I agree putting composite decking over the top of old decking is a bad idea, but there are other items you listed that you were looking to upgrade (columns, rail, spindles). I may be misunderstanding what changes you want to make (a picture would help) but spindles (balusters) and rail can be replaced without starting from scratch. I'm not sure what you were planning with the columns, but I am assuming that they are columns that support a roof over the porch. There may be some things that can be done here to change the style as well without totaling starting over. If you could be more specific and maybe provide some pictures you may get some very creative ideas of what can or can not be done. riles

nalcar, that is stunning!!! I can't believe how beautiful you made our house look. If I had seen that picture 3 months ago, I would have changed our remodeling plans completely to make it look like your fabulous design. Yes, that's exactly the kind of feel we are aiming for with the porch but weren't quite sure how to execute it. Thank you so much for taking the time to do the visuals. You must have put a lot of time into it. I love the walkway that leads out from the center of the home. Unfortunately, one would drop off our hill when arriving at the end of the path, LOL! Gee, you even made the unraked leaves and DH's scruffy blueberry patch look good. I'm impressed with how you nailed this concept on the head. Thanks ever so much again. Your ideas are wonderful.

I agree with Dingo about sun exposure. H. arborescens doesn't much like full or western sun, though it wants some sun to bloom really well, so it should be fine in the exposure you described above. H. paniculata in my garden is fine in full day sun, though farther south it benefits from some shade, but with the bright shade involved here, it still should bloom and grow well with morning sun. I have a friend with Bobos in part shade, part sun and they look happy. One difference between the two is that H. arborscens suckers some, so for my Annabelle, I have to remove suckers once or twice a year (ususally fall and then in spring for the ones I missed) if I don't want it to overtake the surrounding shrubs. I don't know if all H. arborescens are quite as vigorous as Annabelle. H. paniculata doesn't sucker so in my garden is less work. I had an injured knee that made much garden work difficult to impossible for about three years, and here's my Annabelle, unchecked for all that time, but if kept maintained it is a lovely plant.(windowsill sits at 4' to give you height.) I would look at the summer color and fall color of various H. paniculatas and H. arborescens in your size range along with the shape and density of the flower heads and how upright the branches are. Only you can decide which appeals to you the most. They should all bloom well for you.

Bette P., the outside dimensions of the current level area of the porch are 6’ deep by 12’ long, on the nose. Ideally, it would be 5’9 deep, so it’s inset from the corner rather than flush. This odd thing was modified in the 50’s. I am fairly sure that the heavy railing stones are the original steps, which are just 43” wide. I can see why they wanted to make them wider. The current steps are steep and shallow, but I can gain additional run, approaching the basement window. The stone sill beneath the large casements is 57” wide, so I’m leaning toward aligning with it and narrowing the porch by narrowing the heavy railing. No luck with the city or prior owner (who did the rather shoddy 50’s renovation).