Create a More Comfortable and Welcoming Entrance to
Your Home
Screen in your front entry, from the porch columns to the house, so you can open the front door to the breeze without letting the bugs in.
What Is a Screened Entryway?
A screened entryway is a custom aluminum screen enclosure built around the covered area outside your front door. We frame and screen the open sides of your front porch or entry, typically between the porch columns and the front wall of the house, and add a screen door where you walk in.
The result is a small, protected room in front of your home. You can leave the front door open for fresh air, greet guests without letting in mosquitoes, and keep leaves, pollen and debris off your entry.
What it is not: a screened entryway is not a screen door mounted on your front door. We don't install screen or storm doors on the home's entry door. Your front door stays exactly as it is. The enclosure sits out in front of it and has its own screen door.
How It Works
Most Florida homes have a covered front entry or small front porch: a roofline or overhang supported by columns, with open sides. We build the enclosure inside that space:
1. Screen walls between the columns and along the open sides, built from aluminum framing with screen mesh secured by spline
2. A screen door on the walkway side, typically a standard 26" x 80" door with a kickplate, where you enter the space
3. A chair rail and kickplates for strength and a finished look
4. A clean tie-in to your columns, porch ceiling and front wall, so it looks like part of the house
Screened entryways are built under an existing porch roof or overhang.
Why Florida Homeowners Screen In Their Front Entry
Open the Front Door Without the Bugs
Mosquitoes, flies, no-see-ums and lovebugs are part of Florida life. A screened entryway lets you prop the front door open and let air flow through the house, without the insects.
A Cleaner, Drier Entrance
The enclosure helps keep wind-blown leaves, palm debris, pollen and some of the rain off your front porch. That means less sweeping and a nicer welcome mat.
Curb Appeal
A well-designed entry enclosure follows the lines of your columns and roof, so it adds character to the front of the house instead of looking like an add-on.
A More Useful Front Porch
Homeowners use their screened entry to:
1. Receive packages out of the weather and away from pests
2. Take shoes off before coming inside
3. Let pets enjoy fresh air safely
4. Sit out front in the evening without getting bitten
5. Display plants and seasonal decor
Design Options
Screen Mesh
1. 18x14 standard mesh: the everyday choice for keeping out bugs, lizards and frogs
2. 20x20 no-see-um mesh: a tighter weave for gnats and no-see-ums, popular near water and preserves
3. Tuffscreen: stronger vinyl-coated polyester for wider panels
4. Pet screen: heavy-duty mesh if a dog likes to push against the screen
5. Florida Glass: a laminated screen that adds privacy from the street and blocks blowing rain
Kickplates and Chair Rail
Add a 16" or 24" kickplate along the bottom to protect the screen from shoes, packages and pets. A chair rail at about waist height divides the panels and adds strength.
Screen Door and Pet Door
The entry door can include a matching kickplate, and you can add a lockable pet door in small, medium or large.
Frame Color
Frames come in bronze or white aluminum options.
3D-Printed Wall Fills
Front entries often meet stone veneer, textured stucco or decorative columns, where a straight aluminum frame leaves gaps. Our 3D-printed wall fills are custom-made from UV-resistant ASA to match the exact contour of your wall, giving a seamless, gap-free connection that keeps bugs out and looks built-in.
Built for Florida Weather
Even a small entry enclosure has to stand up to Florida wind and rain. We design each one for the wind-load requirements of your location, anchor it properly to your porch slab and structure, and use corrosion-resistant aluminum and fasteners. For homes near the coast, we pay extra attention to salt-air exposure.
Permits and HOA Approval
Screened entryways typically need a building permit, and many neighborhoods require HOA or architectural review approval first. We provide the drawings and details your HOA usually asks for, then handle the permit and inspection with your city or county.
Our Installation Process
Free in-home estimates
We look at your front entry, measure the space and talk through the look you want.
Design
You choose the mesh, door location, kickplates and frame color.
Approvals
We prepare drawings for your HOA if needed, then pull the permit.
Installation
Our crew builds and installs the enclosure. Most entryways install quickly once the permit is issued.
Final Walkthrough
We review everything with you and coordinate the final inspection.
Why Choose Lafferty Aluminum & Screening
1. Family-owned, licensed and insured, serving Brevard and Indian River Counties since 2020
2. 2026 Brevard Community's Choice Award winner for Best Screen Rooms & Sunrooms
3. A+ BBB rating
4. The same team that builds our screen enclosures, screened porches and pool cages
5. We handle the design, permits and installation in-house
See finished projects in our gallery.
Areas We Serve
We install screened entryways throughout Brevard and Indian River Counties, including Palm Bay, Melbourne, Viera, Rockledge, Cocoa, Merritt Island, Titusville, the beachside communities, Sebastian and Vero Beach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a screened entryway?
It's a custom aluminum screen enclosure built around the covered area outside your front door, usually screening the open sides between your porch columns and the house, with its own screen door to walk in.
Is this a screen door on my front door?
No. We don't install screen or storm doors on the home's entry door. A screened entryway encloses the porch area in front of your door, and your existing front door doesn't change.
Can I leave my front door open with a screened entryway?
Yes. That's one of the main reasons homeowners add one: you can open the door for airflow while the enclosure keeps insects out.
What's the difference between a screened entryway and a screened porch?
A screened entryway is focused on the area right around the front door. A screened porch is usually a larger outdoor living space. See our screened porches page if you're looking for more room.
Do I need a permit for a screened entryway?
In most cases, yes, and HOA approval is often needed too. We provide the drawings and handle the permit and inspection.
Which screen is best for a front entry?
Standard 18x14 mesh works well for most homes. Choose 20x20 no-see-um mesh near water, or Florida Glass if you want more privacy from the street or protection from blowing rain.
How much does a screened entryway cost?
Cost depends on the size of the entry, the number of panels, the door and mesh you choose, and permit requirements. We provide free, itemized estimates.
Can you repair my existing entry screen?
Yes. Our screen repair team can rescreen or repair existing entry enclosures.
Get a Free Screened Entryway Estimate
Ready to enjoy your front porch without the bugs? Call (321) 652-1078 or request your free estimate online by filling out the contact form below.
