Mobile Screened Porches - Converting Open Porches to Screened Enclosures
A porch enclosure is exactly what it sounds like: you have an existing open porch with a roof and floor already in place, and we add the screen framing to close it in. It costs less than a ground-up screened porch build because the foundation, floor, and roof are already there. Instead of starting from scratch, we assess your existing structure, build screen frame panels between your existing posts or columns, and install commercial-grade mesh.
This is the most common project we do for Mobile homeowners who bought a house with a covered porch and want to actually use it during mosquito season. For most standard porch footprints, it's also the fastest path from "open porch" to "screened room."
What We Check Before Quoting a Porch Enclosure
Not every open porch is in condition to be enclosed without some remediation first. Gulf Coast humidity and annual rainfall in the 65-inch range are hard on wood. Before we quote a porch enclosure, our estimator checks:
- Wood rot in existing posts, beams, and floor framing - common in Mobile homes with porches built before 2000
- Structural soundness of the existing roof and its connection to the main house
- Floor condition - cracked slab, loose wood decking, or settling that affects drainage
- Post spacing - determines panel size and whether intermediate framing is needed
- HOA requirements for the enclosure appearance, if applicable
- City permit requirements - Mobile requires a permit for porch enclosures
If we find rot or structural issues, we'll tell you upfront and include repair costs in the written quote. No surprises mid-project.
Aluminum vs Wood Screen Framing for Gulf Coast Porches
In a place like Mobile - high humidity year-round, salt air within a few miles of Mobile Bay, and annual rainfall that makes Pacific Northwest homeowners nod in sympathy - the framing material matters. Here's the practical comparison:
Aluminum Screen Frames
Aluminum doesn't rot, doesn't need painting, and handles the salt air near Dog River and Mobile Bay without corroding if it's powder-coated. It's the better long-term choice for most Mobile homeowners and adds maybe 10-15% to the job cost over wood. Maintenance is minimal - hose it down once a year.
Pressure-Treated Wood Frames
PT lumber is still a solid choice for porch enclosures, especially on older homes where matching the existing wood look matters. It costs less upfront, but factor in repainting every 5-7 years and watching for rot at post bases. Use ground-contact-rated lumber at any point near the slab.
We carry both options and will give you an honest comparison for your specific porch during the estimate visit.
Porch Enclosure Costs in Mobile, AL
Converting an existing covered porch to a screened enclosure in Mobile typically runs $4,500 to $11,000. The main variables are porch size, framing material (aluminum vs PT wood), whether any structural repairs are needed first, and how many doors you want. A standard 10x14 porch enclosed with aluminum framing and one screened door runs around $5,500-$7,000. Larger porches with multiple bays or wrap-around configurations run higher.
This is significantly less than a new-build screened porch because you're not paying for footings, a new floor, or roof construction - that work is already done. If your existing porch is structurally sound, a porch enclosure is the most cost-efficient way to add screened living space in Mobile.
Serving Mobile and Surrounding Areas
We install porch enclosures across Mobile, Saraland, Fairhope, Daphne, Spanish Fort, and the broader Mobile County and Eastern Shore area. Contact us for a free in-home estimate anywhere within 45 miles of downtown Mobile.