A better threshold to the outdoors
Extend the season—and the way you use your backyard.
Create a place for morning coffee, family dinners or shade-covered afternoons with a transition that feels connected to the house.
Plan the whole result
Outdoor living begins at the back door
The most useful outdoor spaces are planned from inside out. Door location, steps, views, shade and furniture zones determine whether a deck or porch becomes a natural daily destination.
Sandcastle Builders builds decks, sunrooms and screened porches for homes across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Each option offers a different relationship to weather, light and the yard, so the design starts with how and when you want to use it.
Questions homeowners bring to the first meeting
- Choosing the right level of weather protection for the desired seasons of use
- Creating comfortable zones for dining, seating and circulation
- Connecting the new structure to the home's doors, rooflines and exterior character
What the scope can include
Connected work, defined before implementation.
The initial review considers sun, views, yard access and the intended seasons of use. The proposal then defines the type of space, its connection to the home and the included construction details.
Open decks and defined outdoor seating areas
Screened porches
Sunrooms and enclosed outdoor-transition spaces
Steps, railings and circulation planning
Ceiling, trim and finish carpentry within the project
Connections to adjoining interior rooms
Decisions that shape the outcome
Resolve the details while they can still support the plan.
Open-air, screened or more enclosed use based on weather and household routines
Furniture zones, grill or dining placement and clear walking paths
Material character, railing style and details that relate to the house
Related capabilities
Other work that may connect to the project.
Service questions
Questions about decks & sunrooms
The details vary by home and scope. These answers provide a practical starting point before an on-site review.
How do we choose between a deck, screened porch and sunroom?
Consider how many seasons you want to use the space, how much protection you want from weather and insects, and whether the room should feel primarily indoor or outdoor.
Can the design coordinate with our existing home?
Yes. Door locations, rooflines, trim, railings, proportions and material character can be considered in relation to the house.
Should furniture be discussed before the space is designed?
Yes. Knowing where dining, seating or activity areas belong helps establish useful dimensions and clear paths between the house and yard.
A better threshold to the outdoors
Let’s talk about your decks & sunrooms project.
Share what you want to change, what is not working today and what matters most in the finished space.