Best exterior Project to date

[Eieio]

What is your best exterior remodel to date. Mine was a parking space for a homeowner that everyone told him would be impossible to do.

Not only did we do it it turned out to be a dream. patio pavers on the floor stone retaining wall and composite fencing and deck.

80K later he had his wish of an 16 by 24 parking space with all the fixings

Post pics of the project if you have them

[ChrWright]

I've been working in and on this house for 5 years now--we're in about phase 6 or 7.

We did the exterior over the last 2 years:

Replaced all the lap sided gables with cedar shake panels
Re-trimed every window (they were all picture framed with no sill--many rotten)
Added the round gable window on the front
Added the round vents to the other gables
Re-trimed the rakes and friezes with crown
Built the pergola on the front
New roof
New paint scheme

http://wrightworks.net/TP1.JPG
http://wrightworks.net/TPIMG_0638.JPG
http://wrightworks.net/TPIMG_0692.JPG
http://wrightworks.net/TPIMG_0660.JPG

[ChrWright]

Current phase:

We're now replacing the ugly front bays with a new bump out with outswing French doors--with a standing seam copper roof:

http://wrightworks.net/images/IMG00046.jpg


We're also replacing all of the windows, a few at a time, with new Andersen casements with a custom grill pattern.

EDIT: Finished pics
http://wrightworks.net/2B_After.jpg
http://wrightworks.net/Facade7.jpg

[WarnerConstInc.]

That's the one with the new doors and bump-out in the front, right?

You guys might have to give me another few years, I have a core of customers that I keep making the rounds every year. They choose one thing to pick off each year. By the time I get everything done, I might have to start over with the first thing I have done.

I have saved a few houses, major neglect and rot from ignoring a roofing issue.


Must type faster than Chris, thats my new goal.

[ChrWright]

These projects are almost career makers. When these folks called me the first time 5 years ago, it was to build a deck and install some book cases.

The funny thing is I never did end up doing the deck... :laugh3:

The house started as the worse on in the neighborhood--with builder grade EVERYTHING. It sat for 6 months during its original construction with out being weathered in. After 5 years, I think of it like one of my kids--a pride and joy. I know every inch of her, from top of ridge to crawl.

Here's the letter these clients wrote for my website:

"To Whom It May Concern:

Almost five years ago we moved from St. Louis to Indianapolis to be closer to family. Due to a number of circumstances, we made a very hasty decision and purchased a home that in retrospect was not in good condition or particularly attractive. Four and half years later we can now say our home is exceptionally beautiful and we owe it all to Chris, his WrightWorks team, and his partnership with designer Matt Harris.

We met Chris through a friend of a friend of our daughter. He initially came to provide us with an estimate to construct two bookcases on either side of an unattractive fireplace, build a deck, and reface our kitchen cabinets. We laugh with Chris about it now, but years later those are really the only projects he hasn’t done for us. Basically, ¾ of the house was gutted. Chris remodeled our kitchen and great room, created a mud room, built a suspended library, an entryway, a glass staircase, remodeled the third level, installed a beautiful large round window, gutted and constructed four amazing bathrooms including two master baths, and created a master suite from a cramped 5 room in-law apartment--which now features a wall of windows and sliding doors overlooking a newly landscaped courtyard. Everything that can be done in a remodel Chris and his team accomplished—including all new interior woodwork, doors and hardware. They then turned to the outside of the house which previously looked like a series of white boxes with little to no curb appeal. It is now a beautiful home with dark grey brick, all new cedar trim, cedar shakes and a fabulous custom cedar pergola across the entire front walkway of the house leading up to the entrance.

During the course of the renovations, Chris encountered numerous structural problems with our house, including a bathroom floor that needed to be jacked up, an attic with a sinking floor, rotted exterior window trim, a roof that resembled Swiss cheese and the resultant water and mold damage that occurred--and the list goes on. Chris was incredibly patient and thorough in explaining things to us every step of the way. There were many days that my homesickness (my husband Tom is from Indiana) and sense that the problems would never end got the best of me, but Chris and his team were always there to assure me that there was light at the end of tunnel.

And was there ever!! Our home is now incredible and has exceeded our wildest expectations of how it would turn out. The quality and integrity of the design, materials and craftsmanship is exemplary. Chris and his team’s integrity, honesty and professionalism are above reproach. Chris’ passion for what he does and his drive for perfection is evident in every corner, joint, grout line, tile cut and tile placement. If it wasn’t exactly right he would pursue it until it met his very high standard of excellence. His punch list was always far longer than ours ever was.

One of the comments visitors frequently make about our home is the evidence “that it is extremely well thought out” down to every little detail. This is due to Chris’ and Matt’s clear vision over the four year renovation which by the way was not initially designed as a whole but in phases as we moved from space to space. “Well thought out” is only one of the comments – others are “beautiful", "amazing", "fabulous", "the most stunning home we’ve seen.”

Without reservation we recommend Chris to anyone considering a remodeling project large or small. His integrity, honesty, passion, craftsmanship, sense of design, and professionalism are unequaled in this business and quite frankly in any business with whom we have been involved. The same standards are evident in his team as well. He and his team members are a delight to work with and the outcome for us has been nothing short of phenomenal."

Getting to work on a project like this, for clients like this... makes the tough days worth it.

[ChrWright]

Sorry to ramble on... But I always end up with an emotional attachment to large projects like that.

I wrote an article on my website about the emotional "feel" you get from old houses that's part of their character. But I think any house can have that and it's usually because of the craftsmen who work on them.

A true craftsman, who cares for his work and for the honor of his name, leaves a bit of himself behind with every project he finishes.

[WarnerConstInc.]

You have an exterior before picture?

I cant blame you for rambling, I would do the same.

[ChrWright]

You have an exterior before picture?

I cant blame you for rambling, I would do the same.

I have it somewhere but I need to scan it. It's a sheet from the original real estate listing when they bought the house.

I suck at getting before pictures--probably because I can't stand demolition. I'm always in a hurry to get it over with.

[WarnerConstInc.]

I always forget to take before's.

I didnt even take a picture of our house before we moved in.
All I have is the real estate listing photo!!

[naptownCr]

Nice work Chris

[JasonW]

Great project Chris, you should be proud. I'm doing one now, but no changes. Just taking the old stuff off and putting it back together with new materials. When we're done it won't look any different at all.

[ChrWright]

Thanks very much to all of you.

The rest of the house, for anyone interested:
http://wrightworks.net/Showcase-Two.htm

[Silvertree]

Chris, I read your Romano cheese article when you first published it. It left me with a good impression.
There are a lot of good carpenters, contractors out there, but when a man sees and appreciates the soul of his craft he has transcended the mundane.
He is now a craftsman.

Now don't get all misty about this now:rolleyes3:

[SLS-Construction]

Very nice work Chris :2thumbsup:

I guess both my interior & exterior ones come from an 1879 remodel I did - got to love the Vinyl siding on it --- Before Pics
http://www.sls-construction.com/Images/upload/1879Ext.jpg

http://www.sls-construction.com/Images/upload/1879ExtA.jpg

http://www.sls-construction.com/Images/upload/1879ExtB.jpg

[SLS-Construction]

The finished pics

http://www.sls-construction.com/Images/upload/1879ExtD.jpg
They finally painted the trim blue (unfortunately I never got a picture of the back afterwards)
http://www.sls-construction.com/Images/upload/1879ExtE.jpg
I guess I was going sideways that day

http://www.sls-construction.com/Images/upload/1879ExtF.jpg

[ChrWright]

Very nice. Much improved.:2thumbsup:

[mrusk]

Rory I want to see the 80k parking space.

[ChrWright]

Rory I want to see the 80k parking space.

Ditto. :grin:

[Eieio]

Ditto. :grin:

Good I am have to go around DC snapping pictures of all my old jobs. The floating garage door was 16k

[Eieio]

Ditto. :grin:

God I am have to go around DC snapping pictures of all my old jobs. The floating garage door was 16k alone.

We were using 2 mini ex's to dig out the dirt for the retaining wall and the machine kept sliding down towards the house. My azzhole puckered every time I slid forward in the machine.

[Eieio]

Bump whats up no exterior pics?? summer is almost done :rolleyes3:

[ChrWright]

Here's one we completed at the beginning of the summer. Unfortunately, all that beautiful cedar is by now under three coats of paint.

http://wrightworks.net/images/IMG_0888.jpg
http://wrightworks.net/images/IMG_0886.jpg
http://wrightworks.net/images/IMG_0884.jpg

[ChrWright]

We added this addition over an existing 1-story "box" addition which had a flat roof. We matched the existing shakes--but the HO didn't want to tie to the box gutters.

The soffits and trims had been wrapped in aluminum at some point (damn shame since there's probably a nice crown detail hiding underneath). These folks won't be in this house forever so we matched the architecture as best we could without going overboard on the budget.

http://wrightworks.net/images/E1.JPG
http://wrightworks.net/images/E2.JPG

[ChrWright]

Also part of this project was jacking and supporting the old roof which had deflected 2-3" inches in the middle of each side. The original rafters were 2x4s with no ridge. It's work no one will ever see, but took some care to ensure the supports and props we added were transferred down to load bearing walls.

[Blue]

What is the purpose of the room (closet, master bath,etc.)?

[ChrWright]

We converted a small corner bedroom of the original second floor to be the master bath, with access to the added portion--which is the master bedroom and master closet.

[loneframer]

Bump whats up no exterior pics?? summer is almost done :rolleyes3:

Here you go. Did this renovation 12 years ago. Framing, roofing, siding, trimwork, replacement windows, cabinetry and custom wood ceilings.

[Leo G]

You really want me to show more pictures?

[loneframer]

couple more.

[Eieio]

That roof is Smoking hot. Brock has one similar to it posted on here somewhere

[Blue]

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/brockpatterson/Moellerjob010.jpg
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/brockpatterson/Moellerjob005.jpg
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/brockpatterson/Moellerjob001.jpg

2000 sq. garage/upstairs loft/kitchen/full bath/indoor heated indoor pool. This one saved me last winter when the layoffs hit.

[Leo G]

All on one house:2thumbsup:


http://fototime.com/5CCF97F7CC1E1E0/standard.jpg

http://fototime.com/6C645DAD0D7A9D8/orig.jpg

http://fototime.com/F923B878C7D4EA7/orig.jpg

[loneframer]

I think I have a new favorite. Before and afters.

[ChrWright]

There are some great projects here...

Thought I'd give this thread a bump for some of the newer folks who might have some projects of their own to add.