I've been wanting to build an outdoor cooking/entertainment area on the back of our house for many years so this has been a long, long journey. Finally last year I decided to go ahead with the project since we're not getting any younger. I wasn't going to post about it until it was finished, but decided to post what is complete which is about 90-95%.
Well, what started out as a simple project has dragged on for almost 9 months and I'm still not quite finished, it's always something. Anyway, we live in a 50 year old neighborhood of typical 3-2 ranch style homes. Our house was actually built in 1974, 2 car garage with a finished room over, we've lived here for over 30 years.
My patio in the back yard was 10x12 and I added about 5' to one end using square pavers. When it rained, I used a pop-up canopy to cook under. Here it is just before demo...
![20240715_164755[1].jpg](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' width='2000' height='1500' viewBox%3D'0 0 2000 1500'%2F%3E "20240715_164755[1].jpg")
My plan was to build a 20x24 covered area which tied into my house with the roofline following the small gable you can see in the picture and the ceiling would be on the level of the eaves. After some thought, that turned into 24x24. Demolition started and the concrete was poured on July 18, 2024. I really wanted to save my concrete steps so they were able to cut out around them to remove the slab...
![20240717_093657[1].jpg](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' width='1500' height='2000' viewBox%3D'0 0 1500 2000'%2F%3E "20240717_093657[1].jpg")
Formed up and concrete about to be pumped. I decided to have the concrete dyed to match the color of my brick...
Cured for a month or so then sealed...
Construction started on September 25 with the 1st post...
All the posts are set, LVLs set, time to start with the trusses...
Try to set the 1st truss and we have a problem, the new roof is supposed to follow the same line as the existing gable. The pitch was measured by 2 different contractors and the trusses were made...WRONG because they measured the pitch wrong.
That's not going to work, but they set them anyway and the contractor ordered 40 2x6 and the framer set the correct pitch with them along side the trusses...
Roof should be strong with basically double trusses even though the wrong trusses aren't doing any of the load bearing.
Sheathed and shingled...
Dry-in was completed October 8. My son did the electrical rough-in, time for some vinyl and metal. Here comes the next problem, getting the right color material to match my existing soffits and trim. Took over 4 months to find it and they started the work February 18...
Got to this point and the next problem...the contractor didn't order enough material, so we wait some more. Finally got the rest of the material in so they can finish when the next problem shows up. The ceiling has to be done in 2 halves because of the size and maybe I'm too particular, but this isn't going to work...
Come on man, make it line up. I stopped them and made them pull it and get it right.
Anyway, here's where we are now, all covered in pine pollen...
It is a big space, much bigger than I could've envisioned when all I had were some stakes in the ground almost a year ago. The ceiling is right at 11' and that 84" ceiling fan looks small, should've went with a 10' fan, but it does move some air. I made that table last week so I'd have a work space when smoking or grilling.
I really tried to think about what I may do in the future with the space. Everyone of the posts has an outlet in the ceiling at the top and they are 8' apart (maybe enclosing it or part of it one day?) Thinking maybe corner fans or electric roll down blinds($$$$), etc. I have additional wire pulled in the ceiling for whatever I may want later.
Things to come soon are gutters, manual roll down blinds between the posts, a work table with a sink along the area under the window (I actually have separate overhead lighting and an outlet for that), a cover for the TV, and a sectional of some kind to fall asleep on while watching TV at night...
Sheila and I sat out there alone last night for the first time just to relax, but we have plenty of room for our zoo to enjoy, as well like this past Sunday afternoon when we celebrated our daughter's 40th birthday. Yes, we have a 40 year old child...makes me feel old...
When I first started getting quotes last June, the contractor I eventually went with said, "This is a small, easy job and shouldn't take long."
Here we are 9 months later and it's still not quite finished, could've built a house in that time, but I guess Rome wasn't built in a day...
Well, what started out as a simple project has dragged on for almost 9 months and I'm still not quite finished, it's always something. Anyway, we live in a 50 year old neighborhood of typical 3-2 ranch style homes. Our house was actually built in 1974, 2 car garage with a finished room over, we've lived here for over 30 years.
My patio in the back yard was 10x12 and I added about 5' to one end using square pavers. When it rained, I used a pop-up canopy to cook under. Here it is just before demo...
My plan was to build a 20x24 covered area which tied into my house with the roofline following the small gable you can see in the picture and the ceiling would be on the level of the eaves. After some thought, that turned into 24x24. Demolition started and the concrete was poured on July 18, 2024. I really wanted to save my concrete steps so they were able to cut out around them to remove the slab...
Formed up and concrete about to be pumped. I decided to have the concrete dyed to match the color of my brick...
Cured for a month or so then sealed...
Construction started on September 25 with the 1st post...
All the posts are set, LVLs set, time to start with the trusses...
Try to set the 1st truss and we have a problem, the new roof is supposed to follow the same line as the existing gable. The pitch was measured by 2 different contractors and the trusses were made...WRONG because they measured the pitch wrong.
That's not going to work, but they set them anyway and the contractor ordered 40 2x6 and the framer set the correct pitch with them along side the trusses...
Roof should be strong with basically double trusses even though the wrong trusses aren't doing any of the load bearing.
Sheathed and shingled...
Dry-in was completed October 8. My son did the electrical rough-in, time for some vinyl and metal. Here comes the next problem, getting the right color material to match my existing soffits and trim. Took over 4 months to find it and they started the work February 18...
Got to this point and the next problem...the contractor didn't order enough material, so we wait some more. Finally got the rest of the material in so they can finish when the next problem shows up. The ceiling has to be done in 2 halves because of the size and maybe I'm too particular, but this isn't going to work...
Come on man, make it line up. I stopped them and made them pull it and get it right.
Anyway, here's where we are now, all covered in pine pollen...
It is a big space, much bigger than I could've envisioned when all I had were some stakes in the ground almost a year ago. The ceiling is right at 11' and that 84" ceiling fan looks small, should've went with a 10' fan, but it does move some air. I made that table last week so I'd have a work space when smoking or grilling.
I really tried to think about what I may do in the future with the space. Everyone of the posts has an outlet in the ceiling at the top and they are 8' apart (maybe enclosing it or part of it one day?) Thinking maybe corner fans or electric roll down blinds($$$$), etc. I have additional wire pulled in the ceiling for whatever I may want later.
Things to come soon are gutters, manual roll down blinds between the posts, a work table with a sink along the area under the window (I actually have separate overhead lighting and an outlet for that), a cover for the TV, and a sectional of some kind to fall asleep on while watching TV at night...
Sheila and I sat out there alone last night for the first time just to relax, but we have plenty of room for our zoo to enjoy, as well like this past Sunday afternoon when we celebrated our daughter's 40th birthday. Yes, we have a 40 year old child...makes me feel old...
When I first started getting quotes last June, the contractor I eventually went with said, "This is a small, easy job and shouldn't take long."
Here we are 9 months later and it's still not quite finished, could've built a house in that time, but I guess Rome wasn't built in a day...
