Our back porch has never been under much consideration. It serves a function and it's just there. Dan had to add the railings when we first moved in, but other than that, it hasn't factored into our remodeling ideas.
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| Old photo from 2011. It was the best I could find to show you the whole area. |
The problem has been the steps. I'm not sure who built them; I suppose the same guy who did all the other puzzling things we've discovered as we've repaired and remodeled this 100-year-old house. Both the rise and run of each step is slightly different. The tread width of our stairs varies from 8 to 9 inches for each step, while the standard is a minimum of 10 inches (consistent for each step!) The run varies between 7 and 8 inches, which is fine except each step is different. These things make them awkward to ascend and descend, especially when carrying things. From time to time, Dan has mentioned building a deck to replace them, but it wasn't until the other day that we got to talking and said, why not?
So that's the plan. In the meantime, Dan continues his calculations and we begin to collect materials.
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| The red box houses our solar battery bank. It can't be moved and so defines the deck width. |
So we ended up with a project for 2026 after all. 😃
16 comments:
I think this 2026 project will bring you both much joy!
Bob, I think we'll enjoy it very much!
There is nothing better than a good porch! Looking forward to the final result!
TB, me too! It's underway now and coming along really well.
Looking forward to seeing the result. Those stairs sound difficult, so will be safer to have consistency with the steps. We once owned a property with a long flight of unusual stairs, steps not at a conventional rise and run. Don't know how many times I stumbled on them until Hubby replaced them!
So exciting! That Dan is a whiz!
Rosalea, I really dislike those steps, although I suspect they were made before the modern standard. I feel especially awkward when carrying a basket of laundry.
I recall touring some historical homes and was amazed at how steep and narrow the stairs to the second floor were! I'm looking forward to the new staircase.
Daisy, so far there isn't anything he hasn't been able to do. He'd probably credit YouTube, which truly is a treasure of information for things like this.
I like outdoor spaces but don't spend much time on our deck. Probably the most we use it is as a deer-free zone to grow herbs that are quickly assessable to use as we cook. Our deck is getting quite old at this point and I've been thinking about redoing it except putting a roof over it and perhaps even making some or all of it screened in against bugs. With those two additions to it, I think I would spend a lot of time out there.
Ed, a screened porch is lovely. My grandparents had theirs off the living room and practically lived out there in summer. Dan and I talked about a roof, but out of concern for his knees (and a lot of ladder climbing) I said it wasn't necessary. I am looking into patio umbrellas, though, for the times when the sun hits the deck.
Mostly, I'm looking forward to decent stairs! Dan always wanted a deck, so we're getting something we both want. :)
Oh good luck, I can't wait to see it when you are finished.
Dicky Bird, me too! :)
I was going to build a new back porch. For the past twenty years or so... Maybe next year. I did get the lumber. This is the second or third time I have traded for lumber to build a back porch. It is good to have goals
Buddeshepherd, that sounds like our plans for a pergola for the sunny front room window. The lumber has been sitting there for a couple of years now. Somehow I doubt it will ever make it to the top of the to-do list. :)
The steps alone are a hazard waiting to be fixed. There's a reason for regs on stair rises and treads and most of all uniformity!
Liz, I suspect our old steps were simply grandfathered in during the original inspection. Our insurance company did demand hand railing (which it originally didn't have), which we gladly complied with. It wasn't until we were planning for the new porch that we actually measured the old steps. It was definitely a "now I get it" moment.
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