- 1). Create a porch design to allow ample room for large windows. Measure the space you will use and create an initial design on a sketch pad. Transfer the details and measurements onto graph paper. Plan to use high-quality energy-efficient windows that have sliding components or windows that roll out with a crank handle. Develop a framework design of two-by-four-inch boards and floor joists at least 12 inches deep to hold insulation in the floor areas.
- 2). Design a way to skirt the foundation to conserve energy further. Plan to install house siding or faux stones, for example, to keep air flow to a minimum under the porch space. Figure out if any electrical wiring or plumbing materials will need routing under the crawlspace. Plan for a small sink and counter space if you want to make coffee or have a tiny kitchen on the porch. Figure out how to route water pipes and add a drain to the sink before the foundation is enclosed.
- 3). Develop plans to insulate interior walls and cover walls with drywall or paneling. Consider roll fiberglass insulation and nailing up drywall or moisture-resistant drywall made for basements as possible options. Bead board paneling is another choice.
- 4). Consider indoor-outdoor carpet to make the porch area snug in winter. The carpet could be covered with a large area rug for extra insulation, too. Installing plantation wood blinds over all windows would hold heat in the room during the night and on very cold days and the blinds could be closed at certain times on hot days to keep the space cooler.
- 5). Plan heating and cooling for the space. An overhead fan or floor fan, along with open windows, would keep the porch cool in summer. Don't plan on adding venting and duct work from your home's system, unless the porch will be used as a bedroom on the back of the home, for example. Ask experts from your local power board to evaluate these kind of issues. A few portable radiator heaters filled with oil would be a cost-effective way to heat the room in winter.
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