Screening porch without removing/cutting the siding

Here's my situation:

I bought a new-construction house that came with a covered porch, but without being screened, it's basically useless April to October because of mosquitoes.

It only needs to be screened on two sides, so it doesn't seem like that big of a job. And I want to do it myself because a "professional" will charge an obscene amount of money.

The ends of each side are against the house's fiber cement siding. Altering the siding is beyond my skill set, so my plan was to just have a gap between the end beam and siding, and fill it with caulk. My understanding is that fiber cement siding doesn't really expand with temperature changes, so the caulk wouldn't impinge upon it. And as for aesthetics, the porch is in the back of the house, so nobody walking by would see my less-than-perfect craftsmanship. (And if it's something that really bothers the next owner, they'll be able to easily remove what I did and start over.)

Let me also add that even if I hire a professional, I would still be reluctant to alter the siding. The housing has a warranty and if there's ever an issue with water intrusion near where the siding was cut/removed, the builder would use that to skirt their responsibilities.

Is there anything that I'm missing here that should cause me to rethink this plan?

Thanks.

 

Welcome to the forums.

Is it possible to post a picture or two for us to get a better idea of what you are working with ?
How to insert pictures.

 

Here you go.

There's also that faux rock column; my plan is to drill the side of the wood frame into it, and also fill the gaps with caulk.

Here's also the other piece of my thinking: I just bought the house in the spring and I'm reluctant to spend a lot of money on any improvements for a few years -- so if my "solution" just costs me a few hundred dollars out of pocket today and then I replace it with something more "professional" in a few years, I can live with that.

 

I'll throw out an option that I have looked at for my garage and be simple to install.

Google mosquito curtains!

 

Well that's an interesting idea.

I suppose I could attach the netting to the top of the awning and add velcro strips to the sides of it as well as the siding and faux rock column. Then I can roll the netting down and use the velcro to affix it, and then when I want, roll it back up.