| This project presented two tricky circumstances. First, the porch had to be remodeled so it could structurally support a room addition above it. The porch's floor joists were restructured with piers, and steel tubes encased in cedar (rather than 2x4s) were used between the porch windows and the bottom plane of the addition to transfer the loads. The steel columns provided structure with minimum width, which allowed for bigger window screens. Second, the existing porch floor slanted away from the home, so all of the remodeling work was done on an angle. |
The porch was reconstructed using custom millwork of treated wood. It has double-thick walls, and behind all the siding and wood are fireproof materials. A drainage system " with a drain series between the baseboards and the weep holes on the outer wall's exterior " removes any rainfall that might enter the porch.
Custom-built stainless steel cabinetry houses the gas grill, and a 2,300-cubic-foot-per-minute vent hood with an external blower removes all smoke from the area. Although the porch is screened, air-conditioner vents were built in to help cool large groups, especially during summer.
Craftsman-style casing and trim, copper mesh screens and V-groove paneling on the ceilings and walls match the home's existing style and make the porch look as old as the home.
Ryan Haas, CGR, CAPS, vice president of sales for Houston Structural, says the homeowners received a high-tech, fire-, water- and weather-resistant structure that far exceeds code, "gives them the ability to entertain year-round and also gives the home a whole new zone with an area for retreating."
The nine-week project cost $54,000.
|
Add new comment
Related Stories
Designing, Building, and Installing a Luxury Custom Wine Cube
An 11-foot wine cube enveloping a pantry is the stand out feature of this customized New York penthouse
Marvin Releases Switchable Privacy Glass Window
The privacy glass windows can be purchased from Marvin's Direct Glaze windows
Building A Small Projects Division from the Ground Up
Through hard work and careful strategy, Harth Home Services has seen big growth
Client Design Choices in the Time of Social Media and AI
Social media speeds up the trend cycles, and now artificially created images are falling into homeowners' hands
Design Trends to Watch in 2024
What’s in and out for the upcoming year? Remodeling designers share insights
Insights for Designing Outdoor Kitchens
Was the pandemic-fueled thirst for outdoor kitchen remodels and additions a fluke, or is it here to stay? Plus: The top design considerations for outdoor kitchens
Home Run Remodeling Lessons: The New American Remodel 2023
A final look at The New American Remodel 2023
Webinar: From Disjointed Design to Cohesive and Efficient—The New American Remodel 2023
Access the recording for the first The New American Remodel webinar held on March 8 at 2 pm CT