Discovering The Best Way to Close in a Porch. Secrets From History

[@KenYamaguchi-sg5zr]

You were so lucky to have seen this house! It is a perfect example of a period-correct porch enclosure. It is so great that they left the balustrades in place. Thanks for posting.

[@BrentHull]

I agree. THx.

[@cpmiller1965]

Porches are a huge detail than an make or break the style of historical homes. Brent, I love the overview and detail to help break this down. My wife and I own and live in Greek Revival style house located in Western New York, arched windows, leaf front doors, 7’ pocket doors to parlor, original trim still intact inside and out. Being a builder, we removed front porch added in 50’s and added an arched porch entrance area to match the original side porch entrance. This detail really gave the old house a new identity and lease on life. Records indicate house age 1860/ 1870.

[@BrentHull]

Well done. Thanks for sharing.

[@thetubekid]

Upstate New York represent! I love this house. Thanks for walking through all of this. I have a back deck that I will likely tear down and out up an enclosed porch like this. I love the narrative that it was the exterior and it was closed in. Very charming. These three season (sometimes fourish) are wonderful. I really think Update NY and New England have some wonderful historic homes. If only we kept building that way!

[@BrentHull]

I agree. Thanks.

[@Lee_337]

"Hi Brent, great videos! I wish I could have discovered your channel before I renovated my old Colonial Revival house in Texas. I tried to re-capture its charm by using historical precedents, though I didn’t fully understand them at the time. The house is almost 50 years old, and I’ve been working to save it from being 'modernized.' The hardest part has been that the modern catalog doesn’t always suit the original style-especially for things like moldings, windows, real calpboard siding. Your insights have been a huge help in keeping the design authentic. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!"

[@BrentHull]

That is a big problem. Thx.

[@walnutridgeartisans8012]

We have so many great examples here in upstate NY like this. From Greek revival thru craftsman. I have long had a passion for the old ways and I am grateful to you for all that you share with us on this channel. Words don’t say enough. Thanks Brent.

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thanks!!

[@D0ggerel]

Has a man ever been so invigorated by an old porch? Love it. And I love how Brent balances efficiency with aesthetics. I grew up in a 250 yr old house. We'd put on a sweater when we got cold. I'm all for green building practices, but putting one less log on the fire going to bed under a wool blanket is also eco-friendly practice.

[@BrentHull]

I love it. Yes. thanks for sharing.

[@sharonvik2068]

Thanks for the encouragement to examine historic building construction details in person, especially when travelling.

[@BrentHull]

Yes! Thx for watching.

[@spotterofgold]

Thanks to your channel, I was amazed to see how many properly done main entrance treatments we have in rural Vermont the other day when I took the long way to my laundromat town. It was hard to keep my eye on the road! Thanks for the education!

[@BrentHull]

You're lucky. THanks.

[@lisalaufenberg6002]

What a great story, beautiful homes, thank you Brent for sharing!

[@BrentHull]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@bdeck1912]

Wow! I love this. It would make my stone house’s porch so nice. Right now it’s open but bugs are just relentless in the summer and although open and I love it, we can’t spend any time out there without getting 700 Nat or mosquito bites. This would also be nice for a 3 season porch. Great video.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks, i'm glad it helped.

[@crazytony22]

Love those windows and I love the texture of old glass with the gentle changes in refraction and reflection like ripples on a lake. Wonder what the story is on the 4th window in on the right where the left light is missing a pane? Wonder if they had a flue for a wood/coal fired heater/stove there?

[@BrentHull]

Good thinking. Thanks.

[@maudessen573]

Excellent.

[@BrentHull]

Many thanks!

[@jacobtracy7847]

LOVE IT!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks!!

[@RenovationFarmhouse]

This is such a perfectly timed video as I just rebuilt the back porch on my 1896 vernacular carpenter gothic farmhouse to convert it into additional kitchen/pantry space and have been struggling with how the exterior should look. Currently it’s just sporting Zip sheathing with original clapboards along the roof “gable” ends. Thinking of using LP smart side panels for the exterior and then trimming it out sort of how you have explained in the video. Trying to get as many details right as possible to tell a better narrative. Now I have some better direction. Thanks, Brent!

[@BrentHull]

So glad it helped. THx.

[@rodeopenguin]

Brent, my house is a Virginia Victorian with a 1920s porch enclosure as well. I have the same 3 inch bead board on the inside. On my house they took out the railing and the columns and closed it in with studs and weatherboard to match the rest of the house. It’s slightly different than the rest of the house though. Would you like for me to send you some photos or a video?

[@BrentHull]

Sounds interesting. Thanks.

[@chandlerchandelier]

I don't get to travel often, but I use Google Maps street views & Google Earth to look at the architecture in other places around the world.

[@BrentHull]

Yes, I've done that as well. Thx.

[@ltandrepants]

Mimicking these organic things gets a little goofy and Disneyland-ish! However, I appreciate your passion and knowledge.

[@BrentHull]

Thx

[@jennafarrell4755]

I’d like to see a smaller lattice on the bottom that sits inside a frame. Holes should be 1-1.75 inches in size and often too large.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks

[@rios_seth]

Brent do you ever have to deal with historic preservation committees? Have you ever had someone who knows less than you give you recommendations on a project? And how do you handle those situations?

[@BrentHull]

Yes, and that can be challenging. My solution is to offer as much historic back up as possible, and let the facts win over personal biases. Good luck.

[@rogerhodges7656]

I love what you are proposing. Balustrade. dividing sections into threes and the three over two windows. I was taken by the three over two windows before you mentioned using the idea. they have a whimsical charms.

[@BrentHull]

Agreed! Thx.