Screened Porch Cost in Minnesota: Build New vs Screen an Existing Deck

Screening an existing covered deck costs $9,000 to $22,000. Building a new screened porch with its own roof costs $28,000 to $62,000. The difference is the roof and the footings — and whether your existing deck can carry them.

For most Twin Cities homeowners, this is the best dollar-per-hour-of-enjoyment project on the property. Mosquito season here runs mid-May through September; a screened porch is what makes those evenings usable.

Cost by scope

Scope	Cost
Screen in under an existing roof/covered deck	$9,000–$22,000
Add roof + screen to an existing deck	$22,000–$45,000
New screened porch, built from footings	$28,000–$62,000
Screened porch with gable roof and cathedral ceiling	$40,000–$78,000
Motorized retractable screen system on a porch	$6,000–$18,000

Can your existing deck carry a roof?

This is the first question and it kills a lot of projects. A deck built for foot traffic is designed for about 40–50 psf of live load. Adding a roof adds dead load plus Minnesota snow load, which the original footings and posts likely were not sized for.

What we check:

• Footing diameter and depth (must be below 42" frost)
• Post size and spacing
• Beam and joist span
• Ledger attachment to the house and its flashing
• Whether the deck was permitted at all

Sometimes we reinforce for $3,000–$8,000. Sometimes the deck needs to be rebuilt, and then you are in new-porch territory.

Screen type matters more than people expect

Screen	Cost premium	Notes
Standard fiberglass	Baseline	Tears easily, 5–8 years
No-see-um mesh	+15–25%	Finer weave; blocks gnats and midges
Pet-resistant (vinyl-coated polyester)	+30–50%	7x stronger; essential with dogs
Aluminum	+25–40%	Very durable, dents
Solar/shade screen	+40–60%	Cuts heat and glare on west exposures

For Minnesota, no-see-um mesh is the practical default — our gnats and midges walk right through standard fiberglass in June.

Design decisions that pay off

• Cathedral or vaulted ceiling instead of flat. Costs $4,000–$10,000 more and completely changes how the space feels.
• A ceiling fan — moving air keeps mosquitoes off and makes 85°F pleasant. $400–$1,200.
• Composite or porcelain floor rather than pressure-treated pine, which cups and splinters.
• Wide screen door with a self-closer, hinged to swing out.
• Electrical from day one. Outlets, switched lighting, and a fan circuit are cheap during framing and expensive later.
• Infrared heaters at $600–$2,000 add roughly six weeks of season on each end.

Does it add value?

A well-built screened porch typically recoups 60–75% in the Twin Cities and is one of the top features buyers mention in a listing. It does not count as finished square footage, but it strongly influences showings — which is a real, if unmeasured, return.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a screened porch cost in Minnesota? $9,000-$22,000 to screen in under an existing roof, and $28,000-$62,000 for a new screened porch built from footings.

Can I screen in my existing deck? Only if the footings, posts, and beams can carry a roof plus Minnesota snow load. Many decks need reinforcement first, at $3,000-$8,000.

What screen should I use in Minnesota? No-see-um mesh, because our gnats and midges pass through standard fiberglass. Pet-resistant screening if you have dogs.

Do I need a permit? Yes. A roofed structure attached to the house requires a building permit and zoning setback review.

How long does it take? Two to three weeks for screening an existing covered deck, and four to eight weeks for a new porch.

We build screened porches across the metro and will assess your existing deck for free before quoting.