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Enclosing Porch

874K views 123 replies 17 participants last post by  joetab24 
#1 · (Edited)
I've mentioned in some previous threads a desire to do more with a pergola built by the previous owner of my home. It appears my best course of action is to tear the structure down.

How about enclosing my covered front porch? Here are some pics:







Some neighbors have enclosed their porches with screens. Others have fully enclosed this space and have it heated.

Here is what I'd like to do:



I've never done a job like this, but I think it is doable. What would be my first step? Framing, I assume. Would I use 2 X 4s? Any help is appreciated! Thanks for taking the time to look!
 
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#22 ·
It depends on the size of the bulge. You want to be concerned with the visual. It might mean removing some of the stucco and profiling some of the wood to reach a happy visual medium.
Ron
 
#23 ·
plumb bob

framing my porch so I can screen it in


this is the largest framing project i've ever done

trying to place the top plate in line with the the top of the knee wall


just want to make sure i am using the plumb bob correctly





this is close to the edge but i need to move it slightly to get it in line



in this picture, the nail is slightly bent. i will do again and make sure the nail is straight. when i get it right, can i rely on the nail hole to place my top plate or is that not precise enough. i know this is a novice question and I thank you for your help :)

 
#108 ·
Hi Jim I understand you point of view but would like to add some insight. I also live in an 80 year old home, built in 1939, which is choc full of character. It has front and rear porches like the one being enclosed. The problem we have to endure on a daily basis is someone had the bright idea to build a Mall about 1.5 miles west of us and our once quiet country road is now a major highway. My living room, where we spend most of our time, is directly behind the front porch. Even though we have installed state of the art vinyl, double glazed windows the traffic noise is continuous and extremely annoying. Enclosing the porch is an effective and economical way to allow us to continue to live here and enjoy our historic home. :)
 
#33 · (Edited)
thanks for the tip on the eye hook....that worked perfectly.

tomorrow i will get the top plate up and add studs to the front section.

i still have to get a door. i am leaning towards a pressure treated door, as opposed to vinyl. is there a reason to go for vinyl?

regarding water, even unscreened we don't get much on the porch. a few neighbors have screened porches and I haven't seen any space left for drainage. I understand the concern but based on how the dry the porch tends to stay normally, I think I will be ok.

although this is my largest DIY job to this point, I am confident/hopeful that even those who seem to be against screening (a lot of neighbors have enclosed their porches completely with vinyl siding/drwall and I think that takes away from the curch appeal) will see that I am not going to do a half as@ job. I am really determined to take my time and do this right. we really don't use this space as is and i guess if we alter the appearance slightly, gaining access to some more "living space" is worth it. this, i guess, is more of a philosophical/aesthetic difference than anything. i respect that. thanks so much for all of your feedback, and I will keep you guys updated :no:
 
#34 · (Edited)
an update-

i removed the knee wall i built. i was having a really tough time stick framing. made an attempt at framing a 5' section of the wall on the ground and lifting it in place. this was much easier. i know framing on the ground is easier, but i avoided doing it this way since the porch is somewhat uneven. one mistake i made was building the wall in my driveway and then attempting to move it to the porch, which was obviously a mistake. if i am going to continue framing on the ground i am going to have to do it on the porch which doesn;t give me a lot of room to work.
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feel like i am getting the hang of this. updated pic.

 
#39 ·
I was looking for more pictures
Then I realized I needed to scroll right...fixed that
Looks good !!
I sometimes wish we had a front porch

I don't think I realized that this is a duplex, so only 1/2 is done
Too bad your neighbor didn't want theirs screened
But that would have been a lot more work :laughing:
 
#45 ·
I was one on the early on posters who had concerns about changing the look of your house. What I said was:

"IMO you have a beautiful, inviting front entrance area. I think enclosing it without a very serious thought on the style of the architecture will make it look like a wart on a toad's butt. I personally would not change it but if you do, I would consult an architect."

I would like to see a picture from the curb so I can see an overall picture of your project. The work that you have done looks fine but I would have liked to see use of more traditional materials which reflect the period of your home.

Just me maybe but I hate to see vinyl on old houses. Screen tight is an easy product to use but I do not think it adds to the historic look. I would add pickets to the lower section of the screening. It will be a more period look and will add protection from kids and pets.

BTW I do not think your job looks like a wart on a toads butt:)
 
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