How to Winterize Your Glazed Porch
In the early days of the pandemic, when many people only left their homes when absolutely necessary, having any type of open space made a big difference and helped people feel less locked in. But some outdoor spaces are more pleasant than others: especially those that are mostly extensions of indoor spaces.
But a porch completely covered with glass is quite expensive, which is why many have decided to install a glazed porch instead. However, depending on where you live, your glazed porch may not be used all year round. Also, screened walls are great for letting in fresh air, but that’s not necessarily what you need in the dead of winter.
Whether you want to use your glazed porch in the winter or just protect it from the elements, here are some tips .
Cover the walls with vinyl
Get enough clear, durable vinyl covering to completely cover all of your porch walls. Measure, then cut the vinyl into pieces for each wall, using Velcro to attach them to the inside of your porch. It may not be as effective in particularly windy areas, but it’s definitely better than nothing.
Installing vinyl or acrylic panels
If you’re looking to take things to the next level – both in terms of cost and effort – you can install vinyl or acrylic panels on the walls of your glazed porch. While this is a project that you can take on, get to work knowing that it will likely take a long time. But when you’re done, you essentially have a three-season room, and you can store the panels during the warmer months and reuse them next year.
Hang insulated curtains
For those who live in climates that don’t really get long, cold, snowy winters, thick, insulated curtains around your glazed porch should help. If you want to get creative, you can double layer curtains: dark, heavy outdoor drapes that will absorb the heat of the sun as it comes out, and then a thick sheer vinyl curtain underneath. Keep both layers closed when you’re not on the porch and then open the blackout curtains when using it.