Vintage Woodworks
Architectural Details Direct - 903-356-2158
Home Contact Us Help Shipping Shopping Cart 903-356-2158 Porches Doors Gables Brackets BeadBoard Mouldings Azek Photos Our Story Guarantee Customer Comments Product Options A-Z Index Pictorial Index< Previous Page Porch Kit Quote/Ordering InstructionsThe following instructions apply to all Porch Kits, but some Kits may not include all of the decorations discussed below. If at anytime you find this page or the Quote/Ordering page too much, please contact us for assistance! You can order any of our Porch Kits for an existing porch or for a porch you are building. MINIMUM PORCH SPECIFICATIONS To install your Porch Kit AS SHOWN, your porch will need the following: Visible Beam at least as tall as noted on your selected Kit's Quote/Order page to install the Cornice and Post Face Brackets shown. However, we have smaller sizes of some Brackets to fit shorter Visible Beam heights. Soffit installed perpendicular (90 degrees) to Beam face and extended forward of the Beam by at least as much as noted on your selected Kit's Quote/Order page to install the Cornice and Post Face Brackets shown. However, we have smaller sizes of some Brackets to fit narrower soffits. Minimum Height for Porch Posts - As least as much distance from bottom of Beam (or porch ceiling, if Beam is not visible) to porch floor as noted on your selected Kit's Quote/Order page. This will provide sufficient top and bottom flat portions on the Posts to accept that Kit's decorations at the top of the Posts and balustrade at the bottom. What if my porch doesn't meet one or more of the above specifications? Don't worry! We have many easy workarounds. Please call us at 903-356-2158 to discuss your options. And don't hesitate to contact us if you find anything confusing. The numbered paragraphs below correspond to the numbered option dropdowns on each Kit's Quote/Order page. May we suggest you print these Instructions as a ready reference while working through those options. OPTION DROPDOWN DESCRIPTIONS (for Quote/Order pages) 1. Porch Shape Knowing your porch's shape helps us ensure your Kit will work as intended. Each Kit's Quote/Order page includes a link to our Porch Shapes page. If the shape (footprint) of your porch is not shown on the Porch Shapes page, please select the shape closest to your porch and then use the Comments Box during Checkout to explain how your porch differs. 2. Soffit Type 3. Length of Porch at Front Edge (to nearest whole foot) Measure the overall length of your porch along the front edge. 4. Length of Porch at Left End (to nearest whole foot) If your porch projects out from the house wall on the left, measure the total length from the front corner back to the house wall at this side. 5. Length of Porch at Right End (to nearest whole foot) If your porch projects out from the house wall on the right, measure the total length from the front corner back to the house wall at this side. 6. Height from Bottom of Beam to Floor If you do not have a visible Beam, provide the measuremeent from porch ceiling to the floor. What we need here is the finished length of your Porch Posts. 7. VISIBLE Beam Face Height How tall is the part of the Beam you can see from the front of the porch? 8. Soffit Depth If you don't have a visible Beam, but do have a porch eave overhang, then the soffit is that part of the ceiling that ends at the front of the Porch Posts. 9. Full Porch Posts How Many? We need to know how many Posts (if any) you need. Posts often spaced 6 to 8 feet apart. See Porch Post Placement for a full discussion. How Far Between? Additionally, we need the precise distance (to the 1/16", measured with a steel tape) between each pair of Posts or Half Posts so we can make your Spandrels and balustrade Rails the proper length. Measure near the top of the Posts where the Spandrels will attach. Not Yet Installed? If you're Posts are not yet installed we can ship the Spandrels later. Or, if you are comfortable with your ability to provide close estimates (within 1/2" will work), we can ship your Classic Spandrels with the end rails slightly long so you can trim them to fit during installation. Likewise, the same close estimates (within 1/2") for final distance between Posts will suffice for balustrades, as they can also be cut to final length prior to installation. 10. Half Porch Posts We need to know if you have (or will have) Half Posts where your porch attaches to the house. We strongly recommend Half Posts, as they provide an easy, visually pleasing end point for decorations (including balustrades) at the walls. 11. Post Side Brackets Typically installed on both sides of each Full Porch Post and on the outward facing side of each Half Post. Order 2 for each Full Post and 1 for each Half Post 12. Post Face Brackets Installed on the forward facing side of each Full Porch Post, with their tops against the soffit. Ideally, they should extend down the Post about the same as the Post Side Brackets. Half Posts typically do not have Face Brackets, as that would crowd them against the house wall. Order one Post Face Bracket for each Full Porch Post. 13. Cornice Brackets Installed immediately below the soffit on the outside face of the visible Beam. Typically, they are spaced equally between each pair of Post Face Brackets about 12" to 18" apart. Order sufficient quantity to go all the way around your porch, including the ends of the porch. 14. Spandrels Installed between Posts, centered under the Beam. 15. Beaded Rail Installed beneath Spandrels. 16. Running Trim Installed beneath Beaded Rail. 17. Individual Balustrade Sections Typically, you will need one balustrade section for installation between each pair of Posts EXCEPT where steps are present. Subrails (used beneath Handrails) and two-piece Bottom Rails are included in your Kit to permit easy assembly and hidden hardware. We need the distance (to the closest 1/16", measured with a steel tape) between each pair of Posts that will have a balustrade section (omit openings, such as for steps)so we can send proper length Rails and an accurate quantity of Balusters. Be sure to include from Corner Posts to Half Posts at walls. Please enter these lengths in the Individual Balustrade Sections box, separated with a comma. However, if your Porch Posts are not yet installed, a close estimate (within 1/2") for final distance between Posts will suffice. In fact, the precision of these measurements is not as important for balustrades as it is for Spandrels, since Rails are not provided in custom lengths. Therefore, you will be able, during the installation process, to cut the Rails to length after you know the precise measurement between each pair of Posts. 18. Step Rails Steps are often the full width between a pair of Porch Posts. Other porches have narrower steps, with Newel Posts on either side at the top of the steps (on the porch floor). In these cases, short sections of balustrade run from the Newel Posts to the closest Porch Posts, as shown here. Obviously, we need to know what length these short balustrade sections will be, so we can provide proper length Rails. Porch steps with only one or two treads often do not have balustrades running to the bottom of the steps. Other porches, particularly those with more than two treads, will have the same balustrade components along the side of the steps, terminating in Newel Posts at the bottom of the steps. If you need balustrade components for porch steps we will need to know the distance from the porch floor at the top of the steps to the front edge of the bottom tread for each set of steps. We will send Rails and Balusters for your steps slightly longer so you can cut them to the proper angle. If Newel Posts are needed, please order these at ___________. 19. Newel Posts 20. Quote or Order? 21. Contact me 22. Spandrel Lengths 23. Balustrade Section Lengths 24. Step Rail Lengths Choice of Materials Many of our items are available in synthetic materials. Once painted, these are nearly impossible to distinguish from painted wood and are extremely weather and insect resistant. However, if your porch has at least an average eave overhang (soffit), then it's very unlikely you will ever experience problems with wood Brackets, Spandrels, or other Post Top and Eave Decorations. It would be better, if your budget permits, to invest in balustrade components made of synthetic materials. Since these items are more exposed to weather, yard watering, extra humidity from bushes, etc., they are more difficult to keep properly painted. The above instructions apply to all Porch Kits, but some Kits may not include all of the decorations discussed. If at anytime you find this page or the Quote/Ordering page too much, please contact us for help! You can order any of our Porch Kits for an existing porch or for a porch you are building. |
|
| |||
| RELATED PAGES | |||
 Porches - START HERE! | |||
 Gable Decorations | |||
 Screen/Storm Doors | |||
 Spandrels | |||
 Brackets | |||
 AZEK® Brand PVC | |||