The Porch Comes Down: Prepping The House For Brick

One of the most recognizable features of Pauline Manor has always been the porch. It wrapped all the way across the front of the house and halfway down both sides, giving the whole place that classic Southern charm. But as beautiful as it was, the porch wasn’t going to survive the next big project — bricking the exterior.

To support that kind of weight, the brick needed a proper foundation. That meant the porch boards had to come up so a 14-inch cement footer could be dug, reinforced with rebar, and poured all the way around. Think of it like giving the house a new pair of sturdy boots before we dress her up in brick.

Easier said than done.

The porch put up quite a fight. Those boards had been there for a long time, and they didn’t want to go quietly. Every nail, every section of wood felt like a battle. We knew it would be work, but Pauline Manor never lets a project go by without adding her own quirks.

Case in point: while digging the trench for the footer, a water line was cut. Of course. Because what’s a major project here without at least one surprise setback? That meant stopping the work, fixing the plumbing, and then getting back to the not-so-fun task of trench digging.

Ten days later – after more trips to Home Depot than I care to admit, sore backs, and a whole lot of sore muscles – 90% of the porch was officially gone (we did leave a narrow walkway out the front door so I could let the dogs out) and the cement footer was in place. It may not look like much yet, but it’s the foundation for one of the biggest transformations this house has seen so far.

It feels strange not having the porch to sit on. I didn’t realize how much I depended on those little breaks throughout the day. Grabbing a few minutes in my rocking chair to watch the pups run around the yard, sip some coffee, or just breathe for a minute was often the highlight of my day. Even though the porch will come back better than ever, I’m already missing those small moments of pause that space gave me.

With the footer ready, she’s one step closer to being bricked, and I can already picture how stunning it’s going to be when it’s done.