Tag Archives: North Macon GA outdoor fireplaces

Archadeck of Central GA, Screened Porch

There’s More to this North Macon Screened Porch than Meets the Eye

We’re excited to show off this unique Macon, GA, screened porch located in the Madison neighborhood of North Macon. The pictures tell the story, inside and outside—well, most of the story. There is actually a bit more to this screened porch story than meets the eye.

exterior of north macon screened porch ga

First, what may not be obvious from the angle of the exterior photos is that the screened porch is on the side of the home. Many homeowners automatically think “back porch” when they hear the words “screened porch.” If the layout of your home dictates that a porch be added onto the side instead of the back of your home, that’s okay. Screened porch builder Archadeck of Central Georgia can custom design a side porch that’s perfect for your home.

Our clients originally had a deck on the side of their house. When they called us about converting the deck to a screened porch, we evaluated the deck structure with that in mind. Unfortunately, their deck was not structurally adequate to support the weight of a screened porch and its roof. In this case we had to remove the deck entirely and build the screened porch from scratch.

Your Custom Screened Porch Amenity: The Outdoor Fireplace

north macon ga screened porch contractor

Take another look at the screened porch exterior. Can you tell there is an outdoor fireplace inside? Given the shape and size of this porch, the fireplace we installed was a ventless gas fireplace. We were limited in space because the driveway is just 12 feet from the home. Luckily there was a fireplace suitable for this project that would satisfy the building code.

Is There an Architect in the Family?

The homeowner’s son is an architect and had already prepared architectural drawings for the project. Collaborating with him on the screened porch design worked out well and kept the project on budget, too. Even more, the son/architect presented the plans to the Madison neighborhood’s HOA and worked with them to gain HOA approval.

Photos Tell the Rest of the Story

Now we’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. From the outside, you can see that we built a shed roof for the screened porch. That shed roof style allowed us to avoid the second-story windows! We installed floor-to-ceiling screens for maximum air flow, sure to be popular on warmer days in North Macon. We blended the porch style and materials with the home’s exterior perfectly. The white PVC trim provides contrast and complements the home’s gray and white trim.

On the inside, the porch ceiling is finished with beadboard and open rafters. Custom porch amenities include a ceiling fan and lantern-style sconces. We built the porch floor with pressure-treated wood, and the screen door is trimmed in wood, too. 

Archadeck of Central Georgia Has an Outdoor Fireplace for You

interior of north macon ga screened porch


Be sure to admire this custom-designed outdoor fireplace! The façade of manufactured stone, in white, satisfied the homeowner’s desire for a stacked stone aesthetic. It’s interesting to note that the mantel, by American Specialties, was installed prior to the stone façade.

The screened porch appears bigger inside than outside, almost an optical illusion. With plenty of room for dining at one end and watching TV—or a fire—at the other end, it’s spacious and cozy. We envision our clients enjoying countless hours on their new screened porch.

Are you ready to discuss a screened porch design for your central Georgia home?  Whether you want a front porch, back porch, or side porch, Archadeck of Central GA is ready to help!  Get in touch with us by calling 478-745-2000 or via email at centralgeorgia@archadeck.net.

Stephen Denton Archadeck Augusta square lr
Stephen Denton, owner Archadeck of Central GA.

 

 

Porch builder/contractor, Porches

This North Macon open porch with covered section provides the perfect spot for entertaining and intimacy within the same space

North Macon GA Cypress covered porches
This North Macon outdoor oasis has it all. From a convenient outdoor kitchen wing, to a space to cozy up next to the outdoor fireplace.

It is rare that a single outdoor space has the capability of providing different functions on such a varied scale. By listening closely to the needs of these North Macon GA Homeowners that is exactly what we were able to do. This open porch design that also includes a covered section is a perfect example of a chameleon of outdoor living. Just like the chameleon can change colors to match its surroundings, this outdoor oasis can change within itself to suit the outdoor living needs of the homeowners.

North Macon spa decks
The new location of the homeowner's hot tub makes for endless ambiance and evenings under the stars.

When we initially met with these Monroe County homeowners they had a typical square deck which was not in great shape. The homeowners wanted more space to accommodate their entertaining needs. Since they had guests and neighbors over frequently, they needed to expand their outdoor space to be able to host neighborhood functions easily. Their lifestyle covered everything from block parties to play dates with neighbors and their children. They also had an existing hot tub that was on the patio which they wanted moved to a more convenient location in closer proximity to the homeowner’s bedroom. In essence the space we needed to design had to incorporate intimacy which could also serve as functional space for entertaining with family and friends.

Our design includes an open porch with a covered section and two wings that expand the living space off the sides of the porch. Each wing houses specialized areas to suit the very different functions this space had to master. One wing contains an outdoor kitchen which includes a grill, refrigerator and ample counter space for serving and food preparation. The other wing contains the homeowner’s hot tub. This wing is designed where the bedroom door opens out onto the space. We built a platform to ensure the top of the spa was level with the floor of the deck. We also left one side of the deck wing open with no railing to not interfere with the view of the beautiful backyard from the hot tub, this plays upon the same principles as would an endless pool which is so popular in recreational backyard design right now. Being able to exclude a portion of railing in your outdoor space depends upon the code requirements for your given area.

North Macon outdoor kitchens
One wing of the open porch includes a convenient outdoor kitchen with abundant counterspace for serving and food preparation when the homeowners are entertaining.

We took the design of this outdoor oasis a step further with the inclusion of an outdoor ventless gas fireplace within the covered portion. Because the unit is ventless, it also enabled the homeowners to have an enclosed area above the mantel to house their TV. The custom designed area is built from beautiful cypress wood and functions similar to armoire doors, giving the homeowners the capability to open the space when the TV is in use and close it off when it is not.

The decking and railing are completed with pressure treated wood. To add an elegant touch to the railing, we used aluminum baroque balusters which added a defined curve to the railing as well as visual interest. Since the existing home is stucco, we finished the back side of the fireplace in stucco which matches the home perfectly when you look at the house from the backyard. We included plenty of electrical outlets throughout the space, and added low voltage lights next to the hot tub which are flush with the floor. Cypress was also used extensively within the space. We chose cypress not only for its beauty and rustic appeal, but since it is a local material the prices are quite competitive making it less expensive within our market than other traditional materials.

Since the new space included the deck being an elevated space, the homeowners also have the luxury of a dry space area below the deck which they can add outdoor furniture to in order to have additional space for entertaining or whatever their hearts desire. These North Macon homeowners are delighted with their new outdoor living oasis which provides spacious room for a crowd and still offers the flexibility to provide the privacy and ambiance when they want it..

North Macon covered porch builder
Notice how the covered and open portions of this backyard space flow effortlessly into one another.

Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GAContact Archadeck of Central Georgia to learn more about our unique, diverse outdoor living structure designs. We can customize your backyard to suit a crowd, or just a few. The possibilities are endless. Call us today for a free consultation (478) 745 – 2000 or email us at centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

You can see more examples of chameleons of outdoor living where form meets function by visiting our porch photo galleries and our outdoor living photo galleries located on our website.