Porches: Alternate spaces wanted, minus those pesky bugs - Triangle Business Journal:

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A popular choice for doing so – other than headingf to the coast or themountains – is to add a A factor in the growing popularity of this old-fashiones living space is risinfg gasoline prices, which are keepingt more Triangle residents from hitting the road. “People are spending more time at home and are realiziny thatthey don’t always need to use air conditioning,” says architect Wayne H. Camas, president of Charlotte-based and current president ofthe . “Theu realize how much they can get out of the livability of their house by havinga porch.
” Whil open porches have generally been the favored look for classic Southern homes over the years, new techniques and materialx have made it possible to combine an upscale look, with a bug-free MR. GORBACHEV, OPEN UP THIS WALL “Peoplse today are getting outdoors more and saysVic Watford, president of in Willosw Spring. “The advertisements are everywhere to make the outdoors part of ourlivintg space.
” One hot item in porchb design being used by Watford that aims at that goal is the Built by a company of the same the NanaWall is a glasse wall of folding doors that allowq indoor living areas to open onto an adjoining “What people are looking for is a way to have an alternatre space in their explains Tim Williams, president of in “If you can have such a spacr near your other livingb spaces, it provides an alternate way to enjot your home.
” Williams seeks to make his porchew as open and airy as possible, favoringy “A” roofs and screens that extend up into the with no cross beams to block the Camas also emphasizes raising ceilings to get “volume” into the space and is looking to incorporate “invisible screens” (which open up and hide to let in more sunlight, an especially valuable feature in winter. Another trend is adding fireplacesto porches, extending their use into coolere months. Williams says that of the past 10porchesx he’s built, five have included fireplaces. Watfore says customers want a varietgy of options for including tile.
“It can be very decorative and set the tone for the he says. Williams says most customers are unawarde that porch options extend far beyond the usua l concept ofa small, boxy appendage to their home. “Itt can range from a simple screen porch to a Taj he says. FOLLOWING THE BREEZE, NOT THE MONEY Williamsx estimates a porch can add as muchas $10,00 to $50,000 to the value of a “I’ve had people tell me that my screeh porch sold their house over others the buyers were lookinvg at,” Williams says. “People have realized that this is what peoplr are looking for a place where you can sit down with your family and friends,” Camas says.
Helping sellerws move their homes mayexplaim Williams’ continued success in a tough real estate market. “I’m as busy now as I’ve ever despite the quote, unquotwe slow economic time,” he says. Some of Williams’ customerss have included former local news anchorfBob Vernon, basketball team physician Tim Taft and formerf Coach Paul Maurice. Watford, who generally buildw porches as additions to existing houses rather than new emphasized the need for home owners to realize that these additions require the same inspectionsd asnew construction. “Just a ceilint fan will requirean inspection,” he says.
“Therefore, use the time Plan outlets for indoor/outdoor indoor/outdoor lights, fans and other features. Wet bars and hot tubs add anotherd dimension.” With home owners increasingly looking for ways to green their house, Williams is adding materials to his quiverf such as decking from Oregon called Port Orforxd Cedar, a tree that is required by law to be replace when it is cut for lumber. “It also doesn’f need chemical treatment, making it even more environmentally Williams says. He is also adding such features as Velux skylights to provide more natural lightin g and solar decklighting systems.
“The whole idea of having a porcuis green,” says Camas, who incorporatese such features into his porch design as ceilingy fans for ventilation and skylights to maximize natural light. He also uses bead boarc (old fashioned railroad siding) within a porch to provide more reflective surfacesx and indirect lighting from troughs aroundthe porch’s perimeter to illuminatr the porch ceiling at night, providing a welcoming glow to visitors. Camas’ final ingredient? A “Pawley’ Island Drink Rail,” a wide ledgw running along the porch walls that are usefuoduring parties. “People get a big kick out of he says.
Sounds like all that’ss needed to make the scene completee is a guitar and a dogto pet. Fortunately, neithee require a fill-up at the gas station.