One of our favorite parts of the house when we purchased it was a very large screened porch with a built in fireplace/grilling area. The room was an addition from some time in the 60’s or 70’s and it showed. Though it allowed for a great entertaining spot in the summer, we wanted to be able to use it throughout fall and spring as well. It also was showing signs of wood rot due to it being exposed to the elements for so long.
We decided to remove the siding and instead to install a row of sliders on the river side of the property and have another slider on the forest side. We planned to replace all the screens with actual windows to make it air tight. We ripped up the green indoor/outdoor carpet and started the process of removing the walls. As we went, we found that the rotten wood was pretty extensive and we were forced to reframe a good portion of the structure. We made sure to use treated lumber when replacing the old rotten wood to keep it from having issues for a long time. We then also wrapped the base of the structure with waterproof sheeting to keep it water tight.
Then came time to add the 4 sliding glass doors and windows! To save money on the project, we repurposed several windows we removed from the kitchen and they fit perfectly.
We put on new siding that will be painted once the weather warms up. The room is not yet finished inside but is serving as a make-shift workshop as we finish the rest of the house. Now that it is air tight, we have been able to keep a fire going to keep the room warm. Later we will finish the inside adding wood flooring and experimenting with paint colors on the fireplace. We love the way the sliders open up the space to the outdoors without having to worry about weather.
And now… on to the next project!
Real Estate W/ Kate 