Portable Outdoor Screen Rooms

The Facts

• Portable outdoor screen rooms consist of a metal frame, which usually comes apart into pieces for moving and quick reassembly. This frame often is topped with a solid canopy to stop rain or a screen roof so you can see the sky. Four walls of screen material are made by attaching the sheets of screen to the four legs of the frame. Some models have gaps between the walls, while others are sewn together at the edges and offer protection against insects.

Benefits

• The portability of these screen rooms are their main benefit. Having a permanent screen room or screened-in porch is costly and involves changes to the structure of your home's roof. A portable screen room can be used next to a home, but can be put away when it's not needed. These pop-up structures are also less expensive than a permanent screen room and can travel with you when you go camping or visit family.

Problems

• On some models, the screen material is loose where it meets the ground. This allows small animals and insects to make their way into the enclosed space. Placing a few rocks or other weighted items around the perimeter prevents this problem. Thin screens, often made from polyester, are prone to ripping. If a tear develops, sewing it up with a synthetic thread before it gets any bigger recommends Louise Lindgren Sumner in her book "Sew and Repair Your Outdoor Gear."

Set Up

• Most portable screen rooms use a metal frame that either slides apart and up or consists of multiple pieces that need assembly. Some models use small pieces of metal to lock the pieces together for increased security. Screen rooms with screen covers that are sewn together usually require you to throw the screen over the frame and pull it down over the sides evenly. Others use elastic toggles and zippers to allow you to attach each part of the screen separately, according to the website E-Z Up.