Everyone in the family pitched in for this sunroom

By Staci Dennis
Correspondent

VIRGINIA BEACH

Incessant insects intruded into Ruben and Kim Garcia's backyard time so much that the couple built a three-season room on their house to escape.

"We just couldn't take it anymore," Kim said. "We couldn't go outside without being eaten alive."

The Garcias worked hard on their backyard since moving to Princess Anne Crossing in Virginia Beach in 2005. Kim, a master gardener, lined the yard with shrubs and flowers. The family had a pool installed and they enjoyed spending time on the deck when the weather was nice.

"We would go outside to look at the stars but had to come back in within five minutes because we were getting bit by mosquitoes," Ruben said. Last July the couple started building a screened-in porch. The family, including children Zack, 17, Lexie, 14, and Katrina, 6, worked together to complete the project in about a month. The project cost about $2,500, not including furniture.

"I like to fix things, and I'm pretty good working with my hands," said Ruben, a Navy commander. "This is the largest project we have ever done. I am pleased with the way it turned out."

Ruben, 44, is still putting the finishing touches on the room. He added windows in place of the screens so the family can use the room throughout the year. He's also perfecting the ceilings and floors.

"It's the little things that bug me," he said. "I just want it done right."

This isn't the first project the Garcia family has tackled. They installed patio pavers around the pool and put down flooring in the kitchen, and Kim painted most of the house. Next, the Garcias plan to renovate a bathroom or possibly putting down wood floors.

"The kids enjoy helping us with our projects," Kim said. "We all get into it."

Since the completion of the sun room, the family has made use out of its new space. They recently held a graduation party for son Zack, who will head to Princeton in the fall.

"It's my favorite place in the entire house," said Kim, a job coach with Virginia Beach City Public Schools. "I can't say enough just how much I love it and appreciate it."

The couple, who have been married 20 years, can now say they can enjoy looking at the stars - from the safety of their bug-free addition.

"You just have to tilt your head to the side a little more to see all of the night sky," Kim said. "But it's way better than getting covered with bug bites."

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

The crew Ruben and Kim Garcia; son Zack, 16, on percussions (hammering); daughter Lexie, 13, on strings (painting); and daughter Katrina, 5, on vocals (cheerleading and asking lots of questions; and the dog, who helped with cleanup (eating scrap wood)

The project Design the structure to fit above the existing deck

The work Ruben constructed the framing and, with Kim and Zack’s help, erected and secured the framing to the house. The project meant securing the frame and roof ledger to house, which involved cutting into vinyl siding, bolting the frame to the house, flashing and caulking to ensure weather integrity. Kim and Lexie caulked and painted the structure to complement their house’s colors.

The schedule We started the project in late July and got into full swing in early August. We finally finished the screened in deck in mid-August, when the hand rails and J-molding were secured to the house. We recently installed a ceiling and fan with a light.

The budget $2,500, excluding the furniture, flooring

The advice 1) Focus on safety. It’s tempting to cut corners to save time. 2) Taking a little extra time to do a task safely is far better than causing you permanent injuries or spending hours in an emergency room. 3) Take care of your body. Drink plenty of fluids, eat healthy and get your rest. 4) Get a second opinion when dealing with building challenges. Ask your partner, or search the Internet to help overcome obstacles. 5) Make it a family project.

Staci Dennis, sdennis@cox.net