried about looking at the pink styro but what about the stuff that falls inbetween the floor boards?
On the plus side, Eventually it will hide the pink!
Doug
You could run black plastic then use the pink board cut to friction fit.
ANDYSZ2
I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.
Remodeler/Punchout
For all those who responded about the 3-season room situation - some good thoughts came in. For the time being, screening is being stapled underneath to keep out the bugs and then we will use the room for this summer and then evaluate IF we want underfloor insulation, possibly plywood painted black and then cover the top deck board with T&G. Thanks to all.
I'm not an expert....just giving my two cents. We're building a screened in porch off the back of our house 16x 22. (got my permit) I have trusses being held up by LVLs. (its inclosed) I'm just going to put screen on he sides to keep the bugs out.
The floor is my problem. I haven't decided what to do. I don't want decking . So I'm leaning toward putting down regular subfloor over the joists. (its 4 ft off the ground)The trick seems what to put on top of the subfloor. What I may end up doing is using lauan (I'm not spelling it right) and seal it with urthane. I prefere a cabin floor look.
I priced T & G treated porch flooring at $2.50 sq. ft. You could go that route.
just my two cents
Fine Homebuilding in a recent issure covered the topic of screened in porches. Go to the archives at Taunton Home and you can buy back issues or the articles themselves. FHB #170