Building a Portico {the roof is up!}

Last week I shared the start of our new portico project and today I am sharing the progress we have made. It’s looking so much better and the roof is up! It’s crazy how a building a portico, a little roof and two new columns can transform the front of a home.

Here is the before:

We framed around the existing step.

Initially, we were going to remove the cement step but decided that it was in decent shape and would provide a solid base for the new wider step, so we left it.

We chose a maintenance free vinyl decking to create our new step.

Last week I shared portico designs that I had rounded up to help my mom decide what style she wanted. Ultimately, we decided on the round italian style column.

We did enlist a little help with the install of the columns and roof. We DIY most everything around our home but occasionally, you need muscle for projects, more muscle than I have! ha.

I found it fascinating how they made a simple rectangular box as the supports for the columns. I have never seen a portico built before so this was a first for me. It’s always nice to see how things are actually made and what is underneath the “pretty” end product.

We used special brackets for fastening the wooden box to the house and new columns.

They used wooden shims on top of the columns to brace the support beams (rectangular box) until they got it level, then they removed them.

Kind of cool right?

Progress!

We decided to add a decorative inset on the front facing part of the new roof which I will share next week. It was a last minute decision but it took the roof line from nice to wow!

As you can see, it’s coming along nicely and the two toned shingles add so much color and texture to an otherwise, boring roof.

We still need to finish up the details and rip out the old door. The existing door is a solid wood gorgeous door with beautiful detail but unfortunately, that’s about all it has to offer. It basically lets in all the cold air during the winter months and you can see the outside through the cracks when you walk by it. Not good! I have plans for that door though, possibly a DIY headboard for our master bedroom. Stay tuned, the portico reveal is soon!

UPDATE: See our new Portico REVEAL! It’s finished!