Steven Willson, Popular Mechanics

Open porches are unquestionably a blessing, especially in warm weather. They provide some extra living space in the open air that just can't be duplicated by decks or patios. They protect you from the sun and rain and if there's a better place to hang a hammock, it's hard to imagine.

But when the weather turns cold, an open porch loses nearly all its appeal. It becomes dormant real estate that doesn't get much use until things warm up again. In some areas of the country, this can take nearly six months, which is a long time for something that costs so much to be out of commission.

This porch enclosure (pictured, left) was split between a dedicated seating area and a play area for kids, with plenty of built-in storage and a table for eating and other activities.

For die-hard porch enthusiasts, enclosing the space may not be attractive. But for the rest of us, the tradeoff can be compelling, especially if you have a large porch that would add substantially to the year-round square footage of your house.

And, if you enclose the space with large windows, like we did, you can end up with a dramatic sun room that has a special appeal of its own.

Because so much of the structure is already in place, enclosing a porch is a pretty straightforward project. All that's really required are installing some windows, adding some insulation and providing some extra heat.

Unfortunately, porches come in all shapes and sizes and each is bound to have its own idiosyncrasies that can complicate the job.