How to Prevent Rain From the Screened Porch

Prevent rain from coming in screened porches through building styles and accessories.

A screened porch can be a respite from the hot sun, as well as from the frequent thunderstorms that occur during the spring and summer. Also called a three-season room, a screened porch maximizes the use of this space in your home. Prevent rain from coming into your screened porch from design to decoration.

Things You'll Need

• Waterproof membrane strips
• Window shades

Instructions

1. Prevent the rain from leaking into the screened porch roof by ensuring a watertight construction. Insert waterproof membrane strips into the porch roofing, in between roofing material and the metal flashing of the eaves and valley. Overlap layers of plywood and shingles on the roof by about 6 inches to minimize the possibility of leakage.

2. Plan for a wide overhang when designing your screened-in porch. A roof that is flush with the walls of your porch is more likely to let in water when it rains. An overhang that extends at least 18 inches from the edge of the porch -- along with a good gutter system -- keeps water away from your three-season room.

3. Accessorize with window shades or panes that keep out the wet. Lightweight "storm" windows function like a normal window and can be raised to expose only the screens on sunny days. Venetian or rolling blinds can also help you batten down during a rainstorm.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are building a screened porch on top of a concrete patio slab, make sure the center of the slab crowns slightly. The contours of a crowned slab prevent water from pooling in the middle of the porch floor.

References

• Ask the Builder; Screened Porches; Tim Carter
• ServiceMagic; Screened-in Porches Make for Versatile Additions; Marc Dickinson
• The Family Handyman; Screen Porch Construction; May 2008