A porch is directly attached to your home, usually at the front around the door. Screened-in porches are essentially the same as standard porches, except they’re enclosed with screening. A patio can be a freestanding platform and is typically located at the back of the home. There are also second-story patios that can be located on the front, the side, or the back of the home. In the latter cases, a screened-in patio can resemble an open-air sunroom.