Just a reminder of what the back patio looked like. The roof was put in place by the former owner over thirty years ago. I've been wanting to finish the project ever since we moved in. It was too convenient a place for collecting junk.
 

I've begun to enclose the back patio, installing siding and five pair of double casement windows (The fifth pair is on the North side of the patio. The door leaning against the wall is intended to replace the front entrance door and is not part of the patio project.
 

The North side of the Patio Room showing all of the windows. A six-foot slider door will go in the large opening by the North window.
 

An inside view, from the South end, showing the window framing. I'm using American Craftsman windows (An all vinyl Low-E window now manufactured by Andersen Windows and sold by Home Depot)..
 

Another inside view, this one from the North end. The old steps have been removed and I've begun to build the new steps along the back wall of the house. The platform at the top is at the original slider which will remain. Most of the floor joists are down and I've just begun to lay the sub-floor.
 

Here's a better view of the stairs. They rise at about seven inches per step and at a thirty degree angle - quite comfortable. Stair risers are custom made so all steps are of equal height. The platform supports go down to the old concrete floor below. Critical structural connections are secured by lag screws.
 

Another view showing the construction of the steps and platform. The platform is securely lag-screwed to the header of the house to assure stability.
 

I wanted to use foam insulation under the floor, but it was just too darn expensive. I was able to work in a total of R43  (R-30 + R-13) Fiberglass, which should provide us with cozy floors. The opening in the concrete wall is where I removed one of two basement windows. This foundation goes a little over three feet above ground level.
 

Another view showing the construction of the frame floor over the old concrete floor. Note where some old dummy accidentally stepped onto the insulation only to find that it wouldn't support his weight.
 

Back outside: I've begun to extend the roof further out to provide a bit of shade inside and some weather protection outside. I hope to re-shingle the patio and install gutters before the snows arrive.
 

The new sliding patio door is installed and I've begun the framing for the stationary windows in the gable ends.
 

The roof overhang framing and sheathing is done. Notice also the five windows in the gable and the sliding door. I hope to shingle at least the Patio roof this year and install gutters and downspouts.
 

Another view showing the opposite gable end. I am installing double glass in each of the windows. Glass cutting is not all that it's cracked up to be.
 

Here's a close-up of the uncompleted soffit. Within an hour of installing the last piece of the roof sheathing, the skies opened up and a violent thunder storm put the roof to the test. I sure wish I had the shingles and gutters on.
 

Note the strip of insect screen that will be part of the soffet vent. Air entering here will be directed through the roof rafters into the attic of the main house and exit out the attic vents.
 

Now the soffit is closed; some minor trim work yet to be completed. Gutters are hung on Patio and Garden Tool Shed (Tool Shed not visible here.
 

Here's an inside view of the Gable windows on the North side of the patio. Still a lot of trim work to be done.
 

I've been working on the stair and platform railing. Was afraid one of us would go over the edge. Couldn't resist slapping a little paint on the hand rail.
 

Gutters are hung and the yard cleaned-up a bit. Still have some concrete work work to do and shingles to install. Now you can see the gutters on both the Patio and Garden Tool Shed.
 

Just a couple more pieces of vinyl siding to install. The open windows provide super ventilation inside.

At a rare moment when the floor is cleaned-up, I thought another photo of the inside was in order. Note that the outside walls are now insulated.

Here's a shot of the rafters with the air vents installed. These vents carry air from the soffet to the attic of the main house where it exits through the attic vents.
 

I tapped on to the 30-amp service going out to the tool shed to power the outlets and baseboard electric heaters (yet to be installed).
 

The back wall is sheet-rocked and primed. Lights, outlets and baseboard heaters are installed.
 

The inside wall showing two of the sconce lights illuminating the stairway.
 

This shows one of four 1000 Watt. 240 volt baseboard heaters, placed under each of the four back windows. These units are controlled by a common thermostat mounted on the inside wall.
 

I have installed six 60-Watt Sconce lights around the room, all on a common dimmer switch which is in the kitchen. These are on the circuit that originally supplied the old patio lights.
 

Sconce lights on each side of old patio sliding door. These lights are exactly where old patio lamps were located.
 

Snug as a bug in the rug. R-30 ceiling insulation is installed. The electrical boxes are for two ceiling fans.
 

Now for the carpet. The carpet guy, Bill Morrison, and assistant - AKA his better half - prepare the room to lay the carpet. I met Bill about a year earlier as I was at Home Depot struggling to load the 3/4" CDX plywood sub flooring onto my truck. Bill came over to give me a hand - and his business card.
 

I love this furniture and the way it looks in the new room. Betty found it in a magazine ad and we picked it up at a local Wal-Mart.
 

The addition of more flora and furniture begins to give the room that lived-in look, although there's still some finish work to be done. This room has become one of my favorite places to be.
 

A concrete stoop, step and ramp now leads up to the slider door. The family cement mixer was a real blessing here. Future cement work will wait 'til next year. Note the emergency generator in the lower RH corner. Let the black-outs come; we're ready this winter.