Covered Porch Addition in Pflugerville, TX, Shows Archadeck of Austin Does Whatever it Takes to Make Your Outdoor Living Dreams Come True

Looks can be deceiving, we all know that, and the saying certainly applies to this sweet covered porch addition we built for our clients in Pflugerville, Texas. The results are delightful and offer the homeowners a relaxing place to sit, lounge and dine outdoors. Their new porch gives them a space that’s protected from sun and rain and is illuminated for nighttime enjoyment. To say we made it look easy would be an understatement.

In a nutshell, this covered porch addition had a very complicated roof tie-in. To the uninitiated, it may not look like a big deal. Builders and remodelers, however, will immediately notice this was a complex job. The offset of the rooflines was the primary issue. We needed to tie together the new roof (the porch cover) with three connection points on the original roof to facilitate the addition of a roofed outdoor structure. Porch builder Archadeck of Austin was up to the task. We love a challenge!

Out With The Old …

• We demolished the home’s small, concrete patio.
• We removed the overhang above the back door.
• We removed the soffit to allow for the installation of the roof rafters.
• We removed the existing single back door and window into the dining area.
• We removed a portion of the siding around the back door.

In With The New …

We poured a new, larger concrete patio.

• In place of the original overhang, we used 8 x 8 support posts and heavy beams that we could tie into the existing wall.
• We built ridge walls up so they would extend into the ceiling.
• For the roof tie-in, we built up the wall to carry the load of the beam that would tie into the roof.
• We installed the new roof in a way that gave us enough room for a high ceiling area over the porch.
• We built a new overhang and used the same type of shingles that are on the existing roof.
• We installed a new header over the back door and a new Therma-Tru double door system featuring energy-efficient Low-E glass.
• Once the new door was in, we replaced the siding with Hardieplank siding to seal the wall.
• We installed Hardieboard siding on the interior of the covered porch.
• We used Hardie wrap for the new beams, support posts, soffit and fascia.
• We installed a beautiful beadboard ceiling and painted it blue!
• We painted the support posts white to match the house and painted everything else to make it all look brand new.
• We installed electrical wiring in the new porch roof for a ceiling fan and outdoor lighting.
• We scored the new concrete patio in a 24″ tile pattern with a walnut-colored border and outside edge for contrast.
• We installed a ceiling fan and four can lights in the porch’s beadboard ceiling.
• We installed sconce light fixtures on the outside of the two support posts.

About That Beautiful, New Double Door System …

The new double door makes better use of the space than the original back door and dining room window did. Haven’t we all had situations where we needed to bring something larger than a single door into or out of the house? The new door also updates the look of the back of the house. In that regard, the design impact of this door replacement is huge!

The Therma-Tru double door system features Low-E glass and a low-rise threshold. The door’s energy-efficient Low-E glass helps reduce the loss of heat in cold weather by reflecting heat back into the home. In warm weather, the sun’s rays reflect off of the Low-E glass, helping to keep the home cool inside.

About that Blue Porch Ceiling …

Blue porch ceilings have an interesting history. The practice of painting a porch ceiling blue seems to have begun in the South, but these days you can find them in all regions of the country. Folklore mixes with facts when it comes to explanations for this phenomenon.

• In the Low Country of South Carolina, “haint blue” porch ceilings mimicking the color of water were used to keep out “haints” – meaning ghosts, apparitions or lost souls – because these spirits were unable to cross water.
• In Oregon, porch ceilings painted a shade called Aurora blue were associated with the Aurora Colony, a Christian communal society founded by emigrants, primarily German and Swiss, in the 1850s.
• In New England, the color of a blue sky was used on Victorian porch ceilings to reflect colors found in nature. On gray days, a blue ceiling reminded residents that they would see brighter days ahead.
• Finally, in some areas homeowners believed a blue porch ceiling would trick birds and insects into believing they had reached the sky, thereby discouraging them from building nests in the ceiling. In reality, these early blue paints were often made with milk and lye, and lye does repel insects. The milk paint faded and needed to be repainted each year, or every few years. A new coat of lye probably did keep insects away.

This is what we know: blue is considered a calming color and is associated with peace and relaxation. What better color to frame your new covered porch where you plan to spend countless hours relaxing and basking in nature’s glory?

Put Archadeck of Austin to the Test. No Challenge is Too Big!

Whether you want a covered patio or a big open patio with an outdoor kitchen – or some combination of these and more,  Archadeck of Austin is here for you. We are ready to design and build the outdoor living space that will make your home complete. Contact us today at 512-259-8282 or via email at jim.odom@archadeck.net to schedule a free design consultation.

Jim Schallon, senior designer Archadeck of Austin.