Compare and contrast

On occasion, while rifling through my photo catalogue on my iPhone, I stumble across a forgotten “before” image taken at a job site. And when that photo underscores how spectacularly a transformative reno project has improved the homeowners’ abode, I can’t help but write a before-and-after column to showcase the upgrade.

Looking back on the project, it was a series of complementary decisions that led to the vast improvement.

During my first visit to the job site, it was clear the old wooden stairs that lead to the back door of the house had become dilapidated, and even unsafe in certain areas. As such, the homeowners wanted my impressions on how best to revitalize the rear access structure.

Thoughts had been entertained regarding the viability of transforming the back stairs into a covered porch area, primarily to ease the process of entering the house during the winter months.

Based on the existing stairs that led down parallel to the back door, which faced the neighbours, my first suggestion was to shift the orientation of the stairway by 90 degrees, so they’d face the backyard and garage door. By doing so, the footprint of the back landing could be greatly increased.

With that choice made, the manner of build would include a small deck tier, with a staircase leading down to the existing concrete pad and sidewalk.

While discussing this portion of the build, we then decided to remove the existing concrete to better accommodate an oversized version of the deck-and-stairs footprint, allowing the proper support structure to be installed without the nuisance of old, crumbling concrete in the way.

As the ideas continued to flow, the porch design evolved to include a closed-in area above the deck tier, which would then become a three-season space that could offer a seating area in the milder months.

These decisions then led to the cottage roof, which truly was the only way to complement the existing exterior walls of the house and multiple rooflines.

The main deck and stairs were decoratively sheathed in a light-grey composite decking and fascia, while the exterior of the porch walls received vinyl siding that closely matches the existing siding of the home.

Once the cottage roof was completed and shingled, soffits, fascia and eaves were then installed. White aluminum railing was erected along both sides of the staircase toward the doorway of the covered porch, matching the white finish of the storm door (with glass) and slider windows.

More decisions would then dispense with the simplicity of the interior, which to that point was to remain revealed and unfinished. However, the homeowners were so impressed with how well the project had evolved, they requested the interior be finished using tongue-and-groove pine.

As such, the wall and ceiling cavities (along with the underside of the deck tier) were filled with batt insulation to help retain of modicum of heat during the colder months, with pine boards and trim installed on every wall surface, as well as the underside of the cottage roof.

The homeowners ended up enjoying the space so much they subsequently bragged about how people who came to visit would immediately flock to the new space simply to hang out because it was so “cosy,” despite only being roughly nine-by-eight feet in total area. The homeowners have added a corner couch and a few smaller benches to the porch, which now seats six or so people comfortably. An intimate gathering area loved by all!

As a project evolves, ongoing discussions can introduce possibilities not imagined at first. And in this case, the logical desire to replace old and broken stairs to the back door blossomed into not only a fully functioning covered rear access space, it now doubles as a four-season hub for entertaining guests.

This may seem like a long leap from where it all began, but the long journey sure paid off. It illustrates how a series of good decisions leads to the best rewards.

RenoBoss.Inc@outlook.com