Breezeway and Garage

Our little old 30's built home has had the pleasure of having a breezeway from the house to the garage. It has been my storage area for plants during the winters and just a nice airy, dry way of getting from the house to the laundry room in the garage and back again. (When we first moved in there was a clothes line running the length of the breeze way as well as one outside)

Several years ago we had the breezeway made not so breezy. It was a strange experience with handymen that took longer and cost more than quoted leaving a mess. It was finally cleaned up and I loved it. It had a major problem for our area though ... water leaks. There was no way we were letting them back into our home and we weren't ready to try to find someone. It was that bad of an experience. I still stored plants in the breezeway during the winter but worried when wood rot was noticed in the ceiling. This summer we decided it HAD to be fixed.

old ceiling/roof ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Breezeway/Sunny Hallway ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

We were lucky enought to find a truly professional handyman/carpenter to come and work on the breezeway roof/ceiling. (He came highly recommended, gave an honest bid and charged less than originally quoted. He did the work on time and showed up when he said he would...exceptionally wonderful experience) He replaced the entire roof surface, checked and replaced supporting beams where needed and insulated. Checked the insulation where water had run and replaced it. We were soooo pleased when he made ship-lap boards to put up on the ceiling to mimic the old boards that were there before. I am a sucker for character, but now we have character with insulation that is structurally sound.

Breezeway looking toward backyard and garage ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Breezeway with new roof and ceiling Smile

( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

We are so pleased that a long desired french door window is going where the old small window is in the garage. The garage is finally going to be insulated and drywalled. Even having a heater installed. I can't wait for the final project even if it means I will be painting and doing the finish work. I will have so much more room for plants now with all the extra lighted space. I might have enough sunny space to try a citrus tree again. ???

little old window will be replaced with french doors ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

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_________________
~Jewell
If a you have but two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one to sustain your life, and a flower with the other to give you a reason to live. ~Chinese Proverb

Thanks all for you perspective. It is exciting after all these years. I will post photos when it is completed.

Droopy guilding definitely. I'm putting up for Sainthood. A carpenter that works an 8 hour plus day hadn't been our previous experience. Having the craftsmanship and honesty is a rare thing to find.

Cherylad: Even in this slow economy he is always busy.

Carolyn thanks for the pointers and your experience with french doors. Only one of the french doors will ever be used and then not often. We are having them placed more like a low window rather than a door. (they'll sit on a high cement sill. We have ten pane doors on the rest of the house and it was too expensive to try and match the old windows. Would have required cusom. The doors into the breezeway and closet are going to be pocket doors because of challenges you mentioned.

Cuyaga,Toni and Netty there are a lot of ten light doors in our little house. Four now and with the French doors we'll be adding four more. When you live in the rain/clouds even the doors have let in light. Especially now that the days are shortening.

Eileen my hubby and I have already debated how to organize the garage. Man cave to include TV, some furniture and my plants. The rest will evolve around an upright freezer and doors. Upgrading the electrical for unthought of activities.

Barb old houses can have funky spaces that new can't. The low ceiling of the breezeway wouldn't pass code today, yet it is one of the things I find charming about our simple structure. It is a great place to sit and watch the birds bathe in the fish pond.

_________________
~Jewell
If a you have but two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one to sustain your life, and a flower with the other to give you a reason to live. ~Chinese Proverb