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!
found the text quoted below tonight while reading this document
"If you construct cedar caps as we did, start with 1x4 strips cut to the same length as the vinyl bases. Cut a 3/8- x 1-7/8-in. rabbet running the length of each strip, and screw the caps over the bases using 1-1/2-in. stainless steel screws (photo 14)."
on pg. 41 of this pdf file there is a pic of the custom cap they made. i like this idea because it would allow me to avoid using the white vinyl cap.
Joe...one of our most excellent members here has just done a whole lot of screenwork. You might drop by her thread and ask a question or two if need be...
The biggest problem with an area like that is everybody is going to see and critique your work even if they don't tell you. I don't blame you for wanting to get it right.
I know. And the neighbors must think I am crazy, with how long I've been doing it. Putting something up and taking it down. I've got a plan and the skills to execute. Had the plan for a while just needed to develop my skills.
as I mentioned above, much to my wife's dismay I got this far and dismantled it all back to the frame.
I could do a lot better and couldn't stand looking at it every time I pulled into the driveway.
My question. I have a lot of plastic (actually a composite known as timbron) molding in my basement that i purchased and really won't use for this project.
Now that I have a table saw, i was considering using it for some of the interior molding. made a few cuts on my new (used) table saw and placed the piece of composite vertical.
i primed and painted the window stops out of pine. should I stick to pine, or could I use the timbron for some of the vertical pieces?
i am also making my screens for this project.
old house. as a rookie, it's been a struggle dealing with nothing being square. i've developed a lot of skills along the way and have acquired a bunch of tools!
the screentight is supposed to go on the framing, which eliminates the need to make your own screens.
a closer look, before i dismantled what I had done
you may be able to take a closer look at this cropped version
the problem I had, and the reason I didn't like the look of the screentight, was that I framed the front in three sections (2 X 4s). it was easier for me alone and I didn't realize how bad the screentight would look when it was butted up against another piece (see pics above). it also doesn't look as good if everything is not square, which for me was very difficult given the age of the house. and finally, I struggled putting the spline and screen into the track standing on a ladder or platform. i eventually did it, but it took me a while. making the screen frames and adding the spline and screen is much easier on the ground.
so what I decided to do was use the screentight on the screens I build, but add molding to everything else. it actually looks a lot better, but it is much more work.
I added the dados after everything was framed. I didn't like the way the horizontal pieces looked when just nailed in. I carefully made a bunch of crosscuts with a circular saw and cleaned out the dadoes with a chisel.
Everything is wedged in pretty tight, although I do agree I could have done much better. I've added some screws to add additional support.
Because I am not 100% square with the vertical pieces I can't get the horizontals in any better. They haven't loosened at all even with the expansion and contraction.
looking better? I feel like it is. I've taken trial and error to the extreme with this project. But I definitely can tell in recent weeks that I am taking many more steps forward than back. Feels good to see everything coming together.
Can anyone suggest a composite that I can use for the wider vertical and horizontal pieces? Up to this point I've been ripping the timbron that I purchased early on in this project. Glad it didn't go to waste. I need pieces that are over 4.5" wide.
I finally have a table saw, a Delta contractors saw off of craigslist. My issue now is finding something that I can rip to the proper width/height. I've ripped the timbron down to about 2 1/2" for the pieces around the windows. They are now white/no profile, should be easy to match. I am going to bring a piece of the timbron to a lumber yard that also sells some composites. It looks like Aztec has what I am looking for. thanks for taking a look.
I’m not sure why you would switch brands midstream. I don’t do plastic so I don’t know the brand differences but I know that all whites are not created equal and you may have color match problems if you switch.
I didn't use the router on any of the above pieces (in the latest pic). My wife is really on me to get this project done:thumbdown:
All of this is new to me. I've definitely learned a lot over the past year, and I'm trying to get this done RIGHT!
I was playing around with the router on some scrap.
could I use this roman ogee profile on JUST the 3' high horizontal pieces? to soften things a bit. or do I need to use this profile on all pieces if I use it on these horizontal pieces?
as always, thanks for the feedback!
how does the pic I posted earlier look? I feel like it looks decent, but it is hard to be objective when you've spent as much time on this project as I have. Like a lot of you, I am sure, I am really critical of my work. Although, unlike a lot of you, my criticism is often legit. I admit it
do you think the wider horizontal piece looks too big? nothing I can do about it, since this is how I managed to avoid using the cheapo screen tight materials that I didn't like.
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