A pressure-treated screened porch costs less than composite alternatives, making it an affordable option for homeowners in Montgomery County, MD and Fairfax County, VA. However, your final investment depends on several factors including size, materials, and local labor costs. Understanding these variables helps you budget accurately for this popular outdoor living upgrade.

Pressure-Treated Screened Porch Cost in MD & VA

Size

The bigger a screen porch design, the more it will cost to build. The average price for a screened porch in Montgomery County, a screen room in Virginia, or another screened enclosure in Washington, DC is about $170 per square foot minimum. This is for a barebones screened room made with pressure-treated wood and a SCREENEZE porch screening system.

In practice, the costs are surprisingly affordable. The typical or average size of a screened porch in Maryland is 16’ x 16’ for a total of 256 square feet. For non-elevated basic porches without costly add-ons, the total cost of a porch in Virginia (or elsewhere in the DMV) hovers around $45,000.

Height, or "How much does it cost to build stairs for a porch?"

While ground-level porches are relatively affordable, elevated porch designs do incur additional costs. To build a landing and stairs for a heightened patio or porch, expect to pay $6,000 or more on top of an original estimate.

Electrical Upgrades

Ceiling fans, low-voltage lighting packages (like those from Trex), electric heaters (like Heatstrip USA and Infratech heaters), and outdoor televisions are just a few of the many electrical upgrades DMV area homeowners can add to their screened porches. The cost of these upgrades vary greatly - an outdoor ceiling fan can run a couple hundred dollars, while Infratech heaters a couple thousand - but are a common, simple way to impress guests and enhance the livability factor of your room.

Average Total Cost

Most standard pressure-treated screened-in porches will run around $40,000 on the low-end, but can easily exceed $60,000 on the higher end with added porch features and deck accessories. This is to say that building a porch with pressure-treated wood is one of the most cost-effective ways to add an additional "room" to your home.

To emphasize this, consider that the average cost of converting an attic into a bedrooms is over $60,000 in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

What Other Factors Drive the Cost of a Pressure-Treated Screened-In Porch?

The number of high-end screen porch accessories and customizations is virtually limitless. Here are a few more common price drivers to keep in mind when you're getting an estimate or considering your screened porch options:

• Railings - Many homeowners who are building a pressure-treated screened porch in Maryland or Virginia opt to use pressure-treated railings as well, which may or may not be required by your local laws. Vinyl railings are also a popular upgrade and alternative.

• Roofing - This often depends on the roofing your home already has. After all, you want this new porch to fit in seamlessly, not stick out like a sore thumb. Luckily, the most common roofing on homes is also among the least expensive: asphalt shingle roofing. However, you may also opt for gable roofing, metal roofing, and a plain shed roof.

• Other Electrical Features – Want to add sconce lights to your columns, or low-voltage lighting features? Heaters are also popular additions as they expand a room's usability to year-round. Outdoor televisions by SunBriteTV are another frequently seen luxury add-on.

• Ceiling – Do you want a standard plywood ceiling? Or would you like to upgrade to something fancier like a cedar ceiling? Or even metal? There are many options that can help you reach the aesthetic you want, but they may add to your final bottom-line. Consider beadboard ceilings for a classy, finished look at a reasonable price.

The best way to get the pressure-treated screen room you want at a price you can afford is to be upfront with your contractor about your budget, and to find a professional who will take the time to discuss how you will use the space. An experienced, worthwhile contracting professional will be able to help you find a balance between your budget and the features you desire to ensure your dream porch comes to fruition.