I have a wood screened porch that is attached to the back of the house. The porch is up on up on stilts. I would like to finish the porch so that it can be used yeararound. Is it possible to simply add insulation and drywall and install windows or will a foundation need to be laid?

 

Building code requirements for a 'living space' are not the same as for a porch. Check with your local building inspector. The present supports may be enough to pass code, but I tend to doubt it.

 

The present structural supports will not be compromised by finishing the interior. The porch will require insulation & vapour barrier in walls, floor, & ceiling. Remember to ventilate above the ceiling with soffits & ridge or gable vents. Heating options vary, ducting for forced air, space heaters, baseboard electric. A ceiling fan would help to circulate air. if you opt for a non ducted heat supply.

 

WHOA Allan. If eparker174 is going to convert a screened porch to living space, he will almost certainly have to change the structure that is presently supporting the porch. Like George said, what the codes require for a living space is far different than what is acceptable for a porch or even a patio room.

 

I agree that building codes are different for a porch than that of living areas.The fact here is the existing pier foundation which we will assume was designed properly & passed a building inspection is presently carrying the roof and the walls of the framed screen openings, and floor of the porch. By closing in the openings with windows and adding insulation & drywall to the existing walls the dead load is the same & the structural integrity of the piers is not affected.
To adhere to by-laws a building permit is required for any renovation, but that was not eparker174's question

 

Allan, my friend, I understand where you are coming from, and, to a point, I will agree with you. However, before eparker174 goes ahead and starts enclosing this porch with windows, siding, sheetrock, etc., he REALLY needs to get in touch with the local bldg. dept.

First, we have no way of knowing that this porch was built or enclosed with a building permit. We have no idea what these "stilts" are or how they are braced, or what sort of footings they are sitting on.

Then, we have no idea of what, if any, electrical may be in the porch. If eparker174 converts this to living space, he will have to have outlets and lighting that are in compliance with the NEC.

Then, what sort of "walls" does this porch have presently? Again, we have no idea. Then we get up to the ceiling and the roof. Will the ceiling support sheetrock? Can the attic of the porch be insulated and ventilated properly? We simply don't know!

Therefore, it would be in eparker174's best interest to go to his local bldg. dept, BEFORE he does anything else and see what, if anything, he needs to change in this porch and it's current configuration BEFORE he sets about converting it to living space.

 

Morning lefty.
Following the book, if eparker has any concerns about how sound his porch is he should call in the local inspector or have an engineer certify the structure for its present and future use. I do not argue he will have to conform to all local and national code requirements to covert this area to habital conditions,ie. insulation values, attic ventilation, wiring, heating, and egress. Nor am I saying all he has to do is slap in some wall insulation & drywall & crack a beer.
My response is based on a sight unseen project requiring the assumption ( and I am aware what happens when we assume) that eparkers porch was built to structural code requirements in the first place. The present footings are carrying a floor system, possibly walls, and at least columns supporting a roof designed to carry the snow load for his area. If that roof will not support drywall and the porch is out there swaying in the breeze on its stilts I would then suggest to eparker that he tear it down & start fresh. I would also believe that eparker as well as anyone using this forum would not take any advise from anyone on this forum as gospel and verify all information. That is not to say the people offering their opinions are not in the know as I am certain judging from what I have seen professionals visit this site.
See you again.

 

Allan, we are both saying pretty much the same thing. We can't see what eparker has for a screened porch at this point. We can only read his post and interpret from it what we can. Before he, or anybody takes what we may tell them and goes ahead with a project like this, they do need to have their existing structure looked at to determine if it is feasible to, say, enclose an existing porch, or if that porch needs to be rebuilt or strengthened in some way before they proceed.