Already have a covered porch, deck, or patio? Betterliving MidAtlantic Sunrooms specializes in converting existing outdoor structures into beautiful, fully enclosed living spaces — faster, more affordably, and with less disruption than a new addition.
A porch or patio conversion is the process of enclosing an existing outdoor structure — a covered porch, a deck with a roof overhead, or a covered patio — by adding walls, screens, or glass to the existing framework. Unlike a new sunroom addition, which requires engineering and building a complete structure from the ground up, a conversion works with what you already have — using your existing roof and foundation as the starting point.
For homeowners across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware who already have a covered outdoor space they’re not fully using, a conversion is often the fastest and most cost-effective path to meaningful additional living space. You’re not paying for a new roof or a new foundation — you’re investing in enclosing and finishing a structure that’s already there.
The result can be a screen room, a three season glass enclosure, or a fully insulated four season room — depending on your existing structure, your goals, and your budget. Our design team will assess your space during a free in-home consultation and walk you through every option that makes sense for your specific home.
Not all patio enclosures are the same. Depending on how you want to use your space — and the seasons you want to use it across — there are three primary types of patio enclosure to consider. We design and install all three across PA, NJ, and DE.
Not sure which applies to your home? Our design team will assess your existing structure during your free in-home consultation and give you an honest recommendation.
→ Explore Four Season Sunroom Additions
→ Explore Three Season Sunroom Additions
Here’s something most contractors won’t tell you: existing porches and covered patios settle over time. Rooflines sag. Foundations shift. Posts lean. By the time a homeowner decides to enclose their porch, the structure they’re working with is rarely perfectly level, square, or plumb.
Most contractors simply build to existing conditions — installing wall panels, screens, and doors on top of whatever they find. The result looks fine at first. Then the doors start to stick. The screens wrinkle and gap. Water finds its way in at the corners. The room that was supposed to add value to the home becomes a maintenance problem.
The right approach is to assess and correct the existing structure before a single panel goes up. That means documenting the actual condition of the roof pitch, posts, beams, and slab or deck surface — using precision measurement tools to identify exactly where the structure has shifted. Then correcting for slope, pitch, and deflection before fabricating and installing the enclosure walls. Water management — proper flashing, sill pans, and sealants — gets engineered into the installation from the start, not applied as an afterthought.
The result is a conversion that is square, plumb, and weather-tight from day one — with doors that slide smoothly, screens that fit flat, and a room that performs for decades without leaks or maintenance surprises.
This is the standard Betterliving MidAtlantic Sunrooms holds every conversion to. It takes more time and expertise than building to existing conditions. It’s also the only way to do it right.
Our design team visits your home to evaluate your existing structure — documenting roof pitch, posts, beams, foundation, and deck or slab condition. We identify exactly what we’re working with before any design decisions are made.
Where needed, we correct for out-of-level floors, sagging rooflines, and structural deflection before installation begins. This step is what separates a conversion that performs long-term from one that causes problems within a few seasons.
We engineer the water management system into the installation — proper flashing, sill pans, and sealants designed to keep water out for the life of the room. This is not caulk applied at the end. It’s a deliberate, engineered system built in from the start.
Screen or glass wall panels are custom-fabricated to fit the corrected, leveled openings — not field-cut to whatever conditions exist. Doors are installed plumb, smooth, and properly sealed. Every track and sealant is verified before we leave the job site.
We conduct a final quality inspection of every track, seal, panel, and door before the project is considered complete. Your warranty documentation is provided at project completion.
Every porch and patio conversion is custom-designed around your existing structure and your goals. We offer three enclosure configurations:
Maximum airflow and bug protection with minimal investment. Heavy-duty aluminum framing and durable screening keep insects, pollen, and debris out while letting the breeze through freely. The most budget-friendly conversion option and a great entry point for homeowners who want to start enjoying their outdoor space immediately.
→ Learn More About Screen Rooms
Sliding glass panels with screen options extend your comfortable season from early spring through late fall. Low-E glass options improve thermal performance on cooler days. The right balance of investment and year-round value for most Mid-Atlantic homeowners.
Full insulation, climate control, and year-round comfort. The highest-investment conversion option and the one with the strongest impact on your home’s appraised value and livable square footage. Requires a sound existing foundation and roof structure.
When evaluating contractors for a porch or patio conversion, the quality of the installation process matters as much as the quality of the product. Here’s how our approach compares to the industry standard:
We perform porch and patio conversions throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey, and Delaware — including the following counties:
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Delaware
A porch conversion uses your existing covered structure — the roof and foundation are already there, and we enclose the open sides with screens or glass. A new sunroom addition involves engineering and building a complete structure from scratch, including a new roof and foundation. Conversions are typically faster and more affordable, and are the right choice when your existing structure is sound. A new addition offers more design flexibility and is necessary when no suitable existing structure exists.
Yes — and this is one of the most important things to address before any conversion begins. Existing porches commonly settle over time, causing the roofline and foundation to shift out of level. We assess the actual condition of your structure before installation and correct for any slope, pitch, or deflection issues before walls and panels go up. This is what ensures your doors slide smoothly, your screens fit flat, and your room stays weather-tight for the long term.
Yes. Our warranty covers our installation and workmanship — including the work performed under your existing roof and foundation. This is an important distinction: many contractors only warranty the new walls, leaving your existing structure excluded. We stand behind the complete installation.
Depending on your existing structure and goals, we can install a screen room, a three season glass enclosure, or a fully insulated four season enclosure under an existing covered structure. Our design team will assess your specific situation and walk you through which options are structurally feasible and make the most sense for how you plan to use the space.
In most municipalities, yes — even a conversion that works within an existing structure typically requires a building permit. Requirements vary by township and county across PA, NJ, and DE. Betterliving MidAtlantic Sunrooms manages the permitting process as part of every project.
Most conversions are completed within a few days to one week of installation beginning, depending on the size of the space and the scope of any structural correction work needed. The full timeline from initial consultation to installation completion — including design, permitting, and scheduling — typically ranges from six to ten weeks. Your project manager will map out a specific timeline during the design process.
Yes. Converting an open or underused outdoor structure into an enclosed, finished living space adds usable square footage and improves your home’s appeal to future buyers. Homeowners with an open covered porch or deck that they rarely use are leaving both comfort and equity on the table. A properly installed conversion is one of the most cost-effective home improvements available in the Mid-Atlantic market.
Your free in-home assessment is the first step. Our team will visit your home, evaluate your existing structure, and walk you through every enclosure option that makes sense for your space and your budget — before you commit to anything.
Serving PA, NJ & DE homeowners since 2008. Response within one business day.
