Dilworth, Charlotte, NC • Mecklenburg County • Completed October 2026
A large elevated screened deck backing up to the woods gets a full vinyl-film enclosure, keeping pollen, wind, rain, and debris outside while preserving every bit of the open, airy feel the homeowner loves.
This Dilworth homeowner had everything going for a great outdoor living space. The back of his Charlotte home sat elevated above the yard, and a large screened deck extended the living area into the tree canopy. The view into the woods was beautiful. The reality of living with that view, however, was a different story.
Every spring, Charlotte's notorious pollen season turned the screened porch into a yellow-dusted room that required constant cleaning. When afternoon storms rolled in from the southwest, the wind-driven rain cut straight through the screening, leaving furniture soaked and the deck slippery underfoot. Fallen leaves, twigs, and debris from the adjacent woods found their way through every gap. The homeowner wanted to actually use the space without fighting the elements three-quarters of the year.
His goal was clear: keep the pollen out, keep the rain out, and keep the wind-blown debris out, all without losing the connection to that wooded backdrop he had specifically chosen when he bought the home.
Rather than tear down the existing white wood-framed deck structure, our crew worked with what was already there. The wooden railings were perfectly sound and provided all the fall protection needed for the elevated deck, so they stayed exactly where they were. We enclosed the perimeter openings with custom-measured vinyl-film stacking windows that slide up and stack neatly at the top when you want fresh air and drop down to form a clear, weather-resistant barrier when conditions turn.
Each opening was measured individually. With twelve primary openings across three wall sections, plus a transom above, every vinyl-film panel was cut to its exact rough opening minus the standard eighth-inch tolerance on width and height. Quarter-round trim finished each frame cleanly against the existing white wood, creating a tidy finished appearance that respects the character of the original structure.
This vinyl-film system uses a flexible clear vinyl film rather than rigid glass. The panels are crystal clear, letting in natural light and preserving the wooded view completely. When closed, they block pollen, bugs, rain, and wind-driven debris without making the space feel like an interior room. Valverax now offers this type of vinyl-film enclosure as Sunleaf℠ remodeling services.
Twelve primary openings plus a fixed transom, each measured to its unique rough opening dimension. No two openings on this porch were identical, so every panel was fabricated to its own specification.
The vinyl-film panels stack upward and out of the way when you want an open-air experience. Pull them down and they lock into place to seal out pollen, rain, and blowing debris from the woods behind the house.
Quarter-round trim was applied around each opening to transition cleanly between the new vinyl-film frames and the existing white wood framing, giving the finished porch a polished, intentional look.
The original wooden railings were kept intact. They were structurally sound and already provided compliant fall protection for the elevated deck, so there was no reason to remove and replace them.
Every opening on this elevated Dilworth porch was measured individually to account for the natural variation in an older wood-framed structure. The table below reflects the final fabrication dimensions, each taken at minus one-eighth inch on both width and height to allow for proper installation clearance.
Dilworth is one of Charlotte's most beloved in-town neighborhoods, and many of its homes back up to mature tree cover that creates a true canopy experience. That same tree cover is the source of seasonal frustration for homeowners who want to enjoy their outdoor spaces. In the spring, pollen from oaks, pines, and sweetgums coats every surface on a screened porch within hours of cleaning. In late summer and fall, afternoon storm systems push wind and rain horizontally, right through open screening.
Vinyl-film stacking windows address these problems directly without converting the porch into a conditioned interior room. When the weather is calm and the pollen counts are low, the panels stack up and the porch breathes freely. When conditions are rough, the panels drop down and form a clear barrier that keeps the debris, rain, and pollen outside where they belong. The homeowner gets the wooded view year-round, the fresh-air option on good days, and genuine weather protection when Charlotte decides otherwise.
For Mecklenburg County homeowners with elevated decks in particular, this type of enclosure also avoids major structural work. Because we work within the existing framing and retain the original railings, the project is faster to complete and less disruptive to the home than a full room addition would be.
Valverax serves Dilworth, Charlotte, and all of Mecklenburg County. We will measure every opening, fabricate your vinyl-film panels to exact specifications, and complete the installation with a clean trim finish. Contact us today for your free on-site estimate.