Help! Feedback Needed on Builder's Porch "Decisions"
I need opinions on what our builder has done with our front porch. Without inflecting my observations and bias on the matter, or before I do, please give me your thoughts on how the overall look is coming along. Our builder made a couple of decisions that I wish he had asked us about before going forward with them. Obviously I have some reservations, but I want to see if I'm alone or if others see what I see. (For reference, the bases of the columns will be a stacked ledgestone called Echo Ridge - the 'dummy' door will be replaced with a 8' craftsman door (in a burgundy/ruby red) with sidelights - a white Carriage house style garage door and we'll have black shutters.
And for any builders out there, please also chime in if you see problems from a construction angle like my husband does. Here are a couple of pics and there are more in the links to my folder.
https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/125682473/list/gable-and-porch
Thanks, I'm looking forward to your honest opinions!
Comments (17)
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Comments (37)1. Your builder may have an interior designer on staff that will help with all of the interior decisions. This, of course, comes with a pricetag (maybe not a line item, but it would be included). If your builder doesn't have one on staff, your best bet would be to hire someone. When we got bids on our house, we spec'd out generals: windows, floor type, cabinet type, shower material, counter material, etc. We didn't pick the EXACT material - those were included in an allowance. When it actually came to picking WHAT floor or cabinet style, we would have used the interior designer. 2. Your stairs are narrow. 3'0" is code minimum, but that is not comfortable, especially for stairs that will be used all the time. Ours are 40" and widen to 44". You'll be going up and down them a lot so you may want something a bit roomier. 3. I agree with others about all the 2 level rooms. I would close that up in an instant. 4. You walk into your master straight into a wall. Or a closet. Consider if that's the look you want. Plus I am not a fan of double doors. One will never get used. Where is your light switch? 5. You don't have room for a freestanding tub in your master bath. Toilet room is too small for an inswing door. 10' is a HUGE vanity. 6. You'll be hauling 3 kids' laundry upstairs to do it. Consider either adding a 2nd laundry space on the main level - and teaching your kids how to share laundry machines - and/or putting in an elevator. You will not have an entirely private level unless you plan on doing all of your kids' laundry forever. 7. Having the powder room right off the kitchen may make that bath really uncomfortable for guests to use. 8. Get rid of the pocket door into the shared bath and flip that bath around so the toilet is up against the closet. That bathroom is just about the worst of a jack and jill. Consider adding a tub/shower combo in that room for resale (anyone with kids under 5 or planned kids won't want to buy your house because they'll have to have their kids bathe in the master bath and truck up and down stairs with all that goes with that). 9. Any deck that you want to use for anything other than a couple chairs needs to be at least 10'. For dining, you need at least that width for a dining table. For comfortable living room type seating, 12'-14'. 10. Do you plan to watch TV in your living room? If so, consider flipping the living and dining room, and put the TV on the bar wall. And insulate that wall. 11. Kid in the middle bedroom gets screwed. Smallest room, no direct bathroom access, and toilets on both shared walls. 12. Reconsider pantry window. Typically food should be stored in a dark place. 13. Consider having seating on the edges of your island as well - this will make for easier conversation if you actually plan on eating there. 14. 3'-6" is pretty tight between a fridge and island. This probably doesn't include fridge handles or counter overhang, either. We have 4' between ours, and it only works because it's a french door fridge....See Morelhlin
4 years agolhlin
4 years ago
PROPPF.
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
The cap on a column base should be sloped so water does not sit on it.
lhlin thanked PPF.
roccouple
4 years agoIt almost looks like the door was to be recessed in the plans. There’s no knee wall or wall extension coming up. the gable roof goes back to meet the main roof with just air underneath.
I added a vertical line line below with the missing side wall. Without that I can’t figure out what was supposed to happen with the roof?
lhlin thanked roccouplelhlin
4 years agook- I'm back- was out in the garage shaving the dog...yes...literally, he's our 12yo hot spot, allergy-prone mess of an Old man-Doggy boy...yellow Lab...his new name is Patches now. ;-) BEST DOG EVER!
I'm going to respond to Mark Bischak, Architect first...and it may explain some other comments as well.
LOL - Yes to the view and the wine! It's our "Mullet House"...business in the front and party in the back! Since the beginning when we decided to build this retirement (soon, but not soon enough) house, we knew we were on a budget and our mind set has been focused on the house being a simple design with durable but cost-effective finishes and for it to be low maintenance when we get too old to be DIYer's anymore. So honestly, we're not concerned with bells and whistles and elaborate details out front, we just want it simple but nice. We designed it mostly ourselves to meet our needs and basically had the plans draw-up to meet codes etc. We gave them our general ideas on the look we were going for with decisions on the final choices to be worked out with our builder. So the plans are more technical as opposed to being aesthetically correct. But like I said in the beginning, I just wish he'd talked to us before doing it the way he did. I don't like those kind of surprises. We haven't met with him on-site yet, but we did talk on the phone and I'm hoping his explanations make sense when we can actually see why.
Charles Ross Homes - and Anna, The actual plans have the roof as a 6/12 pitch and they are to scale - and I agree it looks better, but I don't think he changed the pitch. (and that white door in the pics is just the 'dummy' door.
PPF. - I like your picture with the dual column and double wide base, as well as the gable color matching the house! As for the slope on the cap, that makes sense, but it is all caulked and it is cement board - does that make a difference?
bpath Oh Sophie - not a clue on the gutters...I better add that to my list of questions. So we're not opposed to the straight columns, but they just seem too skinny to me. The builder tried to explain on the phone why the tapered columns wouldn't look right and the more we think about it, we're getting it. but we still think the bases should be taller - to the bottom of the window height.
roccouple - I think this pic shows what you're referring to?
Gable and Porch · More Infolhlin
4 years agoK H
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoIn the plan it looks like you have tapered columns and the masonry wraps up taller than what you have. You also have horizontal siding in the gable and not shake siding. Maybe those differences do not fit your original idea. I would have them box the columns so that they are wider maybe go for two columns or taper them but they need to be bigger! Or go really rustic like the very bottom 3 pictures. There is a house very similar to yours in our area with the timbers in the front entry and large hipped roof. I'll have to take a picture of it and post it tomorrow. I think it looks really pretty. Good luck!
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Mark Bischak, Architect