Porch Talk

 (Exterior) stuff has been getting done around here!  

 We converted our open air porch to a three season porch this weekend.

It is SO much better, and I can't wait for it to warm up and switch out the screens, because I feel like I have finally one up'd the local mosquito population a bit.  The whole triple E and West Nile drama they bring is such a downer, and those pesky little bitches always figured out how to get around my mosquito netting.  

Here is a Before and After Montage for your Monday

(just because I love B/A Montages since they let me see the slow change that has been happening over the past 3 1/2 years and make me feel productive)

2009 when we viewed this beauty to buy, WTF were we thinking?...

 2 1/2 years ago after paint and a landscape/ramp rip up...

yesterday-

please ignore all the crap strewn around the yard- we have no landscape plan yet, so stuff is  everywhere ...                       

And again...

Mosquito Net, pretty but not the most effective...

take that mo-fo-squitos!

The entire process was done using Brosco Combination Storm Doors

We measured the opening of our porch, and figured out how many panels we would need. They come in a few heights and widths, and you can trim them down easily.

We ordered the unprimed pine to save money and painted ourselves.

The openings were framed out...

And the panels went in and get trimmed out and attached...

And then the windows or screens go in. 

The panels we chose came with both since we are in the North East and we want to use this room as year round as humanely possible (space heater required).

Insta-Room! Now I get to decorate.

On other porch fronts, the front porch is done! 

(well almost- trim is not painted and we still need to add the screen door...)

My Dad installed the decking with a very cool product called Tiger Claw Deck Fasteners.

They hold the decking in place and no nails are needed.

You need 2 people for this, and there is a learning curve, 

but the end result are smooth planks and no nail holes.

You take a metal clip and insert it into the rubber holder...

 Line up the clip with the floor joist, and hammer the rubber holder so the clip gets tacked into the outer decking board...

Screw clip into place, and continue adding clips down the rest of the board length...

Lay your next board in front of the last board and using a piece of wood as a buffer, hammer the new board into the clips while making sure to stand on it to keep it flat.

Then repeat the steps by adding clips to the front of the new board.

And boom! No nails!

OK, I am off to get some stuff painted! 

Be back soon with an easy DIY for you all.