Home improvements

Previously I mentioned a project underway at our house.  Truthfully it is more like several projects in various stages, but one is getting all of the time and budget at the moment and that is the back porch.  You just GOTTA have a decent porch.  That is where friends hang out, kids play, grillin' is done and world problems are solved on any given evening.

The previous owner used the existing porch as a dog run.  It is not overly big, maybe 6' x 20', and they enclosed it with some quickie half walls and screen, and a cheap storm door on one end.  For a while that served us well as temporary storage while we continued to sort through and unpack moving boxes and garage items.  When that was done and the space was cleared out, it was very clear that this was "wasted" space.  The wall blocked the view of the yard from the living room, giving it all a much smaller and closed in feel.

Phase 1 - The plan.  Mike drew out a really nice plan to build a deck with multiple levels that will provide plenty of room for the delights mentioned above.  His vision includes a fire pit, and mine includes more trees for shade and color.  We decided to do it in phases to make the budget work.  Off to the hardware store to pick out the materials.

Phase 2 - Demolition.  I didn't take any pictures of the screened in porch.  Just envision siding about 36" up and screens all around.  What a difference such a small thing can make!  Just knocking down those walls really brightened the room.

Phase 3 - Framing.  Ok, we never claimed to be the sharpest tools in the shed... starting an outdoor deck project, in July, in southeast Texas?  Now really?  So Mike worked in short hours during what was the coolest parts of the day (80 degrees at 6 a.m. is not very cool in case you are wondering) and started framing.

looking out from the living rm

the remainder of the door

looking toward the house

the first part of the deck

Phase 4 - Tile.  Since the day we moved in Mike wanted to cover the concrete with tile.  The front porch has a pretty slate tile, and the back porch needed something too.  So this week he has been laying tile.  All the practice he got finishing our home in Kansas and laying tile is paying off!  Updated pictures soon :-)