The front Porch

As construction progressed on our sun room, work also began on the front porch. At least the demolition started at the same time.

These old Victorian houses were built in a fashion that just doesn't exist today. The gable brackets on our house were showing their age and needed to be replaced. But you just can't go out and buy brackets like those in this day and age. If you want them, you have have to make them yourself. Ours were taken off as a first step and set aside for preservation.

One day we had a front porch, the next day that first step was a long one. But at least they did put up a temporary mail box for us.

Our old porch was just sitting on the ground without much between it and the dirt. That was one reason it started tilting as the timbers rotted. The new porch is set on concrete foundation with each post sitting on a pier of 4 feet of concrete that is 18 inches in diameter.

They used serious equipment to build this foundation.

Once the foundation was in, they started building the porch superstructure using treated wood.

For as long as she has been here, Max has wanted a front porch that wraps around the side of the house. So that was our plan. We had to take out a couple of small trees to make room for it, but the new porch will really balance out the sun room on the other side of the house.

These guys that are doing our work aren't just construction guys, they are are true craftsmen in the art of carpentry. Working on an old house like this one is a step by step process. Everything has to be done to custom fit this house. As I said before, buying new soffit brackets just wasn't possible, so they made new ones, except these were made out of PVC "boards" that they cut out and laminated together. Below are 5 new ones that will be put on the new back porch.

Below are the ones that they put on the front porch.

And here is the new porch that is just about completed. They still have to pour the concrete below the steps, something they will do when they pour the foundation for the back porch.


And here are some pictures from the porch itself. We will probably put a porch swing on it on the side and a couple of rocking chairs along with some plant in pots and hangers.

It will be wonderful!