Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Screened Porch Deck and Flying Insects

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Gene F.
10-26-03, 01:19 PM
I am building a screened porch with a TREX deck. I am wondering if mosquitos or other flying insects will come up through the gaps in the deck boards. I have heard that flying insects, such as mosquitos and flys, will not fly through a narrow space (1/4" between deck boards) and they don't crawl. Some contractors place screen fabric under the floor, but this traps dirt.

Doug Aleshire
10-27-03, 05:05 AM
Gene F.,

I would suggest fiberglass screen - larger size holes and lay on top of joists, then your decking.

You have a choice, bugs (which I don't know about that 1/4" rule) or some dirt that might accumulate over a long length of time. Under an enclosed porch this shouldn't be an issue. Besides, it's nothing a good vacuum couldn't resolve in a matter of minutes.

Hope this helps!
lefty
10-27-03, 05:34 PM
First, at 1/4", you are overgapping the Trex. Use their gapping tool. Gaps are 1/8" if you are building in the summer, and 3/16" if you are building in the winter.

I've never heard of the 1/4" rule for the bugs -- and I doubt that they have EITHER!! (Even if they knew about it, they would probably just ignore it!)

Window screen on top of the joists before you install the Trex? Why not?? Guaranteed to keep the bugs out. Like Doug said, you would just have to vacuum out the gaps between the boards every so often.