Screened porch too small for a fireplace?

8 years ago

We want to build a screened porch and also love the smell of a wood burning fireplace. Do you think if we built a screened in porch that measures 16'6'x9'6' it is too small for a stone fireplace?

Also we were thinking about using 3 season windows ...if we do that, should we pay to insulate the deck floor?

Thoughts?

Featured Answer

grapefruit1_ar

8 years ago

To me, a screened porch and a three season room are totally different animals. It depends on where you live......we are in Pennsylvania. We have a screened porch and cannot imagine not having it! It is fabulous and used for dining, TV watching, relaxing, etc. We have the perfect set-up for a fireplace...there is already a flue there in a brick wall. We decided against it because once the days get shorter we would be less inclined to use it. With jobs, kids in activities, and other responsibilities, it would not get used as much as we thought. We are glad that we did not do it.

We have family and friends with three season rooms. They generally keep the windows closed! The sun heats it up, there is not enough breeze when the windows are open, so they abandon the room or have to run fans or air-conditioning in there. From our viewpoint, we are VERY glad that we never went the three season room route. However, your location may prove better for such a room. It is a tough decision.

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Comments (9)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
8 years ago
Don't think you can place a stone fireplace on top of a deck.

My not consider some of the better quality electric fireplaces for this situation.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
8 years ago
I agree this is probably not possible in a screened in porch. If you want to use the space for 3 seasons you will need insulation for sure so now it is no longer a screened in porch not really sure what you want to do. Maybe the best solution is an electric fireplace in the proch and a big firepit outside with seating .
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Hello the days are brightening up by now and I'm sure the room is looking less drab for it. However I think furniture rearranging will work wonders. You seem to have nice low window sills: show them off. If the sofa goes to the left between window and built-in unit you'll have a view out to the garden and more light in the room. Equally: can you fit the piano between the radiator and the double doors? Again: more light through the window. Low sills are a god-send, and so many of us are stuck with high ones. The room will feel more spacious with a good view to outdoors. The armchairs then: one to the left of the fireplace and one between the other window and piano. TV then between the two windows. (No shine on the screen) Does that fit maybe? Or do you need all five seats facing the TV? I rather like those stripy cushions. Can you find a striped wallpaper in matching colors and with an irregular pattern repeat for your accent wall? if going with wood floors how about a sheepskin rug for each of your doggies? Black or white. One last detail. A lower table for your side lamps would be good: At sofa arm or seat height. Coffee table could work in corner between window and new sofa position. Btw: I liked the suggestion to replace the cupboard doors above the fish tank with full-height ones. In some kitchen shops you can find ready-painted, wooden, panel doors that might fit. It's a long shot but you could be lucky. It would brighten up the corner if you got a light colour.
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PRO
Revolutionary Gardens
8 years ago
I'm not sure how it turned into a stone fireplace on a deck question; OP would just have a masonry fireplace built from the footer up, and the firebox is wherever it needs to be, vertically speaking. Framing comes around to meet the fireplace, depending on bearing members and the like. The challenge comes with the chimney height, especially if there's a higher floor on the house. How tall does it need to be to not conflict with upper windows?

The bigger issue is the space planning. OP, I think you'll find that the 9'-6" dimension is going to feel tight, and the space will maybe feel too elongated for a large focal point item like a fireplace. Think about how furniture is typically arranged to take advantage of a fireplace, then mark out that rectangle and do some mocking up. With dimensions like that you may look at having the fireplace at one end, which would mean you essentially have two smaller seating groupings when the fireplace is in use - one at the fireplace, one behind.

Talk to your contractor about the insulation angle. We generally don't insulate unconditioned spaces because a) we have to be a lot more cautious about trapped moisture, and b) people tend to walk into an insulated but unheated space on a cold day and struggle to find a reason to be there. They don't hang out as much as they think they will.
Lorin Miller Keuhner thanked Revolutionary Gardens
Lorin Miller Keuhner
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you - Yes, I live in a 2 story home an agree that I need to think about the chimney height. Good to know about the floor insulation as I wasn't planning on heating the room as that was the intention of the fireplace. I will avoid that.

Seems like all my neighbors are putting in screened porches (and the 3 season windows which are super cool )- but I have some zoning issues I need to contend with which limits the size of the space. That is why I was wondering if the space is too small to consider the stone fireplace. If I had known about these zoning rules before I purchased the house - I wouldn't be in it - oh well. Trying to make the most in a small space!

Objective for the space is TV, fireplace (if possible) and sofa/chair set. My neighbor is building theirs now so maybe I will wait until finished (who also has the same contraints as I do) and see if possible to put the fireplace in - as they opted not to (budget decision solely).
Lorin Miller Keuhner
Original Author
8 years ago
David - you are in my area and just left a vm for you....would love to meet you and discuss options.
PRO
Davison's 4 Seasons Landscaping
8 years ago
Dave gives great advice! We are in designing stages right now for a very similar project. Luckily we're dealing with larger measurements. The client has all the same concerns as OP, and that's our job to solve them. People in my area for-go the 3 seasons Idea and just turn it into a glorified 4 seasons room. Lots of windows, a heating source of some type, and cooling source.

The cost difference between the two is a little more, but if you're going to invest in a room, make it so you will spend more time in there.
Lorin Miller Keuhner thanked Davison's 4 Seasons Landscaping
Lorin Miller Keuhner
Original Author
8 years ago
I am in Northern VA so if I just go with the screening versus the windows, I would probably use the room from late April-October. Maybe I stick to screens and then I could always add later.
cyn perry
7 years ago
I live in texas and have a deck that I would like to turn into a screened in deck. It is just the strips of decking now, what type of flooring do we need to put down and can I put glass windows up along with screens. Of couse in Texas we have really hot summers so what type of cooling systems would I use. Thanks.

Screened porch too small for a fireplace?

grapefruit1_ar

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Screened porch too small for a fireplace?

grapefruit1_ar

Comments (9)

BeverlyFLADeziner

Patricia Colwell Consulting

Related Discussions

Revolutionary Gardens

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