Here are some updates on the addition we are building in Beltsville. We have taken pictures throughout the project to give you a step by step walkthrough of the process of replacing this screen porch with a two story addition.

Here you can see as construction begins, the old screen porch beginning to come down, and the first wall of the addition being raised.

With the screen room removed, you can see where the two story addition will sit. The wall with the half-round window will be completely removed, to allow full access into the new room on the first floor, while on the second story, the triple window will be made into a doorway to allow access from the master bedroom. Now the addition is framed, without making any openings in the existing house:

Here is a shot from inside the framed addition of the wall to come down:

Here is the same wall from inside the existing house. The addition is now insulated, with all the electric, plumbing, and fire sprinklers installed, so we are ready to begin tearing out the wall to allow access to the addition.

The first step is to build a temporary plastic wall so any dust and debris we create during demolition remains in the new addition, and out of the house, here is a look at the completed wall:

Here is a shot of the wall coming down, from inside the addition. The temporary wall studs also act as temporary support for the second floor and roof above; as we remove the load bearing wall that previously supported them.

Here is a look at the wall after it is removed, and an engineered lumber beam has been set in its place to carry the loads of the house. There is now an 18’ wide opening connecting the addition to the house, to allow for a prefect and usable merger of old and new spaces.

Now a little drywall, trim and paint, and we have the finished product:

Here is another shot of the opening from inside the existing house:

And a view of the new addition space alone:

Finally, here is a shot of the exterior complete:

Keep checking back in for more updates on different projects, and remember if you’re looking for a deck builder, screen porch builder, or if your thinking of adding an addition to your home, call McWhorter Outdoor Living today to set up your free in home design consultation today.

Follow us from concept to completion to see how our process works.

Thinking about building an addition to your home? There is no substitute for accurate, detailed plans. At McWhorter Outdoor Living, our 3D design software makes building your new addition easy – you can actually see the physical space with real textures, lighting, etc. Check out our design process below to get some inspiration for your own space!

Here are some original sketches of our Beltsville Addition project. Before the first nail is driven we can tweak window locations and room sizes to show you what the addition will look like on your house.

Here is a 3D rendering of this 2-story addition on this homeowner’s house. This is a great tool to show how the addition will affect the overall look of the back of the house.

Here you can see a prospective view of the first floor walls, including the addition. The homeowner can really get an idea of the space that the new addition will create.

Keep following us for more updates on this project and see how the design translates to from the jobsite to final construction of the addition.

We’ve been busy these past few months! Check out our progress as we build a cedar screen room using part the frame of the homeowners original deck.

This particular project features a screened-in porch and a curved patio with a unique arched bench. Also, in the before and after photos above you will notice the staircase location to the deck has been relocated to make better use of the backyard space.

In the images below, you will see the original deck design as well as an image of the deck frame after the decking was removed.

Once the decking was removed, we extended the surface area of the new deck to bring it up to code and to make room for the new screen room.

Below are some images of the new completed screen room and deck with brand new decking and handrails.

Also, check out this shot from inside the new screen porch. Notice the removable aluminum framed screen panels, textured plywood ceiling with exposed rafters and the new ceiling fan/light.

Here is a detailed shot of the curved bench on the new deck.

And lastly, here is the view of the screened porch. Notice the roof lines and room location were designed to mirror the bump out on the front of the house, so the screen room looks like part of the original plans for the house.

Ready to redo your backyard? Check out our photo gallery for more images and design inspiration for your screen room or patio and give McWhorter Outdoor Living a call at (410) 984-5813 to setup your FREE estimate.

1. Any addition, deck, etc. can be built at any time of the year, in any temperature
2. It’s our offseason! You can take advantage of less crowded schedules to get a better price without the
wait
3. Get the extra living space before the holidays to enjoy with family and friends
4. Your new space will be ready and waiting when the spring weather gets here, no waiting
5. Get this year’s pricing! Manufacturer’s price increases always come in spring during the height of the
season; avoid the extra 10% cost

Let McWhorter Outdoor Living, an award winning Screen Room Builder and Designer in Clarksville, Maryland, share some of our screen room design ideas and tips.

Screen Rooms Portfolio : Click here
Our screen rooms feature: Click here
References & Testimonials: Click here

1. Use low maintenance decking and trim to minimize maintenance and match the siding and windows on your house.
To best compliment your home, any additions should be designed to appear as part of the original house, not an afterthought stuck on the back of your home. Screened rooms are noexception. With more colors and finishes available in low maintenance materials than ever,you can design your screen room to complement the décor of your home’s exterior, and looklike it has been part of your homes design all along. Let us show you samples of decking frommanufacturers like Azek and Trex for a wide variety of color options, with matching trim.

2. Focus on making the room completely insect proof, and most importantly, stink bug proof. 
One step often overlooked in screen room construction is adding fiberglass screeningbeneath the deck boards. Insects are able to crawl up from under the deck through thespaces between the deck boards. Attention should also be paid to connection pointsbetween the room and the house, where the deck, walls, and roof are attached to the house.All existing siding should be removed at these points, and properly flashed for a water andinsect proof fit.

3. Use only Aluminum framed removable screen panels.
Removable screen panels allow the screening to be pulled much tighter, and make it possibleto repair torn screens without having to disassemble parts of the room to get the screensout. Panels can be brought to your local hardware store, rescreened, and reinstalled withsimple hand tools.

4. Choose a location for your room that will make the room convenient to use.
When choosing a location for your screened porch, remember to consider what you planon using the room for. For example, if you are planning to use the room to eat dinner inevery night, choose a location that is close to the kitchen. Don’t let existing windows anddoors limit your options, doors can be added almost anywhere to give access to the room.Remember to also consider second story windows and other obstructions when choosingyour location.

5. Consider electrical and media packages to enhance the screen room.
Your screen room should be as much a part of your house as your living room or kitchen.Adding electrical and media packages to your room can make it much more convenient to use and entertain in. Consider adding ceiling fans, recess lighting, indirect lighting, cableoutlets, phone/data ports, and built in speakers to make the room a great place to relax.

Most importantly choose a screen porch builder and designer carefully. McWhorter Outdoor Living is a licensed and insured contractor specializing in outdoor living designs and construction. We have built hundreds of screen porches in the central Maryland area,(click here for our screen room portfolio) and have many local references(click here for references). Contact us today for a free estimate and design consultation.