What Will My Screen Porch Design Cost Me?

Screened porches blend the pros of outdoor living with the comfort of the indoors, allowing you to enjoy spring breezes and fresh air without the presence of pesky insects, unrelenting sunlight, and blustery rainstorms. When designed correctly, screened porches can be used throughout the year as a place where your family can relax, read, and entertain friends.

If you're interested in building a screened porch in Virginia or Maryland, your first step is to create a design. But you're probably wondering the big questions: How much does a screen porch design cost?

First Things First…Who Should I Hire to Design My Screen Porch?

So, who is the best person to help you design a screen porch?

Many believe only an architect has the skills, knowledge, and qualifications needed to design their porch. In most cases, though, hiring an architect is not the best choice for this type of project. Instead, it’s advisable to go through the contractor you're planning to hire to handle the actual construction. Here’s why:

Using your contractor saves you money.

Most contractors incorporate the cost of the design into the overall project cost. Contractors treat the amount you pay for the design plans as part of the down payment for the construction project, so you’ll be able to cut costs by using the same company for both design and construction.

Using your contractor improves continuity.

If your porch is built and designed by two different people or companies, odds are, some things are going to be lost in translation. It might not always be easy to interpret all the details and intentions of another’s design, and if issues are encountered during construction, it won’t always be clear who’s at fault for the problem: the designer or the contractor.

If your contractor is charged with both design and construction, that person will be in the best position to bring the screen porch to life the way it was meant to be.

Contractors have building experience.

Unlike architects, contractors have experience in the actual construction process of building a screen porch. They are often much better able to anticipate problems and to understand best practices for screen porch design.

Onto the Numbers! How Much Will the Screen Porch Design Cost?

Now you have an idea of who you want to hire for the job, but how much will the process of designing a screen porch actually cost you? There are two different types of plans, both with different average price points.

Preliminary plan.

A simple design rendering will typically cost around $250 to $500, depending on the project's complexity. Factors that can affect the overall cost of a basic plan include the following:

• Size of the porch
• Complexity of the electrical plan
• Whether an exterior deck is included
• Whether any alternations need to be performed on the house

Permit-ready plan.

If you want a full set of architectural plans that are ready to be presented to local jurisdiction for a permit, the price is a bit steeper. A permit-ready architectural plan for a designed porch can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000, depending on the complexity of the project.

These types of plans include layouts for each individual design component, including a foundation page, framing page, deck layout page, railing layout page, and roof framing plan.

Before you can start building your screened porch, you’ll generally need to produce this type of plan and have it approved by the city to make sure it complies with local building codes.

Want a Cost Estimate on Your Screen Porch Project?

If you're thinking about adding a screen porch to your Northern Virginia or Maryland home, you're probably wondering what that project is going to cost. Get a no-obligation screen porch quote today.

We're Design Builders, a custom high-end design and build firm specializing in outdoor living spaces. Whether we work on your next project or not, we'd love to answer your questions and assist you however we can!