The Birdhouse Porch build

[SmokeyDP]

Not a garage, but I figured some would enjoy reading the build.

Started with a 12x17 deck that gets sun 80% of the time. It's just too bright out there next to the yellow siding in the summer. Plus at night the bugs eat us alive. The back wall is 8' 10" high so I didn't have a lot of height to work with after the slop. I decided upon a 1/12 roof with a cold rolled roofing. The house is getting roofed at the same time. So far I have done everything myself with the help of a friend or two including permit work and submitting drawings to the town. I'm in $1000 in materials so far including the permits.

I painted what I could since I had people over last weekend.

Still have items to do including the left most wall. Everything is DIY unless specified.
Roofers are coming next week.

• All the vinyl fascia is coming off. It was pre-bent stuff and doesn't look that great so I'm having it redone by someone with experience
• Ceiling is getting vinyl sofits.
• Ceiling fan/lights/outlets getting installed - the light on the left needs to be moved.
• Screening - Screen Tight from Lowes
• Replace the siding on the back 2 walls with some sort of stone.
• New stairs will be 2' wider and sit on bricks instead of grass.
• Custom sliding screen door - going to open to the left.
• TV hanging in the back right.

I still have to figure out how I'm going to setup my grill since I don't feel like putting it on the porch is the best idea.

 

[SmokeyDP]

Re: The Birdhouse

I almost forgot... The 2x6 joists in the roof are held to the header with Simpson joist hangers using 3" general construction screws. I was told by the inspection that they aren't approved screws for the hangers and I need to replace them. Everything else with my frame inspection was fine.

http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/screws-loadrated.asp

 

[Bronson]

Looks good to Me. Is it rated for snow loads? I dont think I could get away with that pitch, here.

 

[SmokeyDP]

Looks good to Me. Is it rated for snow loads? I dont think I could get away with that pitch, here.

There are plenty of roofs around here on renovations that have a low pitch. I had to submit my plans so that they could be reviewed by the town engineer before I went ahead. The ceiling is 2x6's 16" OC, and the front wall is over engineered since it has 4x4 posts every 4' and a 4x6 beam going across.

 

[Mmfh]

Looks like you just brought a lot more use into that patio. Nice little boost to property value as well!

Mm

 

[SmokeyDP]

Here are some updated shots. The house was roofed and the rolled roofing was installed on the porch (cold application). I removed the fascia in the earlier pictures since it looked like **** anyway and I'm going to have a pro come in and do the finish work. I'm thinking I'm going to rip the siding down and put up some kind of wainscoating that comes in 4x8 sheets.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Looking good! You'll just love a screened porch on those hot N.J. nights; no bugs and maybe even a cool breeze. lol

Did you have to do a lot of work to beef up the post support foundation for snow loads and frost heave, or do you not have to worry about such things where you live?

 

[SmokeyDP]

Thanks! The bugs **** around here during the summer...

The 4x4 posts of the deck itself are overkill with that 4x6 beam going the width of it. Under the deck are three 6x6 posts on concrete which should be plenty. I'm going to add two 4x4 posts anyway.

The plans were drawn up, submitted to the town and approved by an engineer before I started. I got all the load calculations and charts on what size wood to use from this book:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0376010363/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bad_idea]

that looks really nice. i assume some electrical work is planned in the future? that conduit is taking away from the otherwise nice craftsmanship.

 

[SmokeyDP]

I have permits to install a ceiling fan with lights and some outlets on the porch. That old grey conduit was there before and I just have to run a new wire to that light somehow. I'm going to raise the light further up the house too. The plan is to put a TV on the top right against the house and 2 outdoor speakers in the ceiling.

 

[SmokeyDP]

Sofits, siding and fascia work was completed today. The gutter goes on next week. They are the only items that I hired out besides the rolled roofing.

 

[SmokeyDP]

Did I post this under 'Fabrication & Techniques' or did it get towed from The Gallery?

 

[NUTTSGT]

It looks like you'll get a lot more use out of that porch now than you did before.

 

[SmokeyDP]

Made some progress in the last week...

 

[805gregg]

Nice, that will be you favorite room in your house.

 

[5lima30]

Looks good to Me. Is it rated for snow loads? I dont think I could get away with that pitch, here.

Thats exactly what I was wondering!

 

[SmokeyDP]

The pitch is 1/12 and the roofing is rolled rubber that was cold glued down. The roofing company uses the same roofing for buildings with a flat roof. The 14x18 roof section was around $800, but I had the rest of the house done at the same time. The rafters are 2x6 and everything was approved by the town as per local code to handle snow load.

 

[MichMan517]

Nice build Smokey! That will be the neigborhood hangout this summer.

 

[Jagmandave]

Screens all around but no door?

How does that keep the bugs out?

Nicely done tho.....

 

[SmokeyDP]

The door is in the background against the house. I still have to put up a 36" 4x4 then hang the door. I ended up buying a pocket door track for the door with the crazy idea that I will have it slide open (to the left of the picture). Not sure how a latch or spring system will work. I like how sliding screen doors work but you normally have to frame out a double door opening which wouldn't look right here.

I plan to tackle that this weekend then get the final piece of screen up above the door. I have no idea how this will pan out.

 

[hh76]

Looks nice. Are you planning on finishing the ceiling? I ask, because my wife made me put up something at our old place. She said the open ceiling collected too much dust and webs, and made the porch feel "dirty".

 

[SmokeyDP]

Looks nice. Are you planning on finishing the ceiling? I ask, because my wife made me put up something at our old place. She said the open ceiling collected too much dust and webs, and made the porch feel "dirty".

The standard white vinyl ceiling you see on porches is going up once the rough inspection for the electrical is all done. I should have the electrical done this weekend.

 

[Jagmandave]

I knew you'd have a plan, I was just giving you a hard time!

better hurry, with all this warm weather I see bugs coming out already! I don't know about you, but for some reason I'm "sweet" to skeeters - they swarm around me and feast!

 

[SmokeyDP]

The 32" TV mounts in the top right corner. You can see the HDMI cable running from my FIOS box in the basement. I have an Logitech RF remote that handles everything.