Directions to Enclose a Front Porch

Use your tape measure to record the distance between two of your porch support posts. Measure and cut one pressure-treated and one standard 2-by-4 inch stud to the length measured. Lay both boards between your posts, and drill pilot holes (one every 16 inches or so) through the first 2-by-4 and into the second. Use your screw gun to drive screws into the holes and fasten the two pieces together.

Drill pilot holes -- one every 24 inches or so -- through the two boards and into the porch surface below. Remove the boards and insert expanding anchor bolts into the holes and drive them in place with your hammer. Lay a strip of foam sheet insulation under the boards and slide them back in place on the bolts. Use your ratchet set to tighten the nuts onto the bolts until all is firmly in place. Repeat the same process between every set of posts, all the way around your porch. (Reference 3)

Make a wall to enclose the bottom half of the porch. Decide on the wall height you prefer and use your tape measure and circular saw to cut several 2-by-4 inch studs to that length -- minus the bottom plates you already installed. Use your hammer and nails to fasten two studs to the posts at either side of the opening. Measure the span of the opening and cut a stud to fit as the top plate. Nail the top plate onto the two end studs. Install one more stud every 16 inches between the top and bottom plates, and use your level to check that each stud is perfectly straight.

Measure and cut 1/2-inch plywood to fit between each set of porch posts. Use your hammer and nails to fasten the plywood to the top and bottom plates and the studs you installed. Place plywood on both the inside and outside walls. Cover the exterior side of the plywood wall with wooden shingles. Use your level and a strip of wood as an installation guideline, and use your nail gun to fasten the shingles in place, overlapping one another from the bottom up.

Apply foam board installation to the interior wall surface, and cover it drywall. Use your carpet knife and straight edge to cut the drywall to fit, and use your screw gun and drywall screws to mount it onto the plywood wall. Apply masking tape and use your putty knife to apply joint compound to each seam. Allow the compound to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions, and sand it until smooth.

Install vertical screen mounting strips onto each porch post. The strips should be about a half inch thinner than the posts and should run the full length of the remaining opening. Use your metal snips to cut the strips and use your screw gun and decking screws to fasten the strips in position, and use your level to ensure they are perfectly plumb.

Measure and cut 1 1/2 inch screen mounting base strips to fit the space between every two vertical strips using your metal snips. Use your screw gun and decking screws to fasten them in place. Perform the same process to install the top screen strips.

Cut your screen material about 1 inch larger on each side than the opening it will cover. Each set of vertical, base and top screen strips will require its own piece of screening. Use your spline roller to press the top edge of the screen material into the groove provided in the top screen mounting strip. Pull downward gently on the screen material so it is taught and there are no ripples. Use your spline roller to install the screen material into the bottom mounting strip.

Repeat the process at both side of the screen material, and insert it into the vertical strips. Use your carpet knife to cut the extra screen material off. Use wide cap trim over the mounting strips along the vertical strips of every screened in opening. Use narrow cap trim on the horizontal mounting members. Press the trim onto the mounting strips and use your scissors to cut the trim to fit.