An Old Covered Porch, Rebuilt as a Year-Round Room
The challenge
A tired 1990s covered porch with rotted wood beams, a cracked slab, and a wood-burning fireplace that no longer drew. Beautiful Tanglewood neighborhood, embarrassing patio. The family wanted to keep the fireplace's character but didn't trust any part of the existing structure.
What we built
We demolished the existing structure down to the footings. Rebuilt in cypress timbers on a powder-coated steel substructure for a 480-sq-ft covered area. Re-poured a thicker stamped slab on a properly drained base. The original limestone fireplace was restored stone-by-stone with a new code-compliant flue and a real wood-burning firebox that drafts correctly even on still nights.
- Demolition of existing covered porch
- Cypress-and-steel pergola structure
- Limestone fireplace restoration with new flue
- Stamped concrete slab re-pour
The result
Used through every Fort Worth winter. The family added a real entertaining room to the house without adding interior square footage — and the fireplace works for the first time in a decade.
How we built it
- 01
Salvage assessment
Tagged and photographed every fireplace stone for reassembly. Engineered a temporary brace to hold the chimney during demolition.
- 02
Demolition + new footings
Removed rotted structure and cracked slab. Excavated and poured new spread footings sized for the engineered cypress + steel load.
- 03
Slab + structure
Re-poured the stamped slab with proper slope and a hidden perimeter drain. Erected the steel substructure, then dressed it with cypress.
- 04
Fireplace rebuild
Reset every original limestone face-stone in its mapped position. Installed a new double-wall stainless flue and tested draft on a still day.
- 05
Finish + commissioning
Sealed the cypress, mounted lighting, and burned the first fire with the family on a 38-degree night.
"We almost tore out the fireplace because nobody else thought it could be saved. They saved it, and now it's the best room in the house."
What we walked into & what we built.
Honest documentation of the Fort Worth project — no staging, no renderings.
Pavilion & Loggias in Fort Worth, TX — FAQ.
The questions Fort Worth homeowners ask us most often before starting a project like this one.
- How much does a covered patio or loggia cost in Fort Worth?
- A custom covered loggia in Fort Worth — cypress beams on a steel substructure, stamped slab, integrated lighting like this Tanglewood build — typically runs $55,000 to $130,000 for 400–600 sq ft. Adding a restored or new wood-burning fireplace adds $15,000 to $35,000 depending on stone, flue height, and salvage complexity.
- Can an old wood-burning fireplace in Fort Worth be restored?
- Almost always, yes. The Tanglewood fireplace in this case study had a non-drafting flue and weathered face stones; we tagged each stone, rebuilt the chimney with a new code-compliant double-wall stainless flue, and reset the original Texas limestone in its mapped position. Restoration usually preserves more character than a new build at a similar cost.
- Why is cypress better than pine for a covered patio in Fort Worth?
- Cypress naturally resists rot, insects, and the humidity swings between Fort Worth's wet springs and dry summers. Painted pine in this climate typically needs replacement around year 12; properly sealed cypress should last 25+ years with periodic re-sealing. Cypress also takes a richer warm-toned finish that pairs with Fort Worth's traditional limestone and brick palette.
- Do I need a permit for a covered patio in Fort Worth?
- Yes. The City of Fort Worth requires permits for any covered structure attached to or detached from the house, plus separate permits for gas, electrical, and wood-burning fireplaces. Wood-burning fireplaces require additional review for chimney height and clearance from the roofline. Barca pulls all required permits as part of every Tanglewood, Westover Hills, and Mira Vista build.
- Will a covered loggia work year-round in Fort Worth?
- Yes — that's the entire point of building one. With a wood-burning or gas fireplace, ceiling fans, and optional infrared heaters, our Fort Worth loggias get genuine year-round use. The Tanglewood family in this case study uses theirs through every winter, including freeze events. The covered roof also means use through spring storms and late-summer afternoon thunderstorms.
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