By: John & Bridgette Knoeller

Screened Porches
A custom-built screen room gives you an outdoor living space you can enjoy almost year-round. It’s the ideal setting for a cool lemonade on a hot summer day. It provides insect-free entertaining space in the evening and becomes a wonderful spot to savor an early-morning cup of coffee.

Depending on your climate and lifestyle, you may want a true screen room with no windows, or you may prefer a three-season room with removable windows. Either way, with careful planning and professional design help you can create an ideal space that bridges indoors and out and extends your living space.

Choose Materials
The building materials you choose will have a large impact on style and cost. Wood is a popular flooring choice; cedar is more expensive than some, but it will stand up well to the elements. Plastic decking made from recycled materials is more expensive than wood, but it’s virtually maintenance-free.

If the screen room is built on grade (at ground level), it can be built on a concrete slab, which is the least-expensive flooring option. Staining the concrete adds a more upscale look. Stone, slate, or porcelain tiles also are good choices

Design the Space
When determining the size of your screen room, decide whether you want only a sitting area or a place to dine, too. Keep in mind that a long, narrow porch (at least 8 feet wide) can provide adjacent spaces for seating and dining and lets more light into the house than a square room.

If possible, build a room that is open on three sides. This increases the feeling of sitting outdoors (sans bugs) and helps air circulate. A peaked roof will allow you to install high windows, which also help with air circulation, and provides space for a ceiling fan.

A gas or wood-burning fireplace will ensure the room is comfortable on chilly spring and fall evenings. Windows that can be removed and clipped back in during cooler weather also extend the screen room’s use. However, they can limit design possibilities. In a room with only screens, you aren’t limited by window sizes and can use larger pieces of screening. This provides more of an outdoor feeling, but the trade-off is less refined, all-weather furniture and more dirt and dust

Pricing
Overall cost can vary greatly, but for a starter 12×12-foot screen room that matches the style of the house, expect to pay $8,500- $10,000. For a custom look, you may pay $25,000 or more.

Cornerstone Construction
A graduate of Toms River High School, John Knoeller was first introduced into his passion by his grandfather, working in the field of masonry and foundations. He moved on from there to learn renovation, rehab and tenant fit-outs with his uncle. While working in the large city apartment buildings in 1982, John started his home improvement business. In 1996, when he married his wife Bridgette, she climbed aboard bringing her interior design to the company. They have been blessed ever since. With more than 25 years experience in all facets of construction from residential to commercial, they have done it all.

About Us
John, and his wife Bridgette, now reside in Delaware, with their five children and 1st grandson, active members in their community and local church, and also members of the Christian motorcycle association. We look forward to meeting you, working closely with you to achieve your goals, and making your dreams come true with any of your home improvement needs. You can visit us on the web www.cornerstone-builder.com or call us 302.670.6680 for John, and for Bridgette 302.670.6681.

Testimonials:
“John Knoeller is the most knowledgeable contractor we’ve ever met. We explained what we wanted, and, not only would he understand, he would immediately be able to discuss all the options and recommend the best solution. John was conscientious and tenacious in getting the job done and, more often than not, went the “extra mile” to satisfy us.” ~Chuck & Kay, Newark, DE

“I just want to thank CornerStone Construction for doing an absolutely beautiful job- they completely gutted and transformed our house. They worked with us on our budget and were finished in our time frame so. Thank You John, for all of your help and the marvelous work you did.”
~ Edward & Delores, Harrington, DE

Publisher’s Note:
John is another guy that I would give a 10 rating for his professional performance as a builder and carpenter. I hired John to build in my closets in my new home and I was a little nervous since I really didn’t know him or his work. I can say that I am glad I went with my gut instinct and hired John. He called me to schedule a time to come, since I had gotten busy and had not called him; he showed up early for the appointment, walked me through the process of selecting what materials I needed for my walk in closets, delivered the material to the job site, and started work and finished the job in a very timely fashion. On top of all this the poor man was sick with a bad head cold. What a guy!