Hey there, welcome back to another update on the progress of my house build. Today, I want to dive into the details of the recently completed porch build, addressing some questions I received and providing a breakdown of the costs involved.
Before we get into the porch details, I want to express my gratitude for your continued support. We recently hit a milestone, and I'm excited to announce another giveaway. The winner of our first giveaway was York9x19—congratulations! Stay tuned until the end for details on the new giveaway, featuring a Milwaukee Sawzall.
Many of you have been inquiring about my house plans. Currently, I'm working on transferring them into a CAD system to provide more detailed and scaled plans. Once that's complete, I'll share the updates with you. Meanwhile, let's talk about the porch.
The porch, being a post-and-beam design, involved various considerations, especially in terms of costs. I used true 6x6 rough-sawn cedar for both posts and beams. While this choice added to the overall expense, I've always wanted a post-and-beam porch, and I believe it adds a unique touch to the house.
Let's break down the costs:
1. Concrete: The concrete pad and footings cost a total of $4,338. If you have some concrete expertise, doing it yourself could save a substantial amount.
2. Wet Set Brackets: I opted for 12 wet set brackets, each costing around $40. These brackets provide a solid base for the posts, keeping them elevated to prevent rot. The total cost for brackets was $480.
3. Posts and Beams: The true 6x6 rough-sawn cedar posts and beams were the major expense, totaling $2,928. While this may seem high, alternatives like treated posts and 2x6 headers can significantly reduce costs.
4. Materials: Framing materials, steel, and additional components amounted to $1,352. This includes joists, rafters, purlins, plywood, fascia boards, hangers, and synthetic felt.
5. Trim: Various trim elements, including inside and outside closure strips, ridge cap, wall Eve trim, and more, added up to $1,135.
6. Steel for Ceiling: For the ceiling, I'm considering either cedar or steel. The steel option, which I already purchased, cost $570. If I go with cedar, the estimated cost is $1,745.
Breaking down the total cost of $10,831 by linear foot, we get $157 per linear foot for the post-and-beam porch. If you opt for a more cost-effective approach, such as treated posts and different headers, the price per linear foot can be significantly reduced.
Remember, these costs reflect my specific design choices, and your preferences might lead to different budget allocations. The key is to design a porch that aligns with your vision and budget.
While the porch construction comes with a hefty price tag, it's an integral part of our dream home. Investing in features that enhance your living space and bring joy to your daily life is what makes a house truly a home.
As always, I encourage you to explore your own design preferences and make choices that align with your vision. The journey of building your own home is a personal one, and each decision contributes to the unique character of your space.
Stay tuned for more updates on the house build, and good luck to everyone entering the giveaway for the Milwaukee Sawzall! Until next time, happy building!
Join Patreon
Interested in tackling your build on your own? If you want to explore the possibility of being your GC or self-building, our Patreon membership is for you! It's a community of like-minded people offering support, discounts, Q/A, and more.