Two of the most requested covered outdoor spaces in Broken Arrow are the open covered patio and the screened porch — and they serve genuinely different purposes. Here’s how to think through which is right for your backyard and lifestyle.
Open Covered Patio — The Foundation
An open covered patio has a roof (solid metal, shingles, or polycarbonate) that provides rain and sun protection, but the sides are open to the outdoor air. This is the most common covered outdoor structure in Broken Arrow — it covers 90% of what most homeowners want from an outdoor space.
Best for:
- Outdoor kitchens and grilling areas — you want full airflow to clear smoke and cooking vapors
- Large group entertainment — openness lets the space expand to include the surrounding yard
- Homeowners who primarily use the space during the day or don’t find mosquitoes a significant problem
- Lower-budget applications where the screened enclosure cost isn’t justified by the use case
Limitations: Mosquitoes and flying insects are present in full force. Morning and evening use in May–September can be uncomfortable without mosquito control measures.
Screened Porch Enclosure — The Bug-Free Zone
A screened porch adds framed screen panels on all open sides of a covered structure, creating a zone that excludes mosquitoes, flies, wasps, and other flying insects while maintaining full airflow.
Best for:
- Morning coffee drinkers and families who want to eat breakfast and dinner outside without bugs
- Homeowners whose properties back to water or wooded areas with high mosquito pressure
- Families with young children or pets who want to sit outside without constant insect management
- Those who want to use the space 10+ months of the year by adding a heating element in winter
Cost premium: A screened porch enclosure on an existing or new covered patio structure adds approximately $8,000–$20,000 depending on size, screen type, and whether a door is required.
Panel Screen Systems — The Middle Ground
EZE-Breeze, Vinyl Eze, and similar panel systems install in open covered patio bays and can be opened (folded back) or closed (lowered or rolled). Closed: a weather-tight zone that keeps bugs out. Open: a full open covered patio. These systems convert an existing covered patio to a three-season (or even four-season with a heater) room without permanent screening.
Panel systems are more expensive than fixed screens but offer flexibility that fixed screens don’t — you’re not locked into a screened space when you want full outdoor feel on a cool spring evening.
The Mosquito Alternative
Some Broken Arrow homeowners address bugs on an open covered patio through misting systems — permanently installed mosquito misting nozzles around the patio perimeter that spray insecticide on a timer or remote trigger. A misting system ($1,200–$3,000 installed) is cheaper than a screened enclosure and effective for reducing mosquito pressure significantly.
What VistaScapes Builds
We build both open covered patios and screened porch enclosures in Broken Arrow. For homeowners who want to decide later, we frame the covered patio structure to accept future screen panels — so screening can be added without modifying the structural framing. Call 918-779-1317 to discuss which option is right for your backyard and lifestyle.
