Forum Archive: Posts by: shellybudo

I have a very old frame rowhouse (1903) and my dream is to dismantle our small screened in back porch and create a deck. Currently, we access the deck via a door off the kitchen. The back wall of the house includes 2 windows and the door I just mentioned. The porch doesn’t extend under the windows. The porch is approximately 11 feet wide by 7 feet deep. I would like to make it wider and deeper, and I would LOVE to get rid of the windows and install French Doors and possibly replace the other door so that the back wall would have either one set of French Doors or 2 leading to the deck. I know this is a bigger job than just installing a deck. To make matters more complicated, currently the basement access from the back is under the porch. Expanding the deck would mean I suppose, moving that door and possibly having to build another/different set of stairs down into the basement from that door. I will post a pic later, but I am completely ignorant of all house/handy type things, and need advice as to whether I should consult an architect for this project, and also, in what order would things be done? Thanks for any insights.