Screened Porches · South Carolina
How Much Does a Screened Porch Cost in South Carolina?
Screened porches in South Carolina run $20–$112 per square foot. A new 15×20 porch built from footings up lands around $21,173–$25,498; screening an existing covered deck of the same size costs far less, closer to $6,147–$7,403, because the floor and roof already exist.
Screened Porches Cost by Scope
Computed from the same pricing engine as our calculators — run your own numbers to change size, materials or site conditions.
| Scope | Typical Cost | Size | What's Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen an existing deck or covered porch | $6,147–$7,403 | 300 sq ft | Posts, screen framing, screening and a door. The least expensive way to get insect-free outdoor space. |
| New screened porch, 300 sq ft | $21,173–$25,498 | 300 sq ft | Footings, floor structure, roof tied into the house, screening, finished ceiling and a fan. |
| Upgraded outdoor room, 400 sq ft | $37,337–$44,965 | 400 sq ft | Premium screen system, tongue-and-groove ceiling, upgraded lighting, and often a fireplace or kitchen allowance. |
What Moves the Price
- Whether a floor and roof already exist — the single largest variable in the whole budget.
- Roof type. A shed roof off the back wall is cheapest; a hip or gable tied into the existing roof costs more and looks like it belongs.
- Size and span, which decide beam sizes and how many posts land where.
- Screen system. Standard fiberglass screening versus a heavy-duty or motorised system.
- Ceiling finish, lighting and fans, which is where a plain porch becomes a room people use.
- Flooring, if the porch is not sitting on an existing deck surface.
How many months you actually use it here
In the Upstate a screened porch is comfortable from roughly March into November — the shoulder seasons are long, and screening solves the two things that drive people indoors in summer, which are insects and direct sun. That usable span is why porches are a better value here than in colder markets, where a glazed sunroom earns its extra cost back in months of use.
Cheapest path to a screened porch
If you already have a deck with a roof over it, screening it in is the cheapest project on our board at roughly $20–$25 per square foot. If the deck has no roof, adding one is the main cost and the screening is almost incidental. Building the whole structure new is the most expensive and also the most flexible, since the floor height, roof pitch and proportions get designed rather than inherited.
Screened Porches Questions
What does a screened porch cost in South Carolina?
$20–$112 per square foot, so about $21,173–$25,498 for a new 15×20 porch. Screening an existing covered deck is much cheaper, nearer $6,147–$7,403 for the same area.
Is it cheaper to screen an existing deck?
Substantially, yes — provided the deck framing is sound and can carry a roof if one is needed. The floor is the expensive part of a porch, and it is already paid for.
Do screened porches need a permit in South Carolina?
Yes. A roofed structure attached to the house is permitted work, reviewed for footings, framing and how it attaches, then inspected. Setback rules apply as they would to any addition.
Can a screened porch be used in winter?
On mild days, yes, but it is not conditioned space. For genuine year-round use you want a glazed, insulated sunroom, which costs meaningfully more because it is effectively a room addition.
How long does a screened porch take to build?
Three to six weeks for a new porch once permits are issued. Screening an existing covered deck is often a week or two.
Permits & codes: Greenville County Building Safety · SC Building Codes Council
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