Owner-operated · Homeowner guide · Marietta
Deck, Screened Porch or Patio: What Fits Your Marietta Yard?Marietta · Cobb County
Marietta: It is a quiet Saturday evening, the grill is smoking, a kid is chasing a ball across the boards, and a mosquito lands on your ankle just as the first raindrops hit the table. Owner-operated, with a free written estimate.
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Homeowner guide · Marietta
Deck, screened porch, covered deck or patio: which fits my yard?
Standing there in Marietta, you may wonder whether you need an open deck, a screened porch, a covered deck or a patio, and which one truly fits your yard.
- The owner comes to the visit and writes the estimate himself
- Crews with 10+ years of combined experience
- Insured (general liability)
- Rated 5.0 on Google across 31 reviews as of Nov 2026
- Photos from our own jobs, not stock images
Marietta
Start with the sun and the afternoon heat
Before you pick a structure, spend a few days watching where the light falls. An open deck on the sunny side of a house can turn hot by midafternoon, and dark boards can get uncomfortable for bare feet. A deck tucked under big trees may stay cool but can stay damp, collect leaves and grow slick or mossy. Marietta sits on rolling, wooded ground, so shade is part of almost every yard here. Note which hours you actually want to be outside. Morning coffee people and evening grill people often end up needing different answers, and that difference alone can point toward a roof, a pergola or plain open boards.
A roof changes the sun story a lot. A covered deck or screened porch gives you a ceiling that blocks the high summer sun, so you can sit outside when an open deck would be too bright. The trade-off is light inside the house, because a roof over a back door can make the nearby rooms feel darker. Some families like that, since it cools the room. Others miss the daylight. A patio at ground level has no roof unless you add one, so it takes the full sun and gives you the most flexibility to add shade later. When Breno visits, we look at your sun, your trees and your windows together, then talk through what each choice would change.
Marietta
Bugs, rain and the screened porch
Bugs are the reason many people in the Atlanta area start asking about screens. Mosquitoes tend to show up at dusk, which is exactly when people want to eat outside, and a yard with trees, leaf litter or low spots can hold plenty of them. A screened porch gives you a bug-free room, so you can sit down at sunset without a can of spray. An open deck or patio gives you none of that. Candles and fans help a little, but they do not turn an evening around the way a screen does. If bugs are your main complaint, that points hard toward a screened porch.
Rain is the other half of the story. A screened porch comes with a roof, so a summer storm becomes something you can watch instead of something that chases you inside. A covered deck gives rain cover too, though wind can blow water in at the edges and bugs can still reach you. The open deck and the patio get wet and need drying time after every storm. Wet wood also tends to weather faster, so an uncovered deck usually asks for more regular cleaning and sealing. The trade-off for a roof is that it is more to build and more to maintain overhead, such as gutters, framing and screens that can tear.
How it works
Five steps. No surprises.
Call, text, or send the form
Tell us what is going on: a new deck, a repair, or “not sure yet.” We reply the same day.
Free on-site visit
Breno looks at the deck or the yard himself, measures, and goes over your options with you.
Written estimate
Scope, materials and price come in writing, so you know the plan before anything starts.
Schedule and permits
We agree on a start date and confirm any city, county or HOA requirement for your address first.
Build and final walk-through
Breno is on the job, and we go over the finished work with you before we call it done.
Real B&T work
Photos from real jobs
Real photos from B&T projects in North Georgia, not necessarily from Marietta.
Marietta
Privacy and the view from the yard
Think about who can see you. Some Marietta lots are close to the neighbors, and an open deck can feel like a stage on a quiet weekend. A screened porch gives a bit of softness, since the screen and its framing break up sightlines, though it is not a solid wall. A covered deck can use side panels, lattice or planter boxes to block certain angles. A patio can be wrapped with hedges, a fence or a low wall, which can be a gentle way to get privacy without adding a big structure. The right answer depends on whether you want to be hidden or just feel a little less exposed.
Views matter too. If your yard looks out over a wooded slope or a pretty line of trees, you may not want screens or heavy walls in the way. An open deck with a good railing keeps the view clean, and cable or slim balusters can leave it nearly unbroken. If the view is mostly a fence and a neighbor's shed, a screened porch with solid lower walls can be a welcome change. Walk your yard and stand where the table would go. Ask what you want to see, and what you would rather not look at while you sit down for dinner.
Marietta
Slope, trees and how the frame is built
Slope is one of the biggest reasons a patio is not always the easy choice. On a flat spot, a patio is a natural option. On a sloped lot, which is common around Marietta, the ground may need a lot of grading or retaining work before a patio can sit level. A raised deck simply rides above the slope on posts, so the same yard can suit a deck far better. The taller the deck, the more the framing, bracing and stairs matter, and the more careful the footings need to be. Slope also affects where water runs, and a bad drainage spot can ruin a patio faster than a deck.
Mature trees add their own twist. Roots can limit where footings go, falling leaves and pine needles collect in the gaps between boards, and shade keeps wood damp longer. Those things shape how a deck is framed and how fast wood weathers. A screened porch under heavy trees may need a more thoughtful roof so debris does not pile up, and screens can need more attention. A covered deck can shed leaves from the dining area but needs good gutters. When we walk the yard, we look at the roots, the slope, the downspouts and the tree limbs before we recommend anything, because the ground often decides what is practical.
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Marietta
How your family really uses the space
The last question is the simplest and the most useful: what will you do out there every week? If you host cookouts for a crowd, a wide open deck with room for a grill and a long table can work well. If you want a place to read, nap and eat dinner without fighting bugs, a screened porch usually gets used more often. A covered deck sits in between, giving you rain protection and open air. A patio suits kids, pets, fire pits and loose furniture, since it is right at ground level and easy to step onto from the grass.
Think about the people too. Stairs can be hard for older relatives, so a low deck, a ground-level patio or a porch with an easy path can be kinder. Young children and dogs may need good railings and a gate, while a screened porch can keep a toddler from wandering. Also remember that you may be near the historic Marietta Square, near Roswell Road, or out toward Cobb Parkway, and your property may have its own approvals. Permits depend on your exact address, so confirm with the City of Marietta or Cobb County, and ask your HOA early if you have one. Before the written estimate, we look at what applies to your lot.
Straight answers
Marietta homeowner questions
Is a screened porch worth it if I mostly want to avoid mosquitoes?
Often, yes. Screens are the one option here that truly keep bugs out, so you can eat and relax at dusk without spray. A covered deck or open deck will not do that. Just remember that a roof and screens also bring more framing and upkeep.
Can a deck work on a sloped Marietta lot?
It often can. A raised deck is built on posts and can sit above uneven ground, while a patio may need extensive grading first. Taller decks need careful footings, bracing and stairs, so Breno looks at the slope in person before recommending a design.
Will a covered deck keep my furniture dry?
It can keep most of it dry, since the roof blocks rain falling straight down. Wind can still push water in at the edges, especially on the open sides. Position matters, so we talk through your yard's exposure, and adding side panels or screens can help.
Is a patio easier to maintain than a deck?
Sometimes, because there is no wood to seal or replace. But a patio can settle, hold water or grow moss in shady spots, and it needs good drainage underneath. A deck can need more regular cleaning and sealing, so the answer depends on your yard.
How do trees and falling leaves affect my choice?
Trees give welcome shade but also drop leaves, needles and moisture onto your space. Wood under heavy shade can weather faster and stay slick. A roof can shed debris from the seating area, though it needs gutters, and roots can limit where posts go.
Do I need a permit to build a deck or screened porch?
It depends on your exact address. Homes inside the city limits go through the City of Marietta, while nearby unincorporated addresses go through Cobb County. Please confirm with the right office. We also check what applies to your parcel before we write the estimate.
Can I start with an open deck and add a roof or screens later?
Sometimes, yes. If the posts, footings and framing are planned for the extra weight from the start, a roof or screens can be added later without rebuilding. Tell Breno your long-term wishes at the first visit so the frame is sized to match.
Can B&T Properties help me decide before I commit?
Yes. Breno visits your home in person, looks at the sun, slope, trees and how your family lives, and talks through the trade-offs with you. We give free written estimates for decks, screened porches, railings and stairs for homes in Marietta, Kennesaw, East Cobb and Acworth.
Verified Google reviews
What the neighbors are saying
These are verified Google reviews from B&T customers.
★★★★★
“Outstanding service! Breno is knowledgeable, honest, and takes pride in his work. It's hard to find a company this reliable these days.”
★★★★★
“Breno F. is an incredible man. He helped my aging mother when no one else would and went the extra mile with a complex home repair. His work is meticulous and his follow through is commendable. He is a good man with a great heart. Highly recommended!”
Who’s doing the work
About B&T Properties
You deal with the owner. Breno visits, quotes and oversees the work, and the crew brings more than ten years of deck experience between them. B&T carries General Liability insurance, and Marietta is part of our regular service area.
Upgrades
Add-ons to consider
Ask about any of these when Breno comes out for your free estimate. They are easiest to price in when we plan the project, not after it is built.
Multi-level layouts
Two levels can follow your slope and give dining and lounging their own space.
Cover or screens
Shade, rain cover or screens, planned in from the start.
Lighting
Soft LED lighting along the steps and rail, so the deck is usable after dark.
Railing styles
Railing is what you see first, so we go over the options before the estimate is final.
Written warranty
1-year workmanship warranty
Workmanship warranty: one year from the day we complete the work, in writing. Faults that come from our labor are repaired at no charge. Not included: manufacturer material defects, normal wear and tear, weather, misuse, no maintenance, repairs by other parties. Submit claims in writing.
Free written estimate
Tell Breno about your Marietta deck — free and in writing.
No call center, no sales rep — the person who answers is the person who does the work.