Screened Porches in Wilmington, NC

Do you need screens on a roof you have, or a new porch?

These are two different jobs with two different prices. LawnLove prices these as two jobs: screening an existing porch, and building a new one. Ask each company which one its bid covers. When you call for screen porch installation, say which one you mean. Tell each company which job you mean, and ask it to name the scope in the bid.

Whichever company you speak to, the quote should name the scope. If you already own a roofed deck, the covered decks and pergolas page explains the roof side. If your deck is open to the sky today, a screened porch addition starts with a roof, and the roof is where cost changes. Ask the county whether it changes the permit.

How much does a screened porch cost in Wilmington?

The table keeps the scopes apart, because the guides measure different things. None of these rows is a Wilmington price.

What is the screened porch cost per square foot?

Take the guide's range and multiply by your area. This is arithmetic on the sources, not a new price.

• 200 sq ft, screening only: $1,680 to $2,490 (LawnLove).
• 300 sq ft, screening only: $2,520 to $3,735.
• 200 sq ft, HomeAdvisor deck enclosure: $4,000 to $15,000.
• 200 sq ft, roof at $14 to $30: $2,800 to $6,000.

The two guides give very different numbers per square foot. The gap tells you the scope differs, so ask every company exactly what its number includes.

What moves the porch enclosure cost?

• The roof, if you have none (the guide prices it at $14 to $30 per square foot, LawnLove).
• The floor: your existing deck, or a new one.
• The screen type and whether panels are fixed or removable.
• The number and kind of doors.
• Stairs, lighting, fans and outlets.
• The permit, and any work to the deck that the inspector requires.

Can I convert a deck to a screened porch?

If you own a deck, start by asking the company what it needs. For a screened porch over an existing deck, if a roof is added, ask the company how the posts and the deck beneath were checked. We state no footing depth, because we could not read a verified local figure. Ask the company, in writing, whether the existing footings and the ledger where the deck meets the house were checked before it priced a roof, and who made that check.

About 39 percent of Wilmington homes (26,074 of 67,186 housing units) were built before 1980, and the median home dates to 1990 (American Community Survey 2024, 1-year estimates). That is house age, not deck age. Ask the company to check the deck's condition before it prices a roof. The deck repair page lists repair prices by type.

Wood close to the ground is a weak spot. NC State Extension says untreated wood should be at least 8 inches from soil, and that wood decay fungi will not grow when wood moisture stays under 20 percent. That page is about houses and crawlspaces, not porches, so use it as a question about your own posts and floor framing.

What does Wilmington weather change in a screened porch?

Wilmington's normal annual rainfall is above 60 inches (NWS Wilmington, 1991 to 2020 normals). In 2018 the city recorded 102.40 inches, its wettest year, and Hurricane Florence alone dropped 23.02 inches at the airport. NWS counts 44 days at 90 degrees or higher and 61 thunderstorm days for 2025. Three questions follow for the bid.

• Roof drainage. Where do the gutters or roof edges send the water, and does it pool near the posts?
• Floor drainage. Is the floor gapped boards or solid, and what happens to water that gets in?
• Storm plan. Are the screen panels removable, and how are they secured? Ask the company to put its storm answer in writing. We state no wind rating.

Which screen material is right?

The cost guide names fiberglass, aluminum, polyester, solar screening and motorized screens. Ask the company for the product name and the maker's page, whether panels are fixed or lift out, and how many doors the bid includes. If you have a pet that scratches screens, ask what mesh it proposes.

Who handles the electrical work?

Fans, lights and outlets are electrical work. The county's fee page says trade permits are included in its residential permit fees, and the $400 figure above is one guide's listed number. Ask who wires the porch, what license that person holds and whether the fan and light plan is on the drawing.

Does a screened porch need a permit in Wilmington?

New Hanover County's Department of Permits and Inspections issues all building permits inside the City of Wilmington, through the COAST online portal or at the County Government Center (City of Wilmington building permits page). The county's FAQ says most construction needs a permit and lists structural work. It does not name decks, and its "Do I Need a Permit?" page holds no readable list, so we cannot say how a screened porch is classed. Ask the county.

• Fees. $60 when one inspection is enough, or $0.221 per square foot with a $400 minimum when two or more are needed. A $50 fee applies after two failed inspections.
• Zoning. The city asks you to check its Land Development Code before you apply. A project in a local historic district also needs a Certificate of Appropriateness.
• Expiry. A permit lapses if work does not start within six months or stops for 12 months.
• Waterfront lots. The county says a CAMA permit is required for most development in a coastal Area of Environmental Concern. Its page does not mention decks, so ask the local permit officer, and on an oceanfront lot ask how a roofed porch counts.

Before any hole is dug, NC811 asks for notice three working days ahead and says private lines on private property are not marked. Ask the company who calls.

How do I get a screened porch estimate and compare quotes?

Whether you call porch builders, screened porch builders or screened porch contractors, set two bids side by side in a screened porch quote or estimate. Ask each company to list:

1. Whether it priced screening only or a new roof and floor.
2. The roof type and the check made on the existing footings and ledger.
3. The screen product, panel type and door count.
4. Electrical, priced apart, and who does it.
5. Who pulls the permit, who pays the fee and who requests inspections.
6. Payment stages, with the last payment after the final inspection.

The county FAQ says projects worth $40,000 or more generally require a licensed general contractor. For smaller jobs, ask what license or registration applies and ask for proof of insurance. The company must show these, not Wilmington Deck Builders Pros. Questions about this site? See the contact page.

Screened porches in Wilmington FAQ

Call for a screened porch company in Wilmington

Call. We call you back within one business day and connect you with a local deck and porch company. You pay Wilmington Deck Builders Pros nothing for the call.

Calls reach a voicemail box. Leave your name, your town and a short description of the job.

Call (804) 889-2677

Have your porch size, whether it has a roof today and any association rules ready.

Sources

1. LawnLove, Screened-in porch cost (page dated October 9, 2026; read October 30, 2026)
2. HomeAdvisor, Build a Deck cost guide (page dated June 17, 2026)
3. New Hanover County, Permit Cost (read October 30, 2026)
4. New Hanover County, Frequently Asked Questions (read October 30, 2026)
5. New Hanover County, CAMA Permit Program (read October 30, 2026)
6. City of Wilmington, Building Permits (read October 30, 2026)
7. NC811 (read October 30, 2026)
8. NWS Wilmington, 1991-2020 climate normals (read October 30, 2026)
9. NWS Wilmington, race to 100 inches (read October 30, 2026)
10. NWS Wilmington, 2025 climate summary (read October 30, 2026)
11. NC State Extension, powderpost beetles and wood-inhabiting fungi (read October 30, 2026)
12. American Community Survey 2024 1-year, via Census Reporter (read October 30, 2026)