If you live in the Maryland, Virgina, DC area, and are entertaining the idea of building an outdoor screen room, you want to invest in creating a space that's as functional year-round as possible. This translates to designing a screened porch area that's comfortable and usable for as many months of the year as you can. Luckily, there are many ways to ensure your outdoor living space is fortified against bugs and the elements.

Both fixed and retractable screened porches offer distinct advantages for Montgomery County and Fairfax County homeowners. Fixed screens provide durability and year-round protection, while retractable options deliver flexibility and unobstructed views. Your choice depends on climate needs, maintenance preferences, and how you plan to use your outdoor space. Design Builders helps local homeowners select the right solution for their lifestyle.

Screens are a polarizing backyard feature. While many homeowners don't mind or even notice porch screens because the latest deck screening technology is so see-through, others detest them, viewing them as distracting barriers between them and their enjoyment of the beautiful outdoors.

How to Qualify a High-End Screen Room Builder

        When you’re in the market for a high-end screen porch, your options can feel overwhelming. Adding an extension to your home is a big decision and, when it's as visible as a screen room, you want to ensure you're choosing the most qualified, professional, and knowledgeable contractor possible. With so many design firms, architects, and contractors active in the DMV, how do you know you’re actually getting the best?

5 Trending Deck, Porch, and Outdoor Living Trends for 2020

Now is a great time to start thinking about how you want to increase the appeal of your outdoor living space. With that in mind, the following are some trends to watch in 2020 for your deck, porch, or other outdoor living area.

 Design Build Blog:  How a Fiberon Deck Looks After 3 Years

One of the most common questions we hear at Design Builders is: "How will my deck hold up over time?" It's a smart question—you're investing $20,000 to $80,000 in your outdoor space, and you want to know it'll still look great years down the road.

Today, we're revisiting several decks we built 3-5 years ago in Montgomery County and Fairfax County to show you exactly how different materials age in our Maryland and Virginia climate. No marketing hype, no staged photos—just real-world results from actual client projects.

Composite Decking After 3 Years: The Clear Winner for Low Maintenance

We built a 480 square foot Trex deck in Bethesda in spring 2022. The homeowners chose the Havana Gold color in Trex's Transcend line. Here's what it looks like after three Maryland summers:

The Good:

• Color virtually unchanged (maybe 5% lighter, barely noticeable)
• No splintering, cracking, or warping
• Stains from kids' popsicles and dropped food cleaned right off
• No maintenance beyond occasional hosing down

The Not-So-Good:

• Some light scratching near the grill from dragged furniture
• Slight fading on south-facing boards (to be expected)
• One board developed minor cupping (replaced under warranty)

Maintenance Required: Zero. Literally just occasional power washing.

Client's Assessment: "We'd build it the same way again in a heartbeat. The lack of maintenance alone is worth the investment."

Pressure-Treated Wood After 3 Years: Depends Heavily on Maintenance

In 2021, we built a 600 sq ft pressure-treated pine deck in Gaithersburg. The homeowner chose natural wood specifically because he enjoys the maintenance ritual and wanted the authentic wood look.

With Annual Maintenance (This Client):

• Cleaned and re-stained every spring
• Tightened any loose boards
• Replaced a few cupped boards (normal with PT wood)
• Overall appearance: Excellent—looks almost new

Without Proper Maintenance (We've Seen Others):

• Gray weathering within 18 months
• Splintering starting by year 2
• Some boards starting to cup or crack
• Fasteners showing rust stains

Maintenance Required:

• Annual cleaning and staining: 8-12 hours labor + $200-400 in materials
• Board inspection and replacement as needed
• Fastener check and tightening

Client's Assessment: "I love working on it each spring. It's therapeutic for me. But I totally understand why people choose composite."

TimberTech (Azek) After 3 Years: Premium Performance

One of our Potomac clients chose TimberTech's Azek Vintage collection in Mahogany for their 520 sq ft deck in early 2022. This is the premium end of composite decking.

The Results:

• Color retention: Exceptional (truly looks brand new)
• Heat retention: Moderate (stays cooler than earlier composite materials)
• Scratch resistance: Very good (some light scratches but barely visible)
• Stain resistance: Excellent (wine spills, grill grease—all cleaned off)

Maintenance Required: Quarterly washing with mild soap and water

Client's Assessment: "Worth the extra investment. We're outside constantly and it still looks perfect."

Ipe (Brazilian Hardwood) After 3 Years: Beautiful But High Maintenance

We built an Ipe deck in Chevy Chase in 2020. At over $16 per square foot just for materials, this 400 sq ft deck represented a significant investment.

With Proper Oiling (Twice Yearly):

• Gorgeous rich brown color maintained
• No structural issues whatsoever
• Extremely dense and durable
• Premium look that composite can't match

Without Oiling (We've Seen Examples):

• Beautiful silver-gray patina develops
• Some clients love this weathered look
• Others disappointed by color change
• Still structurally perfect

Maintenance Required:

• Oil every 6 months: 6-8 hours labor + $150-200 in oil
• OR accept natural graying

Client's Assessment: "It's absolutely beautiful and we love it, but the maintenance is real. If we were building again, we'd seriously consider high-end composite."