There is two-story shed attached to the back of my house. The furnace,
water heater and electrical panel reside on the ground floor of the
shed. The upper floor is now used for storage.

I'd like to turn the upper floor into a screened in porch. Since the
walls will now be open, I suspect that I will need to waterproof the
floor, since that will now be acting as a roof over the furnace, etc.

Any suggestions for how to do this? I will leave the original roof
(over the second story) intact, but I know that won't keep rain from
blowing in.

The floor of the second story (where the porch will be) is nearly
level with the first floor of my house. Thus, I don't have enough
clearance to put a "roof" on the floor and then a deck over it, since
that would require a step up from the inside -- which I'd like to
avoid.

Thanks,

John

I'd be less worried about the rain getting in but more so about the wind
ripping the top off the shed. If I were to undertake such a project, I would
tear out the existing second floor and make the height you require to avoid
the "step up". Cut holes in the walls and run your new 2 x 8 second floor
joists 4ft beyond the existing walls. This will allow a second story wrap
around deck.
Knee brace around the corner and sides with the same. I would then install a
good plywood floor. Next, I would start tearing out walls while leaving 2ft
closed in on top over openings and 2ft below them so as the roof still has
good support. You will need good support on the load bearing walls so don't
take out more than necessary. The next step, I would enlarge the roof by
bringing the trusses out 2 ft beyond the extended second floor joists. Put
up posts every 4 ft on the second story deck to support the new roof. The
larger roof will not allow rain to come in, unless it rains sideways in your
neck of the woods. You can also install shutters that will keep out wind
driven rain. Although it wouldn't be necessary, you can caulk the seams in
the plywood floor and finish with a couple coats of polyurethane or boat
paint. If you were to purchase fly net and screen, you could make water
proof windows with these by keeping them 1'' apart.
To try and do this entire job any other way even cheaper would be a waste of
good time, good energy and good money.

good luck
Danimal

"jgold723" wrote in message
oups.com...
There is two-story shed attached to the back of my house. The furnace,
water heater and electrical panel reside on the ground floor of the
shed. The upper floor is now used for storage.

I'd like to turn the upper floor into a screened in porch. Since the
walls will now be open, I suspect that I will need to waterproof the
floor, since that will now be acting as a roof over the furnace, etc.

Any suggestions for how to do this? I will leave the original roof
(over the second story) intact, but I know that won't keep rain from
blowing in.

The floor of the second story (where the porch will be) is nearly
level with the first floor of my house. Thus, I don't have enough
clearance to put a "roof" on the floor and then a deck over it, since
that would require a step up from the inside -- which I'd like to
avoid.

Thanks,

John