Encore is a newer master-planned community in Waxhaw where the homes are well-appointed and the porches arrive completely open. Valverax installed a vinyl-film enclosure on one of those fresh new-build porches so the owners could finally sit outside during pollen season, evening rain showers, and cool October mornings without giving up that wide-open backyard view.
Encore is a newer master-planned community tucked into the rolling terrain of southern Waxhaw, where the homes are built with quality finishes and spacious rear porches that face generous, private lots. The neighborhood attracts buyers who want that Union County small-town feel with quick access to the shops and restaurants along Providence Road West and the growing commercial corridor near the NC 16 bypass. Families move to Encore for the schools, the community feel, and the lifestyle. The porch is often a big part of that picture.
The problem is that Encore homes, like most new construction in Waxhaw, come with porches that are fully open. No screen. No glass. Nothing between the homeowner and whatever Union County weather decides to throw at them that afternoon. For the homeowner on this project, that meant watching a beautiful backyard go largely unused. Spring brought pollen so thick it coated every surface within hours of cleaning. Summer afternoons brought sudden thunderstorms that rolled in fast off the Piedmont. And the bugs were relentless from May through October.
The goal was to protect the space without ruining it. The homeowner and his wife wanted to watch TV on the porch, share dinner out there on weeknights, and enjoy that backyard view on cool mornings with a cup of coffee in hand. They did not want to feel like they were sitting in a glass box. They wanted the option of real fresh air when the weather cooperated.
Valverax installed a Craft-Bilt aluminum wall system fitted with a solid kneewall panel along the base and vertical stacking vinyl-film windows above it. The stacking panels operate in two directions: raise from the bottom to let air in low, or lower from the top for a different airflow pattern. On a perfect fall day, the panels stack completely open and the porch breathes like it did before. On a rainy Tuesday or at the height of pollen season, the panels stay closed and the porch stays spotless.
One wall of the porch ran into a layout challenge. An interior privacy wall blocked the lower portion of that section, which meant vertical stacking windows had nowhere to go. Valverax installed fixed vinyl-film panels below the privacy wall height and then used PGT horizontal slider vinyl-film windows above it. Those sliders open side to side, pulling a cross-breeze through the enclosure corner to corner even where vertical operation was not possible.
A tall entry door with a fixed transom window above it anchors the main wall and keeps the space feeling bright and proportional to the rest of the home. The homeowner finished the interior with wood-look plank flooring, a pair of ceiling fans, and motorized solar shades that drop at the touch of a button when afternoon sun hits the TV screen or when they want a little privacy from the yard. It is a porch that now earns its square footage every single day.
Encore homes are built by production builders who deliver a finished house with an unfinished outdoor living situation. The porch slab is poured, the roof is framed, and the columns are set, but the walls between you and the elements simply do not exist yet. That is an opportunity, not a flaw, because it means you get to choose exactly the enclosure that fits how your household actually lives.
Vinyl-film enclosures are a strong match for Encore porches for several reasons specific to this community. The neighborhood sits in a part of Waxhaw that sees long pollen seasons stretching from late February through early May, heavy summer humidity, and frequent afternoon thunderstorms that blow in quickly from the west. A vinyl-film system handles all three of those conditions in one installation. The clear flexible panels block pollen completely, shed rain without absorbing it, and provide a wind barrier that lets you stay outside during the edge of a storm when the air is still safe but the first drops are falling.
Because Encore is a newer community with HOA oversight, aesthetics matter. Vinyl-film systems install into powder-coated aluminum frames that look intentional and architectural from the street. There are no sagging screens, no improvised hardware, and no materials that will clash with the exterior finishes the builder already chose. The look is clean, consistent, and in keeping with what the HOA expects to see on properties in the neighborhood.
Vinyl-film is also a practical choice for homeowners who are still furnishing a new house and want flexibility. The enclosure protects the porch while the owners decide on furniture, flooring, lighting, and how they want to use the space long-term. It does not lock them into a full room addition. It gives them a protected outdoor room that can evolve as the household does.
The vinyl-film panels close flush against the aluminum frame and form a solid seal that blocks pollen, rain, and wind-driven insects completely. During Union County pollen season you can watch the yellow coating build up on the outside of the panels while the interior of the porch stays completely clean. When a storm rolls through you stay dry without going inside. When conditions clear, you open the panels and the fresh air comes back in on your schedule.
Unlike a screened porch that offers fixed airflow at all times, a vinyl-film stacking system gives you control. Stack the panels fully open for maximum ventilation on a mild spring morning. Crack the bottom a few inches for a gentle breeze while keeping bugs out. Close everything completely when pollen counts are high or weather moves in. The PGT horizontal sliders on this project add cross-ventilation from a second direction so the entire enclosure breathes rather than just one wall.
This video was recorded during peak spring pollen season in Waxhaw. You can see the yellow pollen coating sitting on the outside surface of the vinyl-film panels while the camera pans to a completely clean interior on the other side. The homeowner walks through how the stacking panels operate and shows the PGT horizontal sliders on the privacy wall section. It is the clearest demonstration of what this type of enclosure actually does for a Union County porch during the worst weeks of allergy season.
We come to your Encore home, measure every wall of the porch, and take note of anything that will affect the installation, including interior privacy walls, column placement, roof pitch, and existing utility locations. We listen to how you plan to use the space and recommend the system configuration that matches your lifestyle and your budget.
Not every wall on every porch works the same way. On this project one section needed horizontal sliders instead of vertical stackers because of a privacy wall that blocked vertical operation. We explain those decisions clearly so you understand what you are getting and why, before anything is ordered or installed.
Our crew arrives on schedule, works cleanly, and treats your property with respect. We handle the complete enclosure from the aluminum frame and kneewall base through the vinyl-film panels, entry door, and transom. When we leave, the porch is finished and ready to use.
The measure of a good installation is whether the space becomes part of daily life. Encore homeowners who complete this project stop avoiding their porches during pollen season and start scheduling evenings out there. That is the outcome we build toward on every job.
"Valverax just installed our Craft-Bilt patio enclosure and we love it. The quality and workmanship was excellent. Jerry met with us to review our options in detail. He was great to work with and was engaged through the entire project. Highly Recommended!"
Yes. Encore has an active HOA and most structural exterior modifications require approval before work begins. Valverax carries NC Contractor License 99348 and can provide documentation to include with your HOA application. We recommend submitting your application before scheduling your installation date so there are no delays once materials arrive.
Union County weather is a good fit for vinyl-film systems. The flexible film handles the thermal expansion and contraction that comes with hot Carolina summers and cool winters better than rigid glass alternatives. The aluminum frame is powder-coated to resist humidity and UV degradation. Periodic cleaning with mild soap and water keeps the panels clear and extends their service life.
Craft-Bilt aluminum frames come in finishes that coordinate with standard new-build exterior palettes. The profile lines are clean and architectural rather than utilitarian. Most Encore HOAs respond positively to vinyl-film enclosures because the finished result looks like a deliberate design choice rather than an afterthought. We can show you comparable installations during your consultation so you can see exactly what to expect.
Complicated layouts are common on Encore porches. Interior privacy walls, angled rooflines, and tight corner columns all require custom solutions. On this project we used PGT horizontal sliders on the section where a privacy wall blocked vertical operation. We assess each porch individually and recommend the system configuration that works with your specific structure rather than forcing a one-size approach onto every job.
Valverax serves homeowners throughout Encore, Waxhaw, and Union County NC. If your new-build porch is sitting unused because of pollen, rain, or bugs, a 3-season vinyl-film enclosure is the most practical way to fix that. Request your free estimate and we will come to your home, measure the space, and walk you through exactly what is possible.