Screened porches and covered decks in Sioux Falls
Shade, shelter and fewer mosquitoes, added to a new deck or one you already have.
A screened porch or covered deck puts a roof over outdoor living space, and screens keep bugs out on summer evenings. If you're in Sioux Falls or a nearby town and want to use your deck more of the year, we connect you with an independent builder who designs and builds the roof, screens or pergola.
Which option fits how you'll use it?
- Pergola. Open beams and rafters for partial shade. No roof to carry snow, but no rain cover either.
- Covered deck. A solid roof, often tied into the house roof or framed as a gable, keeps rain and sun off.
- Screened porch. A covered deck with screen walls. It's the version people in the Upper Midwest tend to use most from June through September.
Why is a roof a bigger project than the deck?
A roof adds weight from snow. A South Dakota code summary lists a 35 psf ground snow load for Sioux Falls, and the roof, beams, posts and footings all have to be sized for it. Many existing decks weren't built with footings meant to hold up a roof, so the builder may need to add or enlarge footings, which have to reach the 42-inch frost depth listed for the city. Roof tie-ins also need flashing done right so water doesn't get into the house wall.
Summer weather on the plains
Sioux Falls summers are humid and stormy compared to the drier West, and most of the city's yearly precipitation falls in the warm months. A roof lets you sit out through a shower. Screens need to handle wind-driven rain and gusts too, so ask how the screen panels are fastened and how the floor drains water that blows in.
Things to decide before design
- Whether you want ceiling fans, lights or outlets, which bring an electrical permit
- Roof shape and how it meets the house, so it doesn't block upstairs windows
- Screen walls only, or knee walls with screens above
- Whether the floor stays deck boards or gets a screen underlayment to stop bugs coming up through the gaps
Permits and the city
Any deck in Sioux Falls needs a permit, and a roof adds structural review. If the homeowner is doing the work, the city says electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are separate from the building permit. Ask your builder who pulls each one.
What drives the cost?
- Roof type, size and how it ties into the existing roof
- New or upgraded footings and posts
- Screen system, doors and any knee walls
- Electrical work and ceiling finishes
Towns we cover
Common questions
Can I add a roof to my existing deck?
Sometimes. The footings, posts and beams have to be able to carry the roof and its snow load. A builder will check them and may add footings.
Do I need a permit for a pergola in Sioux Falls?
The city requires permits for decks of any size, and structures attached to a deck or house generally need review too. Call Building Services at 605-367-8670 to confirm for your project.
Is a screened porch the same as a three-season room?
Not quite. A screened porch has screen walls. A three-season room usually has windows and is closer to an addition, which brings more code requirements.
Related services
More background: Sioux Falls deck permit and footing guide.
Planning a deck, or worried about the one out back?
Call and we will connect you with an independent builder who works in the Sioux Falls area.