Category Archives: Porches

Porch builder/contractor, Porches, Screened porches

With teenagers, making family dinner meaningful might seem impossible. These Macon homeowners found a way.

July 9, 2015 admin

As parents of 3, my wife and I know all too well the challenges of making the family dinner what it is supposed to be or what it ought to be. We can make the quintessential family dinner, remove all the daily troubles from our mind and sit down to provide a platform to hear our children talk. All too often, that meaningful conversation just doesn’t happen. How did our parents do it? How did they really get us talking about local events and homework and having healthy conversations about meaningful topics?

Based on a story that a recent client told me, perhaps getting slightly out of the house for family dinners might be the perfect recipe. When I talk to clients after completing their project, they always tell me that their porch is their favorite room in the house.

This Macon homeowner raved about the fact that it has strengthened their relationship with their teenagers. They have their family dinners out on the porch. She said their daughters linger longer, talk more, and are more a part of the family experience than when inside.

Maybe it’s the fresh air. Maybe it’s the feeling of being out of the house or away from the gadgets sitting inside the house. Maybe it’s the feeling that Mom and Dad are less frazzled because of the calming nature of the porch. But I’m glad to hear that their porch is making a difference in their lives.

In addition this story, there are some fun ones I hear quite a bit. Outside of the classic screened porch experience of enjoying morning coffee on the porch or sneaking away to enjoy a favorite book, here are just a couple other favorite screened porch uses my clients tell me about.

Sleeping outside
Watching TV outside
Working outside

Sleeping on the porch

While you may think the only person sleeping on the porch is the person in your house that has been kicked to the dog house, that is the farthest thing from the truth. My clients tell me they love sleeping outside. Some bring their sleeping bags along with their favorite movie and popcorn to spend the rest of the evening enjoying the breeze and fresh air. Many keep a throw blanket on their porch to grab a cat nap at different times of the day.

Watching TV outside

Would we ever have imagined we would be watching TV and sitting on nice furniture on our screened porch? Gone are the days of portable patio furniture and lack of entertainment. Many clients request that a TV be built into their screened porch design. Whether you enjoy a little ambient noise, enjoy catching just the important parts of the news, or enjoy catching up on your favorite series, you can now do it in comfort from your porch.

Working outside

Laptop computers are great. We can take them to the office and to the kitchen table. We can also take them to another desk in the house or the sofa table. Now you can take your laptop outside to work – outside on your screened porch. All of our porches include electricity so you can plug in when you need to or turn on a lamp when the sun is going down. Merging the relaxing feeling that a screened porch brings with your necessary take home work makes it just a little more enjoyable.

If you are considering creating a great new outdoor living space for your Macon/Warner Robins area back yard, or if you want to give a fresh new look to your existing area, give us a call for a free consultation. We strive to create the perfect outdoor living space just for you. Call: (478) 745 – 2000. Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net.

Eze-Breeze Windows, Porch builder/contractor, Porches

The 4 things you didn’t know about Eze-Breeze® vinyl windows

June 9, 2015 admin

If you aren’t already familiar with Eze-Breeze® window systems, it’s time to fix that! Eze-Breeze is a revolutionary product that transforms the traditional Macon screened porch to a 3-season room that offers all of the best features of outdoor living with none of the drawbacks.

# 1 Eze-Breeze windows look like glass, but they are not

When you see photos of a Warner Robins porch that has Eze-Breeze windows, you will likely assume that you are looking at traditional glass windows. Their crystal clear clarity is comparable to glass, but they are actually made of 10-mil vinyl glazing. You can choose your featherweight vinyl in a range of colors, depending on if you want to include some built-in shading. In addition to saving you money, this product will stretch rather than shatter when it is put under stress. Within minutes of a push or a hit to the vinyl, the product will reform to its original shape. Their 10-year warranty against most kinds of damage is the best you will find anywhere and puts traditional glass windows to shame.

#2 Eze-Breeze vinyl offers protection from all the elements: including pollen

We don’t see much snow in Georgia, but Eze-Breeze will keep the elements on the outside where they belong. Protect your furniture, rugs, sound system or anything else you like to enjoy on your porch with these amazing vertical or horizontal sliding windows. They will keep out rain, snow, wind, pollen, and mosquitoes: all of the scourges of outdoor living. When you want to welcome in a breeze, just give them a quick slide to open and you have 75% smooth airflow almost instantly.

#3 More resilient than glass

Glass has strength and heft. With those two features also comes significant expense. Eze-Breeze offers an enticing alternative. Push against one of the vinyl panes and it will snap back into shape. Price glass versus Eze-Breeze vinyl and you’ll see less of an impact on your wallet as well. You can’t buy a custom glass window system at a comparable price. You can’t repair a damaged window pane as easily.

#4 Eze-Breeze is the secret to low maintenance porch living

Eze-Breeze vinyl is easier to clean than traditional glass windows. A spray with a garden hose is usually all you need to keep your view clear and crisp. Forget about storing patio furniture for the winter. When your windows are up, the furniture is beautifully protected from rain, dirt and grime. You will still have to clean that disgusting yellow film off your car in the spring, but your porch furniture and carpet will be clean and ready for use daily when it sits behind the protective shield of Eze-Breeze custom windows and doors.

If you are considering creating a great new outdoor living space for your Macon/Warner Robins area back yard, or if you want to give a fresh new look to your existing backyard space, give us a call for a free consultation. We will identify the best structures and materials to create the perfect outdoor living space just for you. Call: (478) 745 – 2000, email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net or visit our website at central-georgia.archadeck.com.

Porches

If you want it, then you have to put a roof on it

February 8, 2015 admin

We suspect that only few of our readers will be familiar with Beyonce but if you’ve heard one of her songs, a particular repeating lyric comes to mind. Beyonce’s song says “if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it”. These homeowners had previously wanted and still wanted an attached open porch for their backyard entertaining area. Not only did the previous home owner not find a builder who could put a roof on it, neither did any contractors the new homeowners contacted for round 2. The homeowners wanted a large open porch with the porch roof attached to the house. This would allow them to walk out from the house under cover of the roof. It also provided more space for them to enjoy a light rain while under the cover of the roof.

Sometimes, the architecture of the back of the home makes it very difficult to figure out how to attach a roof. Many custom homes here in Macon and throughout the Central GA area have a number of different architectural reliefs as this home has. As you can see in the picture, multiple roof lines and a chimney adorned the back facade of this home making it a challenge but certainly not an insurmountable one.

An important thing to remember is if one contractor tells you it’s not possible, there is a better contractor out there that will not only identify the solution but be able to build it with ease and experience. You can see from the photo to the left that the roof connection was anything but square. The roof had to wrap around the chimney and work around two additional roof lines. The entire roof also had to be low enough that it did not impede on the upper level windows.

: before

In their first go round with this space, the previous builder was not able to figure out this sticky roof connection so he suggested and built a gazebo-style roof that did not connect to the home. The first go round also included 2 deck areas. The homeowners liked having multiple connected outdoor living areas. When creating a space with multiple areas, it’s important to think about how you are going to use each space. Will you use that particular space for eating and the other space for soaking up some sun? Based on how they were going to use the space, we enlarged the covered patio space and made one of the deck areas smaller.

An outdoor living space is all about how you want to live outside your home. A great custom space fits your needs and wants.

For the 2 deck areas, the family chose TimberTech Pacific Walnut decking. The low maintenance decking material was perfect for the deck areas. Low-maintenance decking stands up to sun’s penetrating rays. It also stands up to staining and fading. Under the porch area did not require low-maintenance flooring so they used pressure-treated tongue-and-groove flooring.

Another important thing to think about when deciding on your perfect outdoor living space is future growth and additions. This family was eyeing the addition of a swimming pool in the future. As you can see, we used low wide steps leading from the left deck out to the yard. This makes for an easy transition to any future spaces they add to the rest of the backyard.

If you are considering creating a great new outdoor living space for your Macon/Warner Robins area back yard, or if you want to give a fresh new look to your existing backyard space, give us a call for a free consultation. We will help you identify the best structures and materials to create the perfect outdoor living space just for you.

Call: (478) 745 – 2000

Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Visit our website for more great design ideas and inspiration

Porch builder/contractor, Porches, Screened porches

The engineer’s choice for building a porch in Central GA

September 15, 2014 admin

We recently built a screened porch in Centerville. They inherited a deck and used it infrequently because it was poorly designed & built and was also in disrepair. The homeowner is an engineer so he knew he would know a good builder when he met one. He and his wife wanted to work with a builder that would create a thoughtful, professional design and execute on it with the kind of attention to detail that he uses in his own work.

While the homeowners originally thought they wanted a new deck, they soon realized that a porch made more sense. A couple other reasons for not using their deck included the stiflingly hot Georgia summer head and the bugs that come along with that. They did use the patio for grilling so it made sense to keep the patio. For the other outdoor living space, a porch made more sense. It would provide sun protection as well as bug protection.

The new porch is the largest in width we can build without special ordering material (27’ feet wide). This porch width works particularly well because it provides enough space for a table and chairs. Considerations like these help save on materials and labor costs without compromising on traffic flow or the feel of the living space. The length of the porch allows for more than one seating area. Stairs that run the length of the porch leading to the patio provide additional space for potted plants or even additional seating.

We used a gable roof/cathedral ceiling combination. We use gable roofs on many screened porches because the lofty ceiling gives the space a light and airy feel and leaves plenty of room for ceiling fans to keep a breeze going. You can control the fans and light fixtures with a wall switch, a remote or both: your choice.

Our client appreciated some of the finer building details that some other clients might not ever identify or notice. We used a laminated ridge beam for additional strength. We used pressure-treated decking, screened from beneath to keep out bugs. And, we worked out a nice solution to tying in the roof with the existing slanted eave on the house. One of the great advantages of working with Archadeck is that you don’t have to have an engineer’s eye for possible design challenges. We find the problems and solve them as part of our job. And when we miss something, which we did in this case (a few pieces of trim) we always come back for our clients to make sure they feel great about their new outdoor living space.

If you are considering creating a great new outdoor living space for your Macon/Warner Robins area back yard, or if you want to give a fresh new look to your existing backyard space, give us a call for a free consultation. Together we will work to identify the best structures and materials to create the perfect outdoor living space just for you.

Stephen Denton
Owner, Archadeck of Central GA

Call: (478) 745 – 2000

Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Visit the screened porch photo gallery on our website for more great design ideas and inspiration.

Porches

Thinking of selling your Central GA home in a year? Should you or shouldn’t you add a small porch now?

September 15, 2014 admin

It’s always a tough decision. You know you want to sell your home in the relatively near future – 6 months, 1 year or maybe even 2 years. You think updating or adding particular upgrades might have a good return on investment by allowing you to charge enough to cover the cost of the upgrade and then some. But, who’s to know if that’s true? And if that update will increase the value of your home, by how much? What are the top things to update or add? The last area for consideration is how much you will enjoy that upgrade while you’re still in the home.

As complicated as these questions are in a regular scenario, the questions become even more complicated if your house is not a traditional home. This Juliette home is anything but plain and ordinary. It’s truly one-of-a-kind. It’s a historic farmhouse on many acres out by lake Juliette. The farmhouse is complete with horses and is the ideal place for hunting, fishing and horseback riding. But, there’s no outdoor space to sit and enjoy the yard or enjoy the fresh air or the fall breeze. The homeowner knew that a small economically built porch would be something she would enjoy for the next year or so when she prepares the house for sale. She was also certain that she would get the return on her investment in the new porch.

The house is out in a clearing and there’s zero relief from the hot Georgia sun. In addition, a screened porch would provide protection from bugs. After looking at her home and taking many factors into consideration, we agreed that a small well-built, but still economically built, screened porch was a great area to add to the home now. We also decided to add a small adjoining deck.

What is the best way to build an economical porch? A couple of porch upgrades that can quickly become quite expensive are the flooring and the ceiling. It may be tempting to use upgraded wood for the flooring. Pressure treated pine is the most economical and it also has the look of the timeless wood porch. You can see that the homeowner also used a large indoor/outdoor rug to further enhance the porch’s interior design.

Adding ceiling upgrades can also increase the porch’s price fairly quickly. This porch uses an open rafter design saving on materials and labor rather than a closed rafter look. Many of our porch customers choose open rafters for their porch because it’s the traditional, all American, screened porch look. It went perfectly with the style of this rustic farmhouse and the farmhouse setting. If you look closely, you’ll see the lighting fixture with the deer antlers. Often a small touch like that adds the perfect pop of decorating to add beauty and flair to the room.

In addition to the porch, we also added a small attached deck. The deck provides space for grilling and some more seating area to enjoy the outdoors. You’ll notice that the new pressure-treated pine has a tan appearance. When it grays out, it will blend perfectly with the home and look like it was always there.

Indeed, how long you’re planning on staying in your home is an important consideration when making home upgrades. We are glad to use our experience to provide design ideas to fit your lifestyle and the length of time you hope to enjoy your space.

Stephen Denton
Owner, Archadeck of Central GA

Give us a call for a free consultation: (478) 745 – 2000
centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Visit our website: central-georgia.archadeck.com

Converting deck to porch, Porch builder/contractor, Porches, Screened porches

Turning a Bonaire GA deck into a screened porch

August 28, 2014 admin

Both decks and porches are great outdoor living structures. Each has their own benefits. Decks allow you to spend time outdoors enjoying the fresh air, the view of your yard, and enjoying the “extra room” in your house. A porch allows you to enjoy all of these but it does provide a little extra protection. While a rainstorm will send you inside, a screened porch is a roofed structure. Along with the screens, the porch allows quite a bit of protection from rain and other storm conditions.

A porch provides two additional key benefits. Summers here in the Macon Warner Robins area can be brutally hot. With roof cover and a good ceiling fans, the mid-day temperatures are a lot more bearable. In addition, bugs are a big factor. Depending on a number of factors, your yard might be a treasure trove of mosquitoes and other biting insects. Some of the factors that determine how many mosquitoes you’ll have are the amount of standing water you have and the amount of landscaping you have. Mosquitoes need standing water to breed. So, anything from a pool to a koi pond to a bird bath will bring the mosquitoes in. This home had both a pool and a pond so the bugs were eating them up.

The home had an existing deck. The owners wanted a new porch to provide more outdoor living opportunities, including shade and bug protection. We were able to use their existing deck and convert it into a screened porch. If you’re thinking about converting your deck to a porch, often times that is an option. The deck substructure may require reinforcement but a good builder will be able to make that assessment as well as enhance the substructure to meet code and support the weight of the new roof. That was the case at this Bonaire GA home. Over 10 years ago, we built the deck on this home. The new homeowner saw the Archadeck tag on the deck and called us first to quote his upgrade project.

The new porch includes ipe flooring, a gable roof to create an open cathedral ceiling, large screened openings for great visibility, and the design deftly works with the challenge of attaching a roof to this home. In the middle of the screened porch area is a large chimney. The roof needed to not only to attach to the home but to also wrap around the chimney. That was no problem.

The lower deck also has ipe decking. The railing is pressure-treated wood with an ipe rail caps. White metal pickets and lattice complete the look. With the two distinct outdoor living spaces, the family can pick the level of sun protection they need based on the activity and the time of day.

If you live in the Central GA area and you’re considering converting your deck into a screened porch, give us a call for a free consultation.

Stephen Denton
Owner, Archadeck of Central GA

Call: (478) 745 – 2000

Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Visit our Archadeck of Central GA website for more great design ideas and inspiration.

Outdoor rooms builder/contractor, Porch builder/contractor, Porches, Screened porches

Archadeck of Central GA provides information to make the best interior ceiling choice for your anticipated porch addition

January 31, 2014 admin

: Macon GA screened porch with exposed rafter detail.

Choosing the right ceiling to fit your own individual tastes and in keeping with the look you want to achieve within your porch is an important decision. There are many choices available when it comes to styles and finishes. As a customer of Archadeck of Central GA, we want you to be an informed customer. We want to provide the information to help you make the best decision for your specific needs and wants. In this article, we will explore the various interior porch ceiling options in an effort to educate homeowners providing information to make the best decision.

Your porch ceiling is the perfect spot to add style and flair. There are a many choices, styles, accoutrements, details and materials that can be used to finish your interior ceiling. Each one can be used to convey a feeling and a mood within your porch.

: Rustic shed roof screened porch by Archadeck of Central GA.

The first decision to make when it comes to an interior porch ceiling is whether you want a vaulted/cathedral or flat ceiling. Flat ceilings are generally standard 8′ or 9′ foot height, the same as that of an interior room in your home. Flat finished ceilings give your porch or screened porch an interior room feel. Flat ceilings are often used to create a more formal space. They can be enhanced by using hardwood finishes to achieve a rustic elegance. From a budgetary perspective, it is less expensive to do a sloped or cathedral ceiling. Installing a flat ceiling under a sloped roof requires more lumber and will add to the cost of your porch.

The height of a vaulted ceiling is dependent on how steep your roof pitch is. For example, vaulting a 20-by-20-foot room can create a vaulted or cathedral ceiling that’s 11 to 12 feet high at its peak. A porch that has a higher ceiling will appear and feel larger than it actually is. Cathedral ceilings give the room a sense of lightness and airiness. They also allow more room to use trim, moldings and architectural detailing. An elevated ceiling also provides “architectural reveals.” which are effects caused by shadowing lines that can be induced through extra architectural details and lighting.

: Open porch with dramatic cathedral ceiling in Warner Robins, GA.

If choosing a vaulted or cathedral ceiling, the question arises of whether to choose an exposed rafter or an enclosed rafter design. Enclosed rafters often communicate a more formal look. Certain amenities, such as recessed can lights require the use of closed rafters. The decision to leave the rafter exposed or to enclosed is a personal preference. When enclosing the rafters, the expense comes in when painting everything. There are ways to give the space a finished look without having to paint everything in the process. Exposed rafters are very popular among outdoor structures. This conveys a rustic earthy elegance to the structure and is actually less expensive than choosing to enclose the rafters. When leaving the rafters exposed the size of the rafter itself will greatly impact the look of your space. It is also a consideration as larger rafters with more girth and presence reflect a more masculine feel and also leave a bigger cavity within the ceiling itself.

: This lovely porch in Perry, GA feature an open rafter ceiling which is painted white.

Finishing out the interior ceiling is the next step. We are seeing a trend of finishing the space out using the same lumber as the rest of the structure. For an informal look we generally recommend using T-111, which is rough- sawn, grooved plywood. This option cost the same a bead board. Many homeowners like the rustic look of T-111 and choose a clear seal to keep the natural look intact. Bead board is also popular and gives a more formal look and is less expensive than using grooved planks.

Other amenities for porch interiors are only limited to the imagination, and your budget. These include wiring for speakers, ceiling fans, and various lighting elements. Our goal at Archadeck of Central GA is to provide you with a porch built with quality and beauty at the best value.

: True blue Southern porch ceiling?

With our location here in GA, we cannot put together a post on interior ceiling finishes for porches and not mention the Southern tradition of painted blue porch ceilings. There are numerous theories as to why this practice started – from fooling spiders and wasps into thinking the ceiling is the sky, to blue being a harbinger of good luck, to the color extending daylight, to scaring away evil spirits and as an effort to discourage birds and bees from building their nests in the ceiling.

: Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GA

When considering any outdoor structure project including a new porch addition, you want to make sure you are using an experienced, licensed builder who has the knowledge, integrity and the design expertise to provide you with a porch that has your best interest in mind. Archadeck of Central Georgia has years of experience in perfecting the porch, and other outdoor structures, here in Central GA. To learn more contact us at (478) 745 – 2000 Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Please visit our extensive porch galleries, including our open porch, screened porch and front porch galleries located on our website for more examples of ceiling finishes for porches.

Archadeck of Central GA, Outdoor rooms builder/contractor, Porch builder/contractor, Porches

Archadeck of Central Georgia builds an open porch in Warner Robins GA that opens up a world of outdoor living possibilities for these homeowners

January 7, 2014 admin

: Here is a peek at this lovely poolside open porch addition in Warner Robins!

Take a look at our recently completed project in Warner Robins GA. Our assignment was to come up with a roofed outdoor design to convert a patio into a covered patio/open porch. The homeowners had a raised concrete patio with brick skirting. The homeowners shared their need for relief from the hot sun that constantly beat down on the patio. They wanted a refuge from the heat and a place to cool off and relax after a swim in their backyard pool which is a few short steps away. They wanted a shaded area on the patio so they could utilize the space for what it was meant for.

: Overcoming the obstacle of the home’s interior cathedral ceiling made for a stunning finished porch interior– breathtaking!

Several other builders looked at the project and each informed the homeowner that the design they had in mind just wasn’t possible. The biggest issue was the way the design and structure would attach to the back of the house. The home’s interior had a 2-story cathedral ceiling so there were no floor joists to connect to. In order to accommodate their desire for a covered porch space, we had to design a dual roof tie-in to make the structure fit. We used a combination shed and gable roof. We had to do some really unique things to make the structure sound. These included adding collar ties and using some innovative corner posts to support the roof. We then shared the drawings with the local inspector to have the design blessed before we began. We also contacted the county to make sure the footings were inspected properly. Many contractors would not have gone the extra mile to ensure approval of the design. Archadeck of Central GA always takes extra measures to ensure our projects will be approved by inspectors when we’re finished.

The guttering feeds down into two rain barrels enabling the homeowners to use the water collected for other purposes within the landscape — the new addition is built with an eye on recycling natural resources with less of an impact on the environment!

: Before

: After.

The project integrates the wrought iron railing and large columns that were already part of the existing patio. The completed structure is very large and quite dramatic. It adds loads of beauty and appeal to the home, the pool and the landscape. These Warner Robins homeowners are elated with their new outdoor oasis and cannot wait to test it out once the hot Georgia afternoon sun reaches its fevered pitch. The new covered patio/porch has opened up a host of outdoor living possibilities.

: Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GA

If you have an outdoor oasis in mind for your backyard and have been told the design you have in mind is not possible, contact Archadeck of Central Georgia. Our innovative backyard living designs go the extra mile in terms of beauty, enjoyment and possibilities. (478) 745 – 2000
centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Please visit our porches photo gallery and our patio and hardscapes photo gallery located on our website for more unique examples of our unique outdoor room designs.

Porch builder/contractor, Porches, Screened porches

Archadeck of Central Georgia puts porch perfection to the test as one of Macon and Warner Robins area best porch builders

August 12, 2013 admin

: Screen porch in Milledgeville, GA by Archadeck of Central GA

The role of the porch in outdoor structure design has evolved. Whether the porch is being used as a singular outdoor living space or as the base of an outdoor living combination series of structures, the popularity of the porch is growing by leaps and bounds. We are seeing more open porch, screened porch and deck to porch upgrade requests throughout the Macon and Warner Robins area. With this in mind, it is important to remember that a proper porch construction includes many more components than just building a roof over a deck. The groundwork and substructure that are used to build a porch are much more involved and in order to have a space that is structurally sound, it is important to seek the expertise of a professional porch builder.

Just because a contractor claims they can build you the perfect porch doesn’t mean they can deliver. We put together a checklist of the important points of porch building and why you need to be wary if the only communication you are getting from your contractor is “yeah, I can build it”.

Buyer Beware Porch Checklist – what are the 6 things to be most cognizant about when interviewing a porch contractor?

As with any porch addition, roof tie-in is the first consideration. You need to become familiar with your tie-in options and which area of your home makes the best candidate(s) for the job. Whether the porch is tied into an existing roof or wall, there’s almost always one optimal solution. You don’t want someone to just take your gutters down and attach a fascia board, this is rarely if ever the best way to tie-in your porch addition.
When Archadeck of Central GA builds a porch roof we use traditional framing methods and we always match the shingles to the existing shingles of your home. We never use aluminum pre-fab roof panels and as a homeowner you need to make sure the structural and aesthetic qualities of your existing home will be adhered to during your porch addition. A well-designed and built porch should appear original to your existing home once completed, as with any quality outdoor living addition.
If your project involves transforming an existing deck into a porch your builder needs to ensure that the structure for the existing deck is strong enough, or even capable of supporting a roof. Decks are rarely built to hold up structurally to the weight of porch walls and a porch roof. Beware of a builder that tells you your deck doesn’t need any additional support to facilitate a porch addition. Almost every circumstance of skipping out on installing additional strongholds will result in posts and footings that are typically not strong enough to do the job.

This covered porch in Macon, GA is built at a height that is too difficult for many insects to travel. This means less mosquitoes and other insects when enjoying your covered porch.
Make sure your builder goes over all your porch flooring options with you including adding screening under the deck boards to keep bugs from coming into your porch from the underneath. Make sure you are consulted with about the best flooring options including tongue and groove, cement, pavers, and pressure treated decking. Having a complete list of choices available at your fingertips will enable you to make a more informed choice and will make you happier with your space.
Your builder should also discuss the importance of traffic patterns within your porch. Traffic pattern will minimize surprises in how your outdoor furnishings will fit realistically within your porch and also how doors will impact your flow to and from your porch. Consider the door(s) that lead from your house into the porch, and also the door that leads you from the porch into the yard. Your builder should go over how each will affect your space and placement needs. Making sure your doors are in the right place to minimize the impact of traffic flow within the living area of your porch will ensure your porch is dedicated to outdoor living rather than just a way to access your yard from your house.
Additional space may be needed outside your porch, grill, smoker or even an outdoor kitchen. This is especially important with screened porch additions. An experienced builder will ask questions regarding your individual desires and needs to help your consider spaces to place these items.

You know the old rule regarding a one-way conversation, questions indicate interest. Make sure your builder is listening to your specific needs and is interested in providing you the best porch addition he/she can. When selecting a contractor, pay close attention at the questions they ask you which will quickly help indicate the amount of experience they have and if they are even qualified to build your porch.

Archadeck of Central GA has been specializing in quality, upscale outdoor additions since 1991, including many, many open porch and screened porch projects in the Macon and Warner Robins area. When we meet with you to discuss a porch addition for you and your family we actually listen to your wants and needs in order to provide a porch that will not only meet, but exceed your expectations. Contact Archadeck of Central GA today to learn more about building your perfect porch (478) 745 – 2000
centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

You can see more examples of past porch projects by Archadeck of Central GA by visiting our screened porch photo gallery and our three and four-season room photo gallery located on our website.

Porches

Archadeck of Central GA walks you through choosing the right roof for your Macon, Warner Robins porch

March 11, 2013 admin

: This 3-season room in River North features a gable style roof with an open gable to let more sunlight in the space.

Homeowners look to me for guidance in choosing the right roof style for their porch addition. When it comes to the subject of roof styles, sometimes what the homeowner visualizes isn’t a viable option for their porch. Taking the existing home configuration and any second story elements into consideration can eliminate a specific style roof. For example, elements like 2nd story dormers and windows will immediately limit the style of roof you can use. Much of the time the right roof style comes down to the process of elimination.

: This open porch in Milledgeville, GA uses a gable style roof with an “open rafter” detail that adds aesthetic appeal.

Gable roofs are by far the most popular choice among homeowners. We often hear the gable roof come up early in the design process as a first preference. We always talk homeowners through the details of each roof style and the variable costs of each style. Even though a gable roof may be possible architecturally, it may cost considerably more than choosing a shed roof for example. The most important aspect is choosing a roof style that will work most easily with your existing house. The next step is to walk you through your options and give you the pros and cons of each option so you make an informed decision.

Learning roof styles

Gable Roof – a gable roof resembles a triangle with two sides sloping down from a center line. Gable roofs are the most popular roofs in outdoor structure design. The most requested roof is a gable roof with an open gable that allows sunlight to fill the room. A gable roof can sometimes be the easiest one to attach to the house, especially with a sidewall porch connection.
Hip Roof – a hip roof has 3 or more sides that all slope downward from a common point. Hip roofs are generally chosen to match the roof of an existing hip roof home. If your porch is facing south then a hip roof will provide more shade to the space. This roof style will cut down on some of the sun that enters the porch and make it more comfortable to use in the summer months.

Shed Roof – a shed roof is a flat roof that slopes in one direction from the home. If your porch will have a house connection, a shed roof is usually the easiest choice from a cost and construction standpoint. In order for a shed roof to work with a roof connection, the roof of the house has to be higher than the shed. Tying a shed roof into the existing roof of your home is not economical.
Flat Roof – a flat roof is built from the same principles as the shed roof. A flat roof usually has less slope and is horizontal or nearly horizontal.This roof is sometimes used as a last resort when a gable or shed roof is too difficult or too expensive. We suggest a flat roof when there are windows or dormers on the 2nd story you don’t want to cover. Flat roofs are not completely flat as their name would have you think. Flat roofs contain a slight incline that is usually 2 inches for every 12 feet to make sure water will not pool and cause damage. The biggest reason we steer away from flat roofs is the debris that can accumulate on a flat roof. This is especially a problem if your porch is located in a location with a lot of trees. Debris on a flat roof can act as a dam and prevent water from running off properly. Flat roofs can “bog” up with leaves, sticks and other debris which can lead to moisture problems and eventually leaking. Flat roofs require maintenance twice a year to prevent debris accumulation. Maintaining a flat roof requires someone climbing onto the roof and blowing off the debris. If you are not prepared to do this, or hire someone to do it for you, then we recommend not considering a flat roof as an option for your porch.

This stunning open porch in Westchester was built with a flat roof.

Archadeck of Central GA always goes over which roof style will work best from a construction standpoint. You need to always consider what the roof is going to look like from underneath. We always ask the homeowner if they are building the porch for themselves, or for their neighbors to look at. The visual appeal of the roof style you choose is an important consideration when looking at the space from all angles. Here is a checklist of other determinations to consider before you begin designing your new porch.

Shape of existing house’s roof or wall we’re attaching to
The shape of porch itself
Distance out from house or distance across the house
Whether you’re going to attach to roof or house
Cost
Direction of sun

: This screened porch in Warner Robins was built using a hip roof.

All these factors will influence the roof style you choose. It is always important to seek the professional advice of your outdoor structure professional to consider which roof style will work best. Archadeck of Central GA is an expert in porch design. We can consult with you and prepare a 3-dimensional rendering of your porch before any soil is disturbed to begin construction. This visual will give you the insight of what your porch will look like. Our rendering service also makes it easy to amend or change any portion of your design before we break ground.

: Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GA

If you are considering a porch addition and need guidance in choosing the best architectural elements for your desired space, we can help. Contact Archadeck of Central GA to help you choose the best roof style for your new porch today. Call for a free consultation (478) 745 – 2000
centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

To see more example of various roof styles please visit our porches photo gallery and our outdoor rooms photo gallery located on our website.

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