Chicagoland Porch Builders

Porch FAQs: Chicagoland's Top Porch Contractors 

What kinds of porches do you build?

Pretty much the whole range, which is part of why people start here when they're not sure exactly what they want. We build screened porches, 3-season rooms (EZE Breeze), sunrooms, open or covered porches and pavilions, and front porches and porticos. They sit on a spectrum from totally open to fully enclosed, and the right one really depends on how much weather protection you want, how many months a year you'll use it, and your budget. If you're not sure where you land, that's exactly what we sort out at the consultation.

Screened porch, 3-season room, or sunroom — how do I choose?

Think of it as three steps up a ladder, each one giving you more protection and more usable months for more money. A screened porch is the most open and the most affordable of the three — screens keep out bugs, rain, sun, and debris, and it's ideal for spring through fall. A 3-season room adds vinyl windows so you can close it up against wind and chill and stretch the season on both ends. A sunroom is the top of the ladder: fully enclosed with glass, and with added heat it's a true year-round room. More enclosure means more cost, so the honest question is how many extra weeks of use are worth it to you. We'll lay all three out side by side.

What exactly is a 3-season room, and is it waterproof?

A 3-season room (we build them with EZE Breeze) is basically an upgraded screened porch with custom vinyl 4-track windows. Those windows slide and stack so you can open it up like a screened porch on a nice day or close it down when the wind kicks up, which gives you a lot more control over airflow and comfort. Straight answer on water: it's not rated as 100% waterproof, so it's not the same as a sealed sunroom — but in real use the windows do a great job keeping rain and moisture out. It's the sweet spot for a lot of people who want more than a screened porch without paying for a full sunroom.

Which porch can I actually use year-round in Chicago?

Honestly, a sunroom is the only one built for true year-round use here, and even then you'll want an indoor fireplace or an outdoor-rated heater to be comfortable in a Chicago January. A 3-season room earns its name — it stretches your spring and fall and takes the edge off, but it's not a winter room. A screened porch is really a warm-months space. 

What's an open or covered porch, and how is it different from a screened porch?

An open porch — also called a covered porch or a pavilion — is a roof with open walls. You get shade and protection from rain and falling debris, but it stays open to the yard, so it feels like part of the outdoors rather than a room. A screened porch takes that same covered structure and adds screens to keep bugs and weather out. So it comes down to whether you want to keep the insects out (screened) or you're happy fully open and just want shade and a roof overhead (open porch). Both are great; they're just different feels.

Are front porches actually worth it?

If you like the look and you'll use it, yes. A front porch does two jobs at once: it boosts curb appeal — sometimes dramatically — and it gives you a genuinely useful covered spot to greet people, set down groceries, or sit out with a coffee. A portico is the smaller version, more of an architectural cover over the entry than a sitting space. Whether it pays off really depends on your home's style and how the front of the house is laid out, which is something we can eyeball pretty quickly.

Can you turn my existing deck or patio into a porch?

A lot of the time, yes, and it's a popular project. If the existing structure is solid and built to support a roof, adding a cover or screening in a deck or patio can be a smart way to get a porch without starting from scratch. The catch is that a roof and walls add weight and load the original structure wasn't necessarily built for, so we check that first. If it's up to it, great; if it's not, we'll tell you straight rather than build on something that won't hold up.

How much does a porch cost?

There's no single number, because "porch" covers everything from an open covered structure to a fully enclosed sunroom, and price climbs as you add enclosure, windows, and finishes. As a rough order: open and screened porches sit at the more affordable end, 3-season rooms in the middle, and sunrooms at the top. Size, materials, and details move it around from there. We'll price out the specific type you're after at the consultation so you're working with real numbers, not a ballpark.

How do I figure out which porch is right for me?

Start with two things: how many months a year you want to use it, and your budget. If you mainly want bug-free summer evenings, a screened or open porch does the job for less. If you want to push into the cooler shoulder seasons, a 3-season room makes sense. If you want a room you'll use in February, that's a sunroom with heat. From there it's matching the look to your house. We walk through all of this with you so the choice is obvious by the end instead of overwhelming.

How do we get started?

It starts with a phone call so we can hear how you picture using the space, then we set up a free in-person design consultation. Schedule your free consultation or call (847) 250-4100. You can also browse our porch photo gallery to see the different types in real Chicagoland homes before you decide.