Name: Back Porch Restoration

Location: Milwaukee, WI, built in 1915

Challenges:
Full removal and disposal of the back porch—stairs, railing, decking, framing and support pieces. The roof needed to be raised and supported. Full rebuild of back porch including new elements of the same design.

Solutions:

To kick off the project, we meticulously removed and disposed of the porch- stairs, railing, decking, framing and support pieces ensuring a clean slate for the project to be done in a safe and clean manner. As well as allowing us to inspect if there is any damage to the existing wood trim, bead board, and crown molding.

Next, we inspected the wood trim, bead board, and crown molding. There was evidence of deterioration, damage, and inappropriate repairs in the support pieces and trim above the porch. Damaged or weathered areas were removed, restored/replaced to ensure a solid support. We raised and supported the ceiling of the porch. New concrete was poured for the footings for the support columns. New support columns were decided to be 6” x 6” to look more appropriate to the scale and proportion of the home.

Once repairs were complete, all new parts of the porch were installed- support columns, framing to support new new decking and new steps, tongue and groove decking, Accoya steps, code compliant railing from Accoya and strive to match the existing railing in style and design. All fastener holes were filled with a premium filler. We assessed all caulking/sealant of wood work to brick transitions. Any missing or failing caulk was replaced appropriately for connecting materials (brick and wood). We also installed a custom downspout runoff to get the downspout water away from the porch.

Our final step in this process was to set up for the safe and complete execution of work. All work will be performed in a lead safe manner. We also included a small piece of trim at the bottom of the columns to hide the brackets that hold the column to the concrete. There was a few areas of old woodwork that were left on the porch those areas had high build up, peeling, alligatoring or chipping paint. Paint was removed and taken to near bare wood. Everything was thoroughly scuff sanded and was primed with a premium primer. 2 coats of premium exterior finishes from Sherwin Williams Exterior Emerald line was applied.

Outcome:
The home’s historical character was fully preserved while improving its structural integrity and functionality. The fully rebuilt back porch blends seamlessly with the home’s architectural style, ensuring it can stand for many more decades.