I've decided to make the front porch area into another room. I've only used the patio once in all the time I've lived here (not counting its recent use as a random storage area), I figure I have room to pour another patio if I ever need/want one.
I can do SOME things with wood, but I'm far from a master builder and wanted someone who knows what they are doing to help make decisions, or rather NOT make mistakes. I'd been talking with my friend/superior wood craftsman Willy Neat off and on for about a year about the project, and he found a few weekends this summer to help out.
The first thing we needed to do is tear out the past. The sealed-in part of the porch was in very bad shape from decades of rain leaks, weather exposure, ant and termite damage, and general poor construction/neglect. The two corner support posts were rotted out; as we found out, the only thing they were really supporting was the ant colony under one of them. As those of you who have been to the house know, my front yard is a jungle of trees, bushes, ivy and other green leafy things. Decades of oak and maple leaves build up the soil to the point that it was at or over the level of the(if built correctly)anti-insect barrier. It instead acted as more of a free access point and weather shield for them.
We began by moving the sliding glass door I installed last year. It would have been nice to be able to leave it in place, but it became impossible. It is now comfortably resting in my workshop for the time being.
After Willy cut a few braces, we tore down the rotten framework fairly quickly. The old siding is brittle from UV damage; I actually got a cut on my face when a piece of it shattered whilst peeling it off with a hammer. The old storm windows (taken from elsewhere and installed sideways) with their wonderful flat-head screws were really the biggest delay of the whole day.
Between the time of the first and second support beam installation, I began removing the lovely green outdoor carpeting and cutting it into strips that would fit into construction trash bags. I finished this in the next few days after.
I find it ironic that the roses picked this year to finally grow out and bloom; I hope I don't have to cut them out to finish the project.
The final thing in prep for week two was the shuffle. Everything that had been inside the sealed porch was now exposed and rain was coming the next two days. I pushed all the crap into the center of the porch and left it. There's nothing out there I'm unwilling to trash when it comes down to it.
The new lumber has arrived, so we can begin framing next Saturday!
PS- the felines are understandibly annoyed that I took away their playpen, but seem to be enjoying looking out the storm door just as much since the outdoor critters figured out the walls are gone.
Mental notes:
1-if you remove part of your house that used to block the outside view, people may be able to see you if you walk around naked (assuming they can see that far in the first place).
2-it's interesting that I can now see directly onto Carol's porch while sitting on the toilet.
