Little Creek is an expert installer of outdoor systems, and it’s become one of our favorite ways to turn “we hardly use it” into “we’re out here all the time.” But when you are looking at upgrading your backyard, the terminology can get confusing.
On a perfect evening in the NC Piedmont, your back porch probably looks a lot like your neighbors’: a decent roof, some furniture you have to drag inside when it rains, and a fan that helps until the pollen hits. In this guide, we walk through the three realistic paths to fixing that.
Option 1: The Classic Screened Porch
If you already have a covered deck or patio, a straightforward screened porch is usually the easiest way to make the space actually usable. It involves framing and screens between your posts and a screen door out to the yard.
- What it fixes: Bugs (you stop swatting ankles) and Sun (shade + fan makes July livable).
- What you don't get: Protection from pollen (everything still turns yellow in March) or cold snaps.
Option 2: The EZ-Screen Solution (3.5 Season)
What exactly is it? It is a vertical 4-track vinyl window system installed inside your Porch openings.
- Flexibility: Panels slide up and down to give you up to 75% open screen when the weather’s nice, or full vinyl closure when you need protection.
- Durability: Frames are extruded aluminum, and the panels are 10-mil elastic vinyl that springs back if pushed or flexed.
How it changes your porch
Compared to a simple screened porch, you get pollen control (a huge deal in the NC Piedmont), wind protection, and far more usable days per year. It occupies the "middle lane" of investment: more than a basic screen job, but typically well below a full glass sunroom.
"For the NC Piedmont—mild winters, heavy pollen, humid summers—this is a big deal. You can open it up on spring and fall days, or button it up for storms."
Code & Permits
NC’s electrical folks treat any covered porch enclosed with vinyl film or glass windows as a sunroom for electrical purposes. That means you'll need receptacle spacing like a living room and AFCI protection. However, if it meets the definition of a sunroom, it is often exempt from the "required heating" rules that apply to Additions.
Option 3: Fully Finished 4-Season Sunroom
This is when the space stops being "porch" and starts being true interior square footage. This involves framed walls, housewrap, insulation, interior drywall, and full insulated glass windows.
Functionally, it behaves like another living room, office, or playroom that just happens to have a lot of glass. You’re out there in January and July, not just on “nice” days. Because this becomes part of the conditioned space, the building codes are stricter regarding HVAC and energy efficiency.
So how do you choose?
When we sit down with homeowners across Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Statesville, we ask these questions:
1. What are your biggest enemies?
Screens handle bugs. EZ-Screens handle pollen and wind. 4-Season rooms handle extreme heat and cold.
2. How "inside" do you want it to feel?
If you want a breezy, rugged feel, go with a porch. If you want wood floors and a TV, look at an addition.
3. How long will you be in the house?
If you are moving in 3-5 years, a porch upgrade is a safer ROI. If this is the "forever home," invest in the 4-season room.
Ready to stop guessing?
If you’re in the NC Piedmont—especially around Pilot Mountain and Mount Airy—the next step is simple. We can walk the property with you, look at your structure, and lay out your screened porch, EZ-Screen, and four-season options in plain English.
Check out our Gallery to see examples of what we can build for you.