My Outdoor Area

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Gonna Smoke

Smoking Guru
Original poster
OTBS Member
★ Lifetime Premier ★
Sep 19, 2018
6,401
9,638
South Carolina
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


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

20240717_100037[1].jpg


Formed up and concrete about to be pumped. I decided to have the concrete dyed to match the color of my brick...
20240718_081538[1].jpg

20240718_084440[1].jpg

20240718_093511[1].jpg


Cured for a month or so then sealed...
20240828_171138[1].jpg


Construction started on September 25 with the 1st post...
20240925_102057[1].jpg


All the posts are set, LVLs set, time to start with the trusses...
20240928_114905[1].jpg


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.
20240928_124035[1].jpg


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...
20240930_164908[1].jpg

20241001_093652[1].jpg

20241001_143639[1].jpg

Roof should be strong with basically double trusses even though the wrong trusses aren't doing any of the load bearing.

Sheathed and shingled...
20241004_161319[1].jpg

20241008_081951[1].jpg


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...
20250219_095729[1].jpg

20250219_113857[1].jpg


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...
20250219_155209[1].jpg

20250219_155150[1].jpg

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...😆
20250319_160557[1].jpg

20250319_160642[1].jpg


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...
20250316_172718[1].jpg


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...
 
That's really nice Charles . Money well spent , and nice size space .
Can't believe anyone , especially someone that does that for a living would install that ceiling with the reveal not lined up . He should have pulled string line end to end first thing .

I bought some of the roll up shades from Lowes for my area . I like them because they block the wind and sun , but not the view . I bought extra brackets so I can run them halfway or all the way down .
You're gonna enjoy that .
 
Man... You are gonna absolutely love that space...

Can't believe anyone , especially someone that does that for a living would install that ceiling with the reveal not lined up

NO F'ING WAY... Now that right there tells me somebody doesn't take pride in their work... They wouldn't have liked the choice words I would've used when telling them that it wasn't gonna work...

As for the trusses... I'm hoping you didn't have to pay for the extra 2x6's ...
 
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...
View attachment 715205

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...
View attachment 715206
View attachment 715207

Formed up and concrete about to be pumped. I decided to have the concrete dyed to match the color of my brick...
View attachment 715208
View attachment 715210
View attachment 715211

Cured for a month or so then sealed...
View attachment 715212

Construction started on September 25 with the 1st post...
View attachment 715213

All the posts are set, LVLs set, time to start with the trusses...
View attachment 715214

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.
View attachment 715215

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...
View attachment 715216
View attachment 715217
View attachment 715218
Roof should be strong with basically double trusses even though the wrong trusses aren't doing any of the load bearing.

Sheathed and shingled...
View attachment 715219
View attachment 715220

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...
View attachment 715221
View attachment 715222

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...
View attachment 715223
View attachment 715224
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...😆
View attachment 715225
View attachment 715226

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...
View attachment 715229

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...
Sweet! Beautiful job!

- Jason
 
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That looks awesome Charles I'm sure you and your crew will get lots of use of that space and set up
 
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That so cool! Lots of great cooks and memories will be made there! Enjoy the time you spend there.
 
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That is one incredible space Charles! So happy you are getting close to the end. How about a TV?
Nope I see it now. That is a perfect setup. Enjoy.
 
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Reactions: Gonna Smoke
Can't believe anyone , especially someone that does that for a living would install that ceiling with the reveal not lined up .
Well they tried. It was in the mid 20s that day so I stayed inside, but that's what I saw when I went to check on them. Needless to say I was shocked. I ran them off the job and called the contractor raising hell and sent him pics. NO WAY was that acceptable...
I bought some of the roll up shades from Lowes for my area . I like them because they block the wind and sun , but not the view . I bought extra brackets so I can run them halfway or all the way down .
Those are what I'm looking at and for the same reasons. Like the idea of the extra brackets, hadn't thought about that...
 
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Reactions: chopsaw
NO F'ING WAY... Now that right there tells me somebody doesn't take pride in their work... They wouldn't have liked the choice words I would've used when telling them that it wasn't gonna work...
Well I did lose my cool, I'll leave it at that...😉
As for the trusses... I'm hoping you didn't have to pay for the extra 2x6's ...
Nope, they ate that cost...
 
Awesome Charles, I've been chasing that same goal. Your new space looks amazing 👍
Thanks, I've been promising Sheila I was going to do this for probably 15 years and she kept reminding me of that promise. With her HCC diagnosis last year and knowing life is short, I just had to do it. No regrets...
 
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