As the weather warms up, outdoor living quickly becomes top of mind… and at our Hayfields Country Club project, that means rethinking how a beautiful backyard space could be used more comfortably throughout the day.
In this episode of In the Field with JP, we take you on-site as a simple challenge – too much sun and limited daytime use – evolves into a thoughtfully designed screened porch that enhances both comfort and functionality. Working alongside our partners at Emerald Hill Design, the solution brings together architectural detail, smart engineering, and a few creative problem-solving moments along the way.
From a custom barrel ceiling to innovative structural adjustments and a fully integrated retractable screen system, this project is a great example of how the right approach can unlock the full potential of an outdoor space.
Join JP and Site Supervisor, Jeremy Smith, as they walk through the design, the build, and the details that make this porch as functional as it is beautiful.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
Hey guys, we’re out at our Hayfields project this morning, and as the weather gets warmer, thoughts turn to outdoor living. We’ve got a great screened porch we’re working on out here—come along and we’ll show you what we’re doing.
So, the homeowner came to us with the issue of having a great entertainment area with the pool, hot tub, and back porch—but the porch was getting baked by the sun and wasn’t really usable during the day. We came up with a solution to keep it covered and screened in, keep the bugs out, and soften the sun so the space can be fully used to its potential.
Working with Emerald Hill Design, we arrived at this design here. It certainly looks impressive from this angle—but there’s even more to it, so let’s get into it.
I’m here with Jeremy, the site supervisor responsible for putting this together. Jeremy, one of the first things that jumps out is this barrel ceiling. How was that to do?
That was absolutely amazing—my first barrel ceiling, and it turned out beautiful. We had timber frame trusses installed on top of the LVL beams we built. It’s a tongue-and-groove 2×6 ceiling, about an inch and a half thick. On top of that, we framed another 2×4 layer to create the roof and handle the sheathing process, which was challenging. We used two layers of half-inch sheathing to achieve the curve—but it was a blast, and it turned out great.
Awesome. And I see you had to take some of the stone down over here?
That’s right. Originally, the engineer wanted us to pocket the LVLs into the wall, but the homeowner didn’t want us to disturb the interior since those rooms were recently finished. Fortunately, when we removed the stone and sheathing, we found large LSL beams running right where we needed them. It was a blessing in disguise. We worked with the engineer and ended up using straps to secure everything directly to the wall—no interior work needed.
That’s a great solution.
And what’s going on with these pockets up here?
We’re installing a fixed screen system, and those channels will house hidden, remote-controlled screens that drop all the way down to the ground. They’re already tested and look amazing. You’ll be able to fully enclose the space or open it up depending on what you want.
That’s going to be incredible.
It looks like you’re getting close to closing this space in—gas, mechanicals, and electrical are all in.
We are. We’re starting pavers tomorrow, and a big material delivery is coming in the morning. Things will really start moving over the next couple of days.
Awesome. I’m looking forward to coming back in a couple of weeks.
Can’t wait to have you back. Thanks, Jeremy.
You got it.