DIY Network

Portico: Building the Frame From "Weekend Handyman" episode WKH-205

	In this week's episode of Weekend Handyman, host Paul Ryan shows you how to build a portico for your house. Here's Paul on the porch "before" the portico was built, and ...
	here's the shot "after" the portico was completed!

Time: 18 hours over two days.

Difficulty Rating: This project rates a 4 on the Weekend Handyman scale.

Materials:

beaded plywood
regular plywood
sixteen 10x12' 2x6s
1x2 shadow-board material
micro-lam
6" and 8" 1x material (for wrapping beams and fascia)
two 8' columns or posts
3 bundles of roof shingles
white drip edge
12' pieces "J" channel
bundle of step flashing
roofing nails and other nails
concrete anchors
structural ties
joist hangers
latex primer
polyurethane
scaffolding

(Instructions continued below)

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Tools:

table
tin snips
4' and 6' levels
hammer drill and bits
sliding "T" square
speed square and framing square
wonder bar
reciprocating saw and 9" bi-metal blades
skill saw
screw gun
sandpaper
hand tools

Notes:

• A portico is a roof structure that shelters the entry to a home. It can be bordered on the sides by railings, and it typically has two or four columns supporting the roof. You can also use corbels to anchor the roof to the house -- but if the roof extends more than four feet from the house, you would want to go with columns or posts.

• You will need a building permit to build a portico.

• If you live in a cold weather climate, when designing your portico you need to keep in mind that the posts of your portico will have to rest on footings or a step structure that extends below the frost line (more than four feet deep). If your steps aren't that deep, you can extend the posts outside the steps and install them on their own frost footings.

• Create your design and gather your supplies in advance. It is also smart to prime some of the materials you know are going to need in advance (in our case most of the 1-by pine).

  Expert Tip: Probably the biggest mistake people make when designing their portico is to make it too large for the scale of their home. The portico needs to be in proportion yet be big enough to provide shelter for people standing outside the door. In addition, you need to leave enough landing area to accommodate the door swing.

Day One

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F
	Half way through day one and the portico is taking shape. Framing the roof is covered in the next segment.

Removing the Siding, Building and Putting Frame in Place

1. Remove the siding on the house in the area you will be working -- from the top down to right above the door. You need to use scaffolding because it is the safest way to work.

2. Remove the nails and then pry each piece of siding out all the way (figure A) to below where you want the portico to tie in.

   Expert Tip: It's a good idea to mark the back sides of the siding with a grease pencil as you take them off so you can replace them in their exact spot later.

3. Once the siding is off, you need to identify where the top plate is (usually the sheathing will break right at the top plate). Cut out the section of sheathing around where the base of your roof will meet the top plate. Use a circular saw to cut through the sheathing; then pry it out with a hammer or a wonderbar. Do this on both sides (figure B).

4. Measure up eight feet from the bottom, and attach the 2x6 joist hangers to the studs using joist hanger nails. Then slide your 2x6's into the joist hangers (figure C) -- this creates a place to tie-in to the house.

5. Figure out the exact length of your portico frame. Mark where the column bases will go (about 1/1-2" from the edge of the step).

6. Identify the center of each square. Measure from the tie-in beam out. Use a chalk line as a plumb bob to find the measurement.

7. To build the three-sided framework for the roof to sit on, cut four pieces of 2x6 -- two to the measurement you just took and two 1-1/2" shorter so you can stagger the joints of the frame. Nail them together at an angle for a better hold using 16-penny nails.

8. Determine the length of the short board by measuring the distance between your posts. Cut one 2x6 to that length and cut another 3" longer for the staggered joint.

9. Lay out the frame. Add some construction adhesive to the ends and fit the frame together (figure D). Use a nail gun and 16-penny nails. Add the long board to the front rim and attach it.

10. Put up a temporary back board to help keep the frame steady. This board will be removed later.

11. Set the box into place. With help, set the two return boards onto the top plate and fasten the other ends to temporary posts. They will be replaced later with your columns.

12. Put joist hangers on 2x6 braces on joist hangers using measurements from front rim.

13. Build two temporary posts from 2x6's and set the frame on these posts and nail it in. This will hold the frame in place (figure E) while you work, and then you'll set the return boards into their joist hangers.

14. Level the box so that the end is totally level or slightly higher than the house side so that you can easily replace the temporary posts with real ones later.

15. Attach the return boards with hanger nails; put both temporary posts into place and remove the temporary brace.

16. Once the box is in place, replace the insulation and sheathing (figure F). Just notch to allow for the 2x6's and nail it back on.

RESOURCES :
Round PermaCast Columns (HB&G)
Brand Name: HB&G
Model Number: 44040
Color: Fiberglass, 6"x8' Plain

HB&G Building Products
Troy, AL 36081
Fax: 334-566-4629
Website: www.hbgcolumns.com

Round PermaCast Cap and Base (HB&G)
Brand Name: HB&G
Model Number: 44096
Color or Style: Colonial for 6" Column

HB&G Building Products
Troy, AL 36081
Fax: 334-566-4629
Website: www.hbgcolumns.com

Exterior Shutters (Custom Shutters, LLC)
Brand Name: Custom Shutters
Model Number 14" x 47"
Color or Style: 14" x 47" Exterior White Vinyl

Miscellaneous Product Information:

• 18 colors available, one that is paintable
  
• Available in louvered, raised paneled, arched, bat-n-batten, classic styling, and combinations of these together.

Custom Shutters, LLC
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: 952-942-6008
Fax: 952-942-7027
Website: www.milestoneshutters.com

Pleasures of the Porch: Ideas for Gracious Outdoor Living
ISBN: 084782005X
Author: Daria Price Bowman
Order this title from Amazon.
Rizzoli International Publications
New York, NY 10010
Phone: 212-387-3400
Fax: 212-387-3535

Porch and Deck: Decorating Ideas and Projects
ISBN: 0696213427
Author: Better Homes and Garden Editor
Order this title from Amazon.
Meredith Books Corp.
Website: www.meredith.com

Great Decks and Porches: A Step-by-Step Guide
ISBN: 0806966432
Author: Rick Peters
Order this title from Amazon.
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com

Outdoor Architecture: Outdoor Room Designs by Architects
ISBN: 1564968820
Author: Susan Zevon
Order this title from Amazon.
Rockport Publishers, Inc.
Website: www.rockpub.com

GUESTS :

Shane Kretsinger
Vice President, Operations
Autumn River
We apologize no contact information is available.

Andy Hackerson
Reg. Sales Representative for HB&G Building Products
Owatonna, MN 55060
Phone: 507-451-2561