Trellis and Covered Entry ยท Mills River
A New Trellis and Covered Entry, Built Strong Enough for a Net Full of Teenagers Watching the Stars
The old trellis was worn out, and Thad had a much bigger idea for the new one.
Thad and Carrie wanted a covered porch to keep the weather off the lower-level entry of their Mills River homestead, and they wanted the tired old trellis replaced while we were at it. Thad also wanted something special for his youngest daughter's last years of high school, a "TreeNet" of climbing rope strung inside the new trellis where she and her friends could climb up, stretch out and look at the stars at night. That meant the whole frame had to be built strong enough to carry a few teenagers, so we started with the beam and built everything around it.
Trellis and covered entry ยท Mills River ยท 6 days ยท Sawmill beam, new 6x6 posts, metal roof, TreeNet anchors
Free in-home estimate ยท Written, detailed pricing ยท No obligation
The old trellis, before we started.
A Worn-Out Trellis Over the Lower Entry
The old trellis had stood guard over the lower-level entry for years, and the weather had worn it down to the point where it needed replacing. Nothing covered the doorway, so rain came straight down on anyone coming or going, which is why Thad and Carrie wanted a real roof over it this time.
New Posts Cut to Match the Old Taper
We kept the stone piers and set new 6x6 posts on them, and each post had to match the taper on the old columns so the new trellis would still look like it belonged to the house. That took careful measuring and accurate cuts, because a post that's off even a little shows up right away once the beam sits on top of it.
A new 6x6 post on the original stone pier.
The sawmill beam, set and fastened.
The Beam Came From a Local Sawmill
The beam was the most important piece of the whole job, because it had to span the opening and carry the weight of a net full of teenagers, so I went looking for it before I ordered anything else. A local sawmill had the right beam already cut and dried on their lot, and they delivered it promptly. Placing it was the hardest part, so we took our time and set it and fastened it to the posts in one clean sweep.
Framing the Roof Over the Entry
With the beam in place, we ordered the material for the trellis and the roof system and started framing over the doorway. The rafters tie the beam back to the house, which gives the covered entry its strength and sets up the roof that keeps the weather off the door.
Rafters going in over the lower-level entry.
The metal roof, installed over the lower-level entry.
A New Metal Roof Over the Door
Once the roof framing was done, we installed a new metal roof over the entry, so anyone coming in or out of the lower level now stays dry. Metal sheds rain and leaves easily and holds up well under the trees, which made it a good fit for this spot on the homestead.
Anchors Set Deep for the TreeNet
The TreeNet needed anchor points it could hang a lot of weight from, so we used heavy-duty galvanized eye bolts and set them deep into the beams and the brick wall of the house. Those anchors are what let Thad feel good about turning the trellis into a place where the kids can climb up and hang out.
Galvanized eye bolts along the beams and the brick wall.
The open trellis, ready for Thad's TreeNet.
A Frame Made for Looking Up at the Sky
From underneath, you can see how the trellis frames the open sky, which is exactly where the web of climbing rope will go. Thad wanted to tie in the rope himself, so our part of the job stopped at building the structure and setting every anchor he'll need for the net.
Finished in Six Days
The whole job took six days, from finding the beam to the last eye bolt, and the lower entry now has a solid roof over it and a strong new trellis beside it. It gives the family a dry way in and out of the house, and it gives the girls a spot to lie back under the stars before they head off to college.
The finished trellis and covered entry.
At a Glance
- The old trellis over the lower-level entry was worn out and left the door open to the weather.
- Thad wanted a TreeNet of climbing rope inside the new trellis for his youngest daughter and her friends.
- New 6x6 posts were cut to match the taper of the old columns and set on the original stone piers.
- The main beam came cut and dried from a local sawmill and was set in one clean sweep.
- A new roof system and metal roof now cover the lower-level entry.
- Heavy-duty galvanized eye bolts are set deep into the beams and the brick wall for the net.
- The whole job took six days.
In Their Own Words:
"The trellis turned out great, and I feel good about the strength of the trellis and anchors. The netting is going to be a fun project."
Thad F., Mills River
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