Here is a before picture of the house, you can see where we enclosed the breezeway btw house & garage (although garage is not in this shot). I'm a visual person and need to see sketches before I can make any decisions :) My husband has brought up the deck idea as well and we are far enough from the road that I think zoning would allow (but would obviously check first). Our two issues with that are the chimney and the exhaust for our boiler (I think that's what it is) comes out right behind the chimney. Any thoughts & ideas are greatly appreciated, this stuff makes my head spin!

The building is supposedly hhistoric and the city insists that the porch be rehabilitated to retain the second empire look The porch must have a glass roof to allow for light in the interior The porch cannot be enclosed I need also specifics as to the resources for purchase of the tempered glass for the same , or acrylic or polycarbonate roof that does not yellow or haze during the course of the years I also need the resources to purchase wood for the support pillars and balustrades that is weather resistant as the city insists that the porch be of wood

Whether you need permits depends on your city/county codes. How difficult it is to return to the original depends on how much framing was added. Start by removing the windows. The only way to find out how much framing was added is to remove the sheet rock. That should give you an idea of any framing added for sheet rock installation and/or how big the old screens were. To replace windows with screens means all the sheet rock has to be removed. Looks some was added to the old exterior. Most of the trim has to go. Not a really good DIY project unless you have some experience in demolition. To have it done may run a couple thousand dollars, and maybe that much more to refurbuish it.

wondering if someone WANTED a crafstman style and did the brick work, and never added the roofline? It looks like an overhaul if you want to continue the porch style to include the pillars. It would also require removing the portico overhang that already exists. How much of an investment are you thinking??? If it were mine, and I was replacing shingles, soon, I would replace the roof with a taller pitch. at that time, I'd add the required porch roof to accomodate the existing pillars and create a so called craftsman style. Is it worth the effort and expense??? Is the brickwork stable enough to re use? Something to think about. with all that said, I'd remove the Bricks and build a nice composite deck, create a cute cottage look. You asked.