RenovationsShed Progress – We Have Windows! June 3, 2016I’m so glad to see that y’all are as excited as we are for this shed turned screened porch makeover! If you missed the introduction of this project, make sure you check out our plans here. The most exciting thing so far has been seeing the big windows cut! The space already feels so open and airy. We started by cutting two large windows in each long side, as you can see here. We measured the length inside to see what size windows we could do evenly. We also made sure to maintain as many existing studs as possible inside, we cut from existing stud to existing stud. The windows ended up being 7 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide. Pup loves that we’re working on outside projects now! To frame these out and not compromise the structure, Chris installed a header made of two 2 x 8″s (installed side-by-side). There’s a 2 x 4″ underneath it and two 2 x 4’s on the sides for support. He used clamps to secure the header in place while he built the side supports. The header and side supports are crucial when it comes to continuing to support the structure. I’m thankful my husband has a lot of framing knowledge so he could make this work in a way that was safe for us and maximized our window size. Handy hubby for the win. Gosh, I just love all of those planks! He used a reciprocating saw to trim the planks right up to the installed header and supports once they were in place. You can see that we did a transom in the back to let a lot of light in. While another huge window would’ve been nice, we felt like we needed to leave one wall more intact to continue supporting the structure. In the entrance, we’ve removed the two large doors and will be installing a screen door here, so it will stay a lot more open. I love how open it is! Now, I can’t wait to paint it all white and it’ll really feel lightened up! Oh, in other shed news, a lot of you asked about electrical. We will definitely have electricity out here! We’re installing outlets, a fan overhead, and bulb lights. Chris is an electrician, so he’s handling that portion. Also, we got a new roof put on this shed when we did our house’s roof in the fall since we knew this project was coming. What you might be seeing through the cracks overhead is the paper they lay under the shingles, not light. This baby is all protected and ready to go. We’re moving right along! More updates to come next week!
Dharma says June 3, 2016 at 1:48 pm Love this project, it is the epitome of making “a silk purse out of a sow’s ear” π I’m so excited to see all the white paint, that will blow this thing wide open! Reply
Amy Lynn says June 3, 2016 at 4:22 pm What a cool project! Definitely a great use of an existing outdoor structure π can’t wait to see it finished! Reply
Lindsay says June 5, 2016 at 3:34 pm Thanks so much, Amy Lynn! We’re so excited too! Hope it turns out as good as it is in my head π Reply
becky says June 3, 2016 at 6:58 pm It is going to be fabulous! Lucky you to have such a talented husband! Reply
Lindsay says June 5, 2016 at 3:32 pm Haha, I know, Becky! I’m so thankful π And we’re so excited! Reply
Rachel Winchester says June 4, 2016 at 5:36 pm Love it! This is going to be such a great space. I always wish we had more outdoor spaces to enjoy! Reply
Lindsay says June 5, 2016 at 3:31 pm Thanks so much, Rachel! Seriously, I don’t think you can have too many haha! We love outdoor spots π Reply
Sabrina Smelko says June 5, 2016 at 10:34 am Those windows are massive, it’s going to be so beautiful after! Can’t wait to see the big reveal. I’m working on my backyard at the moment as well. Lots of work, but oh so worth it! π Sabrina @ http://sabrinasmelko.com/blog Reply
Corinna - ADesignerAtHome says June 5, 2016 at 4:18 pm How exciting! This will be such a cozy and fun place for you all to hang out in. Reply
Ardith says June 6, 2016 at 3:12 pm This is very exciting and such a great way to repurpose your shed. Two thumbs up on your combined talents to convert this soon-to-be awesome cutie. Cheers, Ardith Reply
Lindsay says June 7, 2016 at 11:09 am Thanks so much, Ardith! We’re so excited to see it finished and be able to enjoy it! Reply
Mary Mullen says June 30, 2017 at 12:23 am I love this project – I am in the middle of cleaning out my shed, to make it beautiful like yours π I was searching online for inspiration .. and found your posts! Your screened porch is beautiful! I want to make big windows, but not sure how to cut through the exterior walls. Did your hubs cut through with a reciprocating saw? Sledge hammer?! LOL Reply
Lindsay says July 1, 2017 at 2:08 pm Hi Mary! So glad you found us! Yes, he cut them out with a reciprocating saw π Reply
Leah says June 5, 2019 at 2:09 pm I love how your porch turned out! It’s amazing and we were trying to do the same to ours. We called a contractor in to take a look and he said he’d have to pull out all the current wood and set up temporary supports while he replaced the walls. He was concerned that the wood was not treated to handle wetness and weather so it would need to be replaced with wood that was on the inside walls. Have you run into any rot problems with your walls or did you finish it on the inside somehow? We live in Mississippi, so if it rains it’s probably raining sideways. Reply
Lindsay says June 6, 2019 at 10:43 am Hi Leah! We LOOOOOVED our shed turned porch! We’ve now moved to another house, but did not have any issues at all with that when we were there. Though, I would say our weather here is fairly mild without a lot of storms and blowing rain. And we really loved the look and feel of the old wood we kept! Reply
Leah Kiple says June 6, 2019 at 10:53 am Thanks for your quick reply! We may end up finishing ours as an indoor space with lots of windows instead. Anyway, thanks for the inspiration. I started following on Instagram bc I love your style and sweet family. How sweet that God has used your talents to pay off debt and allow you to share your journey with others. Reply