Expert: Dan Griffin - 9/4/2009

Question
We have an enclosed porch in the back of our house in Florida.  My husband wants to lay the tile first and then enclose with screen.  Is that the right way?  And why or why not?
Thanks

Answer
Cristi, this isn't fair; the situation just reeks of "see, I told you so"

Here are a few things to consider to help make this decision.  There are legitimate reasons to consider both choices.  You said it IS enclosed, I assume you might mean that it is covered (your roof is extended over the "patio") and you intend to enclose the walls.

My dad is at Ocala where he has a large patio, only one end is covered and screened in with a screen door onto the rest of the patio.  The covered area is done with Chattahoochee stone which has lasted quite well, though many folks have trouble with it.  The very thin stone was applied to the top and edge of the patio where the screened portion is and the rest of the patio does not have the stone.  His aluminum framed screen system is on top of the Chattahoochee with some of it showing outside.  Several of his neighbors have a low cement block wall with the screen framing on top of the wall.

Exterior concrete is "pitched" so water will run off.  I assume you are planning on keeping the pitch and not leveling the floor.  It is nice to be able to use a garden hose to wash the floor and screens and have the water get out.  If water can get out, some water might come in with heavy wind and rain.  If the wall comes first with the tile terminted at the new wall it might complicate allowing blown in water to get out, though provisions can certainly be made.

The header that is carrying the roof will determine the location of the screen wall and how much, if any,  patio is outside that wall line.  Consider what it will look like from the outside if the tile is extended under the wall.  YOu probably don't want to see a ragged unfinished edge from the outside, but it certainly can be trimmed or capped.

I know I haven't given you a succinct answer, but this may allow you folks to arrive at a good solution.