Screened-In Porches: Costs and Options in North Texas
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A screened-in porch costs $18,000 to $50,000 in North Texas. Screening an existing covered patio runs $8,000 to $18,000. Building a new screened structure from the foundation up runs $30,000 to $50,000. Motorized retractable screens on an existing cover run $6,000 to $20,000 depending on the number of openings.
Three ways to get one
| Approach | Typical Cost | Best When |
|---|---|---|
| Screen an existing covered patio | $8,000–$18,000 | The cover and slab already exist and are sound |
| Motorized retractable screens | $6,000–$20,000 | You want the option of open or enclosed |
| Build a new screened porch | $30,000–$50,000 | No existing cover, or the existing one is undersized |
Screening an existing cover is by far the best value if the structure is sound and the slab is in good shape. The framing, roof, and foundation — the expensive parts — are already paid for.
Fixed screens or motorized?
Fixed screens are cheaper, simpler, and have nothing to break. The tradeoff is that the porch is always screened, which means less light, a slightly closed-in feel, and no option to open the space up for a party or a cool evening.
Motorized retractable screens drop when you want them and disappear into a housing when you do not. In North Texas that flexibility is genuinely useful — screens down during mosquito season and hot afternoons, up in October when the weather is the reason you built the patio. They cost more and they are mechanical systems exposed to weather, so motor and control quality matters.
Screen material actually matters here
Standard fiberglass insect screen is the default and the cheapest. Two upgrades are worth considering in this climate:
Solar screen fabric blocks a meaningful share of solar heat gain in addition to insects, which on a west-facing porch changes whether the space is usable in the afternoon. Heavier pet-resistant mesh survives dogs and cats that will otherwise put a hole in standard screen within a season.
On large openings, ask how the screen is tensioned and supported. A big unsupported span of screen billows in wind and eventually pulls at the frame.
What makes a screened porch actually get used
Ceiling fans. Non-negotiable in Texas. Screens cut airflow, and a screened porch without fans is warmer than the open patio it replaced.
A floor that handles water. Rain blows through screen. Stained or sealed concrete, porcelain pavers, or a properly detailed deck — not carpet, not anything that traps moisture.
Lighting and outlets on their own circuit, planned during construction rather than run afterward.
A real door. A cheap aluminum screen door is the first thing to fail and the thing you touch every single time you use the porch.
Permits
Enclosing a covered patio with screen typically requires a permit in North Texas jurisdictions, and building a new structure certainly does — with engineered footings and a properly detailed connection where the roof ties into the house. Setbacks, lot coverage, and HOA architectural review generally apply as well.
See our motorized patio screens guide and covered patio cost breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to screen an existing patio cover?
Considerably. Screening a sound existing cover runs $8,000 to $18,000 because the foundation, framing, and roof already exist. Building a new screened structure from scratch runs $30,000 to $50,000.
Do screened porches add home value?
They add usable living area and appeal to buyers in a market with a long bug season, and they show well. Like most outdoor living projects they typically return a meaningful share of cost rather than all of it.
Do you need a permit to screen in a patio?
Usually yes in North Texas jurisdictions, since it changes an open structure into an enclosed one. New structures definitely require permits, engineered footings, and a properly detailed roof connection to the house.
What is the best screen material for Texas?
Solar screen fabric if the porch faces west or south, because it blocks heat as well as insects. Pet-resistant mesh if you have dogs or cats. Standard fiberglass is fine for shaded, low-traffic openings.
Are motorized screens worth the extra cost?
If you want the porch to work both as an open patio and an enclosed room, yes — that flexibility is the whole point. If you will keep it screened year-round anyway, fixed screens cost less and have nothing to fail.
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