Ponder Porch Project

The Ponders were in the process of renovating their home of which they have owned for a many of years. They were wanting a fresh new look over what they had for the next few years while the kids finished high school and to give it some 'curb appeal' in case they were ready to sell it within the next few years. 



His first concern was the weather exposed (rotted) beam and the 4x4 post that was just propped in under it. The front door was also hidden in a dark, cave like recess with a window that didn't let in any sunlight. With the angle of the window wall and the depth of the door opening, the foyer and the dining room was considerably cramped.

The weathered Masonite sheet siding was coming apart at the bottom end and it had a few holes on it's surface. I also brought to his attention that the fourteen foot wall wasn't all that attractive either and that a basketball goal would look great there. All that was needed was to pour a concrete basketball court out away from the wall.

We decided that a covered porch covering the length of the walkway and new siding would suit his basic need.



 
I demo-ed and replaced the rotted porch beam with a twenty-one foot 2"x12" double beam that extended down the walkway to the end of the garage wall. I then removed the oak 1x10 cover board only to discover that the garage rafters were just sitting on the wall without any nails securing them in place. The builders, according to the home owner, extended the garage rafters down to a previously built porch beam, thus creating an open and exposed rafter system. Because they used untreated pine and not a weather resilient wood species like cedar, redwood or treated lumber, it eventually rotted away. The rafters were then hacked off and covered up. Fortunately there weren't any tornadoes in the near area in the past ten years, or that part of the roof would've flopped up and have been blown away.






 
I extended the garage rafters down on pitch and plane to the new porch beam. (I also applied an ample amount of nails securing the roof back to the garage wall.) I finished the beam off to a gabled end, mimicking the house's existing style. I used 1x6 cedar boards for fascia, and over that a drip edge. I installed the 3 tab shingles, inner weaving the breaks and sealing the loose tabs to complete the roof covering.












Since the pre-existing vaulted ceiling was dark and full of cobwebs, I added a flat porch ceiling to conceal it's awkward shape and to minimize the overbearing height of the garage wall. This also made it possible for the homeowner to install several can lights down through the walkway.


The walls with the 36 inch front door and window were then demo-ed and a new exterior wall was built in the front of the opening. A new decorative 36 inch door with two 10 inch sidelites was bought and installed.









The 4x4 posts were set and the hand rails were all built out of treated lumber, a simple design for a simple shaped home. The beam was wrapped in cedar with ceder trim accents added to the posts. The eaves soffit was constructed with 1/4 inch fir, all blending into the existing structure.

Since Mr. Ponder expressed that he likes the wood look, I resided the exposed garage wall and gabled ends with T-111 pine sheet siding with 4" center beads. I used 3/8 inch fir soffit material for the porch ceiling. All the trim work was done with 1x4 cedar. 









Since the bottom of the Masonite siding was rotted and the floor plate exposed, careful inspection was made of the inner wall for water damage and termite infestation. Luckily, none was found after years of weather exposure.

The old Masonite lap siding over the garage door was buckled and crumbling apart. After tearing off the old siding, we discovered open studs and no exterior sheathing, of which is why the the old Masonite was waved and buckled. We sheathed the gable with 1/2" plywood and sided over it with the T-111 siding.

Being that all the materials used were of a wood product, everything was primed, sealed, and painted.






After moving the wall out, the dining room and hallway gained an extra 30 square feet, giving much needed space to the confined area. I did all the interior work: drywall finish, texture, ceiling blown acoustic, trim, and paint; leaving the flooring for the homeowner a project to do one day at their request.













The Ponders are quite happy and pleased with there home's new face lift. The covered porch offers them an area to relax and enjoy the pleasant outdoors.

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