Covered and screened decks
A roof keeps a summer storm off the table, and screens keep the bugs out at dusk. Both change what's holding the deck up.
Open decks are great until a thunderstorm rolls across the bay or the mosquitoes find you at sunset. A roof keeps rain and midday sun off; screens keep the air moving and the bugs outside. Either one turns a deck into a room, and that turns a carpentry project into a structural one.
What are the options?
- Covered deck. A roof over all or part of the deck, tied into the house or freestanding. Shade and rain cover, still open to the breeze.
- Screened porch. A roofed deck with screen panels between posts and a screen door. The most common upgrade for summer evenings.
- Three-season room. Windows or glass panels instead of screens, which stretches use into spring and fall. It's closer to an addition, with more design and permit work.
Why the structure matters so much here
A roof adds its own weight, and in a place that averages around 100 inches of snow a year it also has to carry snow that can sit for weeks. That load travels down through posts and beams to the footings, so a covered deck usually needs larger posts, more footings and a beam designed for the roof. Most existing decks weren't built for that. If you're building a new deck and might cover it later, ask the builder to size footings and framing for a roof now.
Can my current deck be covered?
Sometimes. The builder will check footing depth, post size and the ledger connection, and work out whether the deck can take a roof or needs new posts and footings. The house matters too: where the new roof meets the existing one, how snow will slide off it, and whether windows are in the way.
Permits
A roof over a deck is structural work and will need a building permit, and in most townships a land use permit as well. Roofed structures also count toward lot coverage on many zoning forms, which can matter on small lake and bay lots. Our Traverse City deck guide explains how the city, township and county offices fit together.
Details worth planning
- Screen under the deck boards, or a solid floor, keeps bugs from coming up through the gaps
- Ceiling fans and lighting are easier to wire before the ceiling is closed in
- Gutters keep roof water from dripping onto the stairs and freezing there
Pricing comes from the builder after they've seen the house, measured, checked the soil and access, and talked through materials with you. We don't quote prices, and any number you hear before a site visit is a guess at best.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Does a covered deck need a permit?
Yes. A roof is structural work and needs a building permit, plus a land use or zoning permit from your city or township in most of Grand Traverse County.
Can a screened porch be used in winter?
Not really; screens don't stop cold or blowing snow. For more seasons, ask about a three-season room with windows, which is a bigger project.
Related services
More background: Traverse City deck guide.
A deck that's gone gray and soft, or one you've only pictured over the bay?
Call the number above and a Grand Traverse area deck builder will talk through what makes sense for your house.